EIU 2013-14
OCTOBER
ISSUE 2
News (with weblinks!) for the veteran, the service member, and the family.
What’s Going On…
FEDERAL SHUTDOWN – What It Means to EIU Military Students
8 October – noon-1pm; Military Student Transitions – 3rd Floor Union
19 October – Homecoming Parade! – Military Family Float!
19 October – Military Students Social – Homecoming Tailgate!
7- 11 November – Project: Patriot – Veterans Awareness Week!
11 November – 10:30am; Veterans Day Ceremony @ EIU Castle
Thank you for your service, your sacrifices, and your determination to defend the Constitution of the
United States and support those who have taken this oath.
Students stop and look at the 9/11
Memorial Display at the EIU Clokc
Tower on 11 September. (Sep 13)
EIU Cadet and National Guard
veteran, Matthew Bailey
enjoying a meal at the ROTC
Pancake Breakfast (Sep 13)
Military Student Assistance Center
Eastern Illinois University
Thomas Hall – Lower Level Room #2
Phone: 217-581-7888
Email: veterans@eiu.edu
Website: http://www.eiu.edu/veterans/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EIUVeteransServices
Bri’an Fields, Earl and Joy Boyce, and Stephen
Knotts listen to a presentation during the
Military Students “Booth After Dark” social and
library resource tour. (Sep 13)
INTEGRATION
FEDERAL SHUTDOWN
The following affects are active at Eastern Illinois University because of the government shutdown.
1.
State Education Benefits (IVG, ING, MIA/POW) are NOT affected.
2. Federal Education Benefits ( Montgomery, 9/11, Tuition Assistance, Vocational Rehabilitation)
are NOT affected for October.
3. VA Workstudy will return to work and will be paid during the shutdown, anticipate delays.
4. Federal Grants to various EIU Departments are delayed, possibly disrupting out-of-classroom
learning.
Accordance to the VA on 30 September, all payments for the month of October are already out for
federal veterans benefits. VA benefits are protected and should go out during a shutdown. However, the
VA recently announced that if the shutdown lasts longer than 2-3 weeks, the VA might not have enough
cash on hand to pay benefits in November.
Any claims that have not begun payment (and are still processing) will be delayed until after the
shutdown ends. Further, once the shutdown ends, there will be further delays as the ball starts to roll
again.
New Post 9/11 GI Bill claims for next semester will also likely be delayed if the shutdown goes longer
than a few weeks since they will not be processing new claims during a shutdown.
ANY STUDENT WHO HAS PAYMENT PROBLEMS PLEASE CONTACT THE MILITARY STUDENT
ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 217-581-7888 OR VETERANS BENEFITS AT 217-581-5227.!
Transition Workshops –
MLK Union, Oakland Room (3rd Floor) Tuesdays noon-1pm
The last Transition Workshop is on 8th of October, and MSAC is
providing Lunch! Come and learn tips for Taking Tests and provide
feedback on how these classes can be better!
3 September – Military and College Expectations
10 September – Student Success Center –How to Take Notes
17 September – Opportunities at the Counseling Center
24 September – Getting that next Job; Career Center support.
1 October – Writing Center guests in how to write a College Paper
8 October – Test Taking Tips and Workshop Review
Post-Traumatic Stress Group The Counseling Center is offering a Post-Traumatic Stress
group for veterans at EIU. Any students interested would
need to meet with a counselor individually for a one time
meeting for intake. As always, the Counseling Center is
confidential and not associated with the VA or DoD. Any
counseling we provide, the student must be a client of the
Center. After the intake, it is up to the student if they want to
see someone individually or if they prefer to do just the group. Please let me know any way I can help to
reach out to those interested to get the group going. Thanks – Sandy Cox
ACADEMIC
The Writing Center sponsored one of the Military Student Transition Workshops last week, and the
veterans that attended learned that the Writing Center supports more than just writing papers. They
also assist in writing Cover Letters and Thank You letters for jobs, and LinkedIn Profile building.
ONLINE CONSULTS!!!
The Writing Center also conducts Online Skype Consulting for Online and Off Campus Students! It
doesn’t matter if you are at Parkland or Afghanistan, you can contact the Writing Center for an
appointment online. 217-581-5929, or contact them by Twitter or Facebook.
EIU Veterans Benefits encourages all military supported students to contact them AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE if you note any delay in educational benefits. 217-581-5227
The Federal Government Shutdown VA benefits is slow this year because the VA is very slow and
understaffed. You can call the VE Education Benefits Office at 888-442-4551 to find your financial
support status.
SOCIAL
Booth After Hours
Nineteen Military Students and their families came to Booth Library on Friday, 27th September, and were
welcomed by the Library Dean, Dr. Allen Lanham. After introductions and dinner, we split into groups to
learn about different areas of the Library and how the staff can assist us with research papers and the
fantastic reference section. The evening ended with a desert social, a fun game, and prizes!
Homecoming – Saturday October 19th
The Military Student Assistance Center is collecting names of people interested in helping at the
Homecoming Parade and Tailgate Party.
1. Anyone who would like to join us on the Military Appreciation Float at Homecoming, contact the
Military Student Assistance Center (MSAC)
2. After the Parade, the MSAC is having a Tailgating Party in the Student Tailgate Lot (behind a line
of trees south west of O’Brien Stadium. There will be Food, Games, and Prizes!
Students and Veterans at Eastern –The SVE promotes
military service awareness and support on and off campus,
develops activities to assist transitioning from the military to
student, and brings cultural understanding of military service
members to the campus community. They are also a founding
member of the Student Veterans of America, the national
organization for supporting military students.
Anyone interested in co-sponsoring events or conducting your own event with SVE,
contact Mike Holmes (Vice President and Project Manager) at 217-493-9644 or mlholmes@eiu.edu
Website: http://eiu.edu/student_veterans/
The Black Orchids is a service group dedicated to helping veterans and current service
members on campus, the community, and worldwide.
Anyone interested in reviving the Black Orchids, contact Stephen Knotts at the Military
Student Assistance Center; 217-581-7888
Project: Patriot Veterans Awareness Week
Over a dozen RSOs including the Students and Veterans at Eastern and community organizations
are sponsoring events at this year’s Project: Patriot. (SEE ATTACHED FLYER) Starting Thursday
November 7th, there will be guest speakers on being a military student, displays by the Army,
Marines, and EIU ROTC.
The event culminates at Old Main at 10:30am, Monday, November 11th at the EIU Veterans Day
Ceremony. Come and participate and remember our living veterans who have defended the United
States of America!
CAREER
EIU Career Services offers Career counseling, workshops, resume’
assistance, and staying connected using mobile apps! Panther Recruiting
PLUS provides even more features!
http://www.eiu.edu/~careers/
Online Veterans Job Sites. There are many opportunities online to provide American employers with a
link to some of America’s finest employees: Veterans, Service members, and military families. Service
members can leverage their military training and experience for career opportunities in today’s civilian
job market with national, regional and local employers. Staying connected with Career Services and
Veterans Services will help you get through all the white noise and red tape!
http://jobsforveterans.employerpartnership.o
rg/ocar/h2h
http://www.veteranrecruiting.com/
https://h2h.jobs/
http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes