During the week of Nov. 11, the University of Maine recognized veterans through a week of events surrounding the nationally observed Veteran’s Day. Throughout the week, the UMaine Office of Veterans Education and Transition Services and UMaine Veterans Association held events at the UMaine campuses around the state for students and community in recognition of veterans.
On Nov 8. 2019, the University of Maine System released a statement announcing a newly enforced Student Military and Mobilization and Activation Policy that will support students who are currently on call to duty.
The policy will support students with accommodations like tuition, housing finances, re-admission to the university and more. The new university-wide policy states that all students in the National Guard will receive a full tuition waiver. Those in other branches of the military also receive aid from the G.I. Bill, along with grants and other financial support. Additionally, the support will be extended and provided to spouses and dependents of the students in the military.
The chancellor of the University of Maine System Dannel Malloy spoke on behalf of the new policy.
“We work hard to meet the unique needs of students who are veterans or members of the armed forces and national guard,” Malloy said. “Our new policy highlights the many ways we will accommodate and support students when their service to our nation interrupts their education.”
Currently, UMaine has 1481 students of veteran status, or dependents enrolled who are receiving benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. As a result, UMaine has received national recognition for its military involvement and campus-wide support.
UMaine has given out more G.I. Bills to veterans and service members than any other academic institution in the state of Maine. There have been many UMaine students who have utilized G.I. Bill funding and veteran benefits to complete their secondary education and Mike Adams is one of those students who shows the success of supporting veteran’s pursuit of education. Adams served in the Maine Army National Guard, and after his first semester at the University of Southern Maine, Adams was deployed for nine months.
After returning from deployment, Adams went on to complete his undergraduate career. With the assistance of the University of Maine System Veterans’ Service Office, Adams graduated debt free, continuing on to the University of Maine School of Law where he is currently in his final year.
“My deployment to Afghanistan completely upended my college plans just as I was getting started…” Adams stated. “The support that I received from Veterans Services at USM helped me get back on track. I am glad to know there will be a new policy in place at our public universities to provide every activated service member with the certainty and support I received.”
Adams’ educational success story is an example of how community support for veterans after they have returned from active duty helps veterans continue their academic career successfully.
There are endless resources for support at UMaine, and all of the schools in the University of Maine System, for current members of the military as well as veterans. The University of Maine System strives to provide financial assistance, as well as physical and mental health resources.
For more information about how you can receive support as a veteran or active-duty member of the military, contact UMaine Veterans Education and Transition Services which is located at Room 143 in the Memorial Union, or at 207.581.1316.
