On Thursday, August 14th, Veterans Services will holding an all-day in-person Military Student Orientation and Resource Day. The event will include opportunities to get to know other military-connected students at Metro State, learning about resources on campus and off, and, of course, food! We hope you will join us.
If you're interested in learning more, see the quick answers below.
Who is the event for?
Even though “orientation” is in the title, the event is for all military-connected students! A military-connected student is anyone who has a connection to the military, whether you’re a current or former service member, or the spouse, partner, or child of someone who is serving or did serve in the military. The event will include information that will be useful to students who are new to Metro State, including those starting next year, as well as resources and information that will be helpful to current students.
What will the event cover and when will this happen?
Below is the anticipated schedule. This is subject to changes leading up to the day's events, but it should give you an idea of what to expect.
- 8:30-9:00 AM: Coffee & social time
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Pre-event coffee and social time as people come in)
- 9:00-9:30 AM: Welcome & introductions
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Get to know one another, and learn information about what we do in the Veterans Center, and important information to know for students, whether you are a new student or returning to Metro
- 9:30-10:00 AM: Campus tour
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See where to get your textbooks, student ID, and important departments and people to know around campus)
- 10:00-11:00 AM: A guide to military benefits and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
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An overview of common military education benefits, how to apply for them, and how to use them at Metro State (presented by Metro State’s School Certifying Official) and an overview of the Minnesota GI Bill and resources through the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (presented by Duane Bauer)
- 11:00-11:15 AM: Break
- 11:15 AM-12:00 PM: Financial aid & scholarships
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A guide to financial aid and the FAFSA (presented by Rachel Hanson from Gateway Student Services) and overview of internal and external scholarships (presented by me)
- 12:00-12:45 PM: Lunch
- 12:45-1:15 PM: The role of County Veterans Service Officers
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An overview of the resources and support offered by the County Veterans Resource Officers (presented by CVSO Alex Fleming)
- 1:15-2:00 PM: FTA & STR
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An overview of Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) and State Tuition Reimbursement (STR) by Tiffany Drahota, an Education Services Specialist for the Army Guard
- 2:00-2:15 PM: Break
- 2:15-3:00 PM: VA Healthcare, Disability Ratings, and VR&E
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An overview of resources and support available through VA healthcare and VITAL (presented by VITAL Coordinator Bradley Foss), how disability ratings work and what resources are available for disabilities (VBA representative Drew Prestebak), and an overview of Vocational Rehabilitation (also known as VR&E or Chapter 31, as presented by VR&E Counselor Angela Sherburne)
- 3:00-3:45 PM: Career Services
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An overview of the career services offered to military students through CareerForceMN and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) as presented by Lee Okerstrom, and a brief overview of career support services at Metro State (presented by a representative of the Career Center)
- 3:45-4:00 PM: Wrap up & conclusion
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Summary of the day, upcoming relevant programming and resources available, and a list of contact information based on the day’s presentations
- 4:00-4:30: Any remaining questions & social time
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Stick around for thirty minutes after the main presentations to ask me any remaining questions you have and to talk to one another. Everything will be packed up and closing down at 4:30.
How will this event be offered?
This will be an in-person event held on Metro State's Saint Paul campus. A room will be determined closer to the date based on anticipated attendance.
I can’t attend the full day. Can I attend only one presentation or just for part of the day?
Absolutely! It is not always possible for people to attend a full-day event, however if there is a particular presentation that interests you, or a time that works best, you’re welcome to join as your schedule allows. When submitting your RSVP, please select which half of the day you are planning to attend (morning or afternoon) and the workshops you plan to attend.
Should you need any accommodations or have any questions, please email Brianna Droege at brianna.droege@metrostate.edu.
