Our goal in M State Veterans Services is to make sure our service members, veterans, spouses and other family members have the information they need to make informed decisions concerning their federal military and veteran educational benefits.

M State is recognized as a Military Friendly School and fully complies with the 2012 Executive Order - Establishing Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses and Other Family Members.

In our work with veterans, M State:
• Provides prospective students eligible for receiving military/veterans educational benefits to help students understand total costs and benefit amounts.
• Informs eligible students of available federal financial aid before arranging for private and/or alternative aid.
• Does not employ fraudulent and unduly aggressive recruiting techniques.
• Obtains the Higher Learning Commission's approval for new course or program offerings before enrolling students.
• Allows service members and reservists to be readmitted to a program if interrupted by service requirements and accommodates short absences due to service obligations as long as the student is in good academic standing prior to the suspension of studies.
• Agrees to an institutional refund policy aligned with the refund of unearned student aid as required under section 484B of the HEA of 1965.
• Provides educational plans that detail how to complete degree requirements within the expected timeline of completion.
• Designates a point of contact for academic and financial aid advising (including access to disability counseling) to assist with degree completion and job searches.

Veterans who are considering higher education can check out From Military to College: A Checklist for Veterans, which is provided by the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.

M State's service to veterans was the focus of a Veterans Professional Development Day on May 22 on the college's Moorhead campus.

Fifteen staff members attended the day-long event, which included presentations by M State's veterans service officers, a student panel and representatives of My Military Education, the Family Assistance Center and the Clay County veterans service office.

"The goal was to provide staff with an understanding of the resources that are available to our veterans outside of M State so they feel comfortable helping veterans reach out to these resources," said Holly Doyle, M State's eCampus director of student services and an organizer for the event.

M State was earlier named a 2013 Military Friendly School by Victory Media. The designation was awarded to the top 15 percent of U.S. colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America's military service members, veterans and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.

Regional Coordinators

The higher education regional coordinator provides service and or/family member information directly related to military education benefits. Click here to see a map of all Minnesota Higher Education Regional Coordinators.

The Regional Coordinator serving M State is Eric Abell. He can be reached 218-299-6881 or 218-396-0753 (cell). Please call for campus availability. His offices are located at the following campus locations:

• Detroit Lakes: Room 101
• Fergus Falls: Room C371B
• Wadena: Room N-43
• Moorhead: Room D124

Veterans can meet with a campus or program advisor for academic questions, but they are encouraged to meet with a Regional Coordinator regarding benefits.

County Veterans Service Officers (CVSO)

• Collaborate with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans service organizations in securing veterans benefits.
• Disseminate information on veterans benefits.
• Assist in applying for state and federal benefits.
• Facilitate the referral process to appropriate outside agencies.
• Help obtain needed military records.

If you are a service member or family of a service member, your CVSO can assist with understanding military benefits. To locate your CVSO, visit the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Services Officers website and click on your county in the Directory.

All service members and their families are encouraged to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) in addition to completing the necessary paperwork for military education benefits.

There are numerous education benefits provided through federal and state veteran education programs. It is recommended that you contact your local Regional Coordinator (listed above under Contact Information for Veterans) regarding personal benefits, even if you think you do not qualify.

Click here to view an interactive benefits flow chart provided by MyMilitaryEducation.org, a higher education veterans program.

The Veterans Education Transfer System (VETS) is designed to assist current and past service members in determining how their military training may earn them credit at a MnSCU institution. Click here to review the credit evaluation your assigned MOS/AASC occupation has been assigned. Please note that if there is no evaluation for your occupation, you will have the option to request an evaluation.

All service members and veterans can request their military training records in the form of a transcript to be evaluated at the college level. Veterans of the Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corp and Navy should contact the Joint Services Transcript. Air Force veterans need to make transcript requests to the Community College of the Air Force.

For more information, check out these websites:

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs provides resources and links to all military education benefits, including LinkVet Support (a live Minnesota support center that assists military service members and veterans).
Disabled American Veterans
My Military GPS LifePlan
MnSCU Military Resources