SUNY College at Old Westbury has received a federal grant allowing for the creation of the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success (CEVSS).
The U.S. Department of Education granted SUNY Old Westbury over $538,000 for the Center. As the first New York State campus to ever receive funding from this grant, SUNY Old Westbury hopes to provide a college path for veterans.
The United States Department of Education hopes to “[encourage] model programs to support veteran student success in postsecondary education by coordinating services to address the academic, financial, physical, and social needs of veteran students.” The grant will cover many costs, including a support team, a coordinator, and the development of a sustainable plan.
SUNY OW will also hire staff to support the Center. One member will focus on coordinating services and community outreach. The other will act as the “Veteran Student Success Coach,” concentrating on advising, financial counseling, etc. SUNY OW has not yet announced the new hires.
According to a SUNY OW news announcement, “Through the CEVSS, the College will seek to partner with veteran organizations to form a network of support while offering these organizations guidance and resources to promote access to higher education for veterans.” These organizations have yet to be confirmed.
Dr. Cristina Notaro, Assistant Provost for Student Success and Administration and the principal investigator for the grant, said currently, “We have about 50 veterans and our goal is to grow to 200 in the next few years.” She also emphasized that the College hopes the Center will provide proactive academic support and planning for veteran students.
While not required, recipients of the grant may choose to provide tutoring services and housing support. The United States Department of Education also said recipients may choose to coordinate “academic advising and admissions counseling with military bases and national guard units in the area.”
Some veteran-related opportunities that already exist at SUNY Old Westbury include the NYS Veterans Tuition Award, federal benefits, and other on-campus benefits.
