Student Veteran Centers

Student Veteran Centers

Welcome to the Louisiana military and veteran student resource and information portal!

The LDVA is committed to military and veteran students and their families’ higher education goals through benefits assistance as well as campus support through LaVetCorps veteran centers located on campuses across Louisiana.

• Getting Started

  This is a starting point for information and resources on higher education.

  Today, service members, veterans and family members have options when pursuing higher education. For many, the benefits available to our military allow for a choice from a variety of higher education institutions including community colleges, universities, private, non-profit schools or for profit schools. Whether using military/veteran benefits or not, it is vitally important to be aware of these options, as well as the many resources available to support the success of the military-affiliated student.

  Getting Started

  Higher education is both a time and financial commitment. Successfully completing a degree program requires thought and planning. When considering an educational path:

  • Research career options – What are your interests? What will you do with your degree? What is the demand for the fields you are considering?
  • Research the different options for schools and programs to find the right fit – Do you want to go to school on campus? Online? A mixture of both? Are you looking for a large school or a small environment?
  • Understand the benefits available to you – This will vary based on when, where and how long you have been or were in the military.
  • Be aware of some of the normal transition challenges service members and veterans often face when going to school. There are resources available to assist in the transition.
  • Utilize the supportive resources available to help you be successful.

• Veteran Friendly Schools

  Louisiana Governor’s Military and Veteran Friendly Campus Designation – In 2015, a law passed that established criteria to certify an institution of higher learning as a Louisiana Governor’s Veteran Friendly Campus. Veteran Supportive Campuses meet mandatory criteria to better serve the needs of service members and veterans. Criteria includes waiver of application fees for veterans, special orientation sessions, priority class scheduling, deployment readmission policies and other important services to support military and veteran education success.

  Pursuant to R.S. 17:3138.5 (Act 232 of the 2015 Legislative Session) regarding the Governor’s Military and Veteran Friendly Campus designation, the Board of Regents has certified 26 institutions as military and veteran friendly for the 2018-2019 academic year.

  VA Principles of Excellence Program – The VA has established Principles of Excellence guidelines for veterans and service members. These principles are designed to ensure that educational institutions provide meaningful information to service members, veterans, spouses, and other family members about the cost and quality of educational institutions. Find a participating educational institution.

  DoD Voluntary Education Partnership – The Department of Defense keeps a list of higher learning institutions that participate in its Voluntary Education Partnership for those who are receiving benefits from its Tuition Assistance program. You can search for higher learning institutions by state.

  Support Services
  Pursuing higher education can sometimes be a stressful and challenging experience. Fortunately, there are many resources to support students throughout their time in school.

  Disability Resource Centers – Most schools have a Disability Resource Center open to all students. These centers can be very helpful in identifying and arranging accommodations for people who learn in different ways (e.g. dyslexia or conditions caused by visible or invisible wounds of war). They can often provide testing and then work with students and professors to support the student’s success in the classroom.

• Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment

  Vocational Rehabilitation – Both the state of Louisiana and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offer Vocational Rehabilitation programs. These programs focus on helping people prepare for and be successful in the workplace and in school. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for one of these programs.

  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Vocational Rehabilitation

• LaVetCorps

  What is LaVetCorps?

  In the fall of 2019, the Governor’s Office, the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and Louisiana’s higher education community partnered to open campus veterans centers on public and private college and university campuses across the state. The LaVetCorps mission is to empower veterans, families and campus communities to help veterans returning from active duty military service to successfully transition home to college and their local community.

  At each LaVetCorps student veteran center, an LDVA-trained LaVetCorps Navigator who is an AmeriCorps service member will serve as a peer mentor to student veterans in transition, increase student veterans’ access to their earned federal and state benefits and work to build a vibrant on-campus veteran community. LaVetCorps Navigators will provide training and support to college faculty, staff and administration to increase awareness of student veterans’ needs and veteran culture. LaVetCorps Navigators will also organize community service projects benefiting both on- and off-campus veterans, where veterans can serve alongside other veterans and civilians in service above self to their community.

  In Louisiana, 10,000 veterans and their dependents bring in more than $168 million in federal dollars to Louisiana’s higher education communities each year through GI Bill funding. Today, 840 Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs employees devote each day to providing comprehensive care and quality service to Louisiana’s 288,000 veterans and their families with regard to education, benefits, health care, long-term care and burial honors. Now, through LaVetCorps, Louisiana’s student veterans and their dependents will have direct access to these services on campus.

  Become a LaVetCorps Navigator

  • Each LaVetCorps Navigator position is a 10-month contract that runs from August to May of the current academic year.
  • LaVetCorps Navigators earn a stipend of $11,000 to be paid in equal increments across 10 months.
  • Military experience is preferred. If you are a student veteran, military retiree or military spouse, you would fit the bill!
  • Interested in applying? Visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/recruit/registration.do to complete an application. Please be sure to indicate LaVetCorps as your program of choice when applying.
  • Have someone to share this information with? Download our recruitment flyer.
  • Still have questions? Email nikki.clark@la.gov or call 225.219.5518.