This page will allow the user to advocate for additional funds for veterans programs at The City University of New York.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am a family member of /student veteran (choose one) at The City University of New York; and I thank you for supporting the higher education initiatives for CUNY student veterans and reservists. I ask for your continued support by voting in favor of CUNY's request for enhancement funding for student services. I believe that investment in CUNY through its 2009-10 budget request will promote the success of student veterans as they pursue college degrees-ones deferred while serving the nation.

At this time, there are more than 1,700 student veterans and reservists enrolled at CUNY. The University's student veteran population has grown about 10 percent each year since 2004. The Department of Veterans Affairs reports that about 6,000 veterans have recently returned to the greater New York City area, and that approximately another 10,000 are expected to return to the City from Iraq and Afghanistan over the next few years. The availability of both the New York State Veterans Tuition Benefit and The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Asssistance Act of 2008 makes CUNY a more attractive and viable option for veteran students than ever before.

Veterans encounter considerable challenges to their transition from military to college and civilain life that make them high-risk for attrition. Indeed, among other transition issues, they must adjust to college culture, endure the academic and social disruption of being called to active duty, manage the impact of significant service-related disabilities, and navigate through complex bureaucratic structures to receive veterans benefits.

Veteran services on most CUNY campuses are loosely coordinated by college student services professionals, most of whom have veteran services responsibilities as a small part of often large professional portfolios, diluting their efforts to serve student veterans and reservists in a meaningful way. In order to support the success and wellness of student veterans and reservists, CUNY must establish a full-time student affairs professional on each campus whose sole responsibility is to coordinate services for veterans.

I ask you to support the proposed investment strategy in CUNY for veterans' services. The $2.7 million increase would dedicate the full-time services of a student affairs professional on each campus to provide student veterans and reservists with the support and guidance necessary to obtain college degrees and to prepare for their futures and their roles in New York State's future.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
February 13, 2009