November 9, 2007

Higher education Web site available for returning soldiers

Contact: Christine Kiel, (651) 757-1530, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, 20 West 12th Street, St. Paul, MN 55155-2006

Please note: We are distributing this on behalf of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs and Minnesota Online have created a Web site to serve the unique higher education needs of veterans, military members and their families.

Veterans, members of the military and their families can find information about education benefits, Minnesota higher education institutions and related issues from a team of experienced advisors and counselors.

The new Web site, MyMilitaryEducation.org offers a "Frequently Asked Questions" bank with over 150 questions, seven-day-a-week access to customer service staff through a toll-free phone line and online chat. The Web site has generated about 5,500 inquiries since it started.

The need for this type of resource is great. As Donald Pfeffer, director of higher education veterans programs, said, "Almost 80 percent of recently returned Minnesota Army National Guard soldiers have expressed an interest in taking higher education courses." In addition, military members from other branches of the armed services have shown a similar interest.

The MyMilitaryEducation.org Web site will provide these students information and resources about higher education benefits and services, ensuring that all students have every opportunity to achieve their educational goals. This Web site includes information about all Minnesota higher education institutions including the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the University of Minnesota and Minnesota private colleges and universities.

Contact information for regional coordinators, who assist colleges and universities in developing veterans' resource centers and who help veterans, members of the military and their family members as well as higher education staff and faculty, is readily available on this Web site.

Minnesota Online Minnesotaonline.org is the gateway to online courses at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

For more information, call the toll-free support center at: 800-456-8519 (USA), 651-556-0596 (International); 800-627-3529 (TTY).

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 state universities and community and technical colleges serving the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about 240,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional 135,000 students in non-credit courses.