A Yellow Ribbon Campus

The G.I. Bill may not be enough to cover tuition for military veterans from out of state or those pursuing advanced degrees such as an MBA or DVM.

That’s why NC State is participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a dollar-for-dollar matching program that will supplement the existing G.I. Bill and give veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan the opportunity to join the Wolfpack family this fall.

“Last year, we had a small number of student veterans who had to pay tuition and fees that the G.I. Bill didn’t cover, so the yellow ribbon program will provide them with some immediate financial relief,” said Dr. Duane Larick, dean of the Graduate School. “We wanted to get this program started quickly, and this first year will be important in helping us ascertain demand.”

Dr. Jose Picart, interim dean of the College of Education and a veteran, sees the yellow ribbon program as another way that NC State is reaching out to veterans. Picart led the university’s 2009 military veterans task force, focused on making NC State a welcoming place for returning soldiers.

The university offers an orientation course for student veterans and gives some academic credits for military education and experiences. Veterans can receive credit for required P.E. courses and some leadership credits transfer.

To help soldiers with combat experience connect and find support at NC State, there’s a campus chapter of Student Veterans of America, accredited in April. It was founded by senior Jason Lindsay, who worked in convoy operations while deployed with the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq.

“The chapter hopes to serve as a portal to link together student veterans, and for the university to have a platform of resources available for them,” said Lindsay, who plans a publicity drive in the fall.

“NC State’s mission is to serve the people of this state, and North Carolina has a large military population,” Picart says. “We want to make sure that the men and women who serve this country feel welcome here.”