No Surrender

As I start out the new semester I’m struggling to balance school and work, I just can’t get the trauma of fighting with the school out of my head; I’m working on it though. I contacted the school to see if there was someone other than the dreaded Mancy for me to talk to, because let’s face it I had enough of his arrogant attitude to last me a life time. So I emailed the head Registrar at the school and her response had me cheering. Mancy is no longer part of the of the Registrar’s office… WHAT? Come AGAIN!!! I secretly did a happy dance at this tad bit of information.

That has calmed my nerves a bit so that I can focus on my school work… HOWEVER, do not think this fight is done. I will not stop until either the school changes the program description OR the VA has another category for the type of class I am attending. Hybrid is not a good definition because it implies the focus is online based with a fraction of face-to-face class time. For this course, the focus is the face-to-face time with a small fraction of online learning tools. It is a small difference, I am aware… but it cost me half of my allotted BAH.

Lesson for the day… continue the fight and never give up!

Colleges aren’t reacting to student vets needs, report says

Colleges aren’t reacting to student vets needs, report says

I came across this article today. Its not recent, but it is definitely still relevant to veterans. Be wary of all of the various college and university lists out there that rate schools. Some of them have “veteran friendly” as one of the criteria that they use. What is “veteran friendly?” There is no standard definition out there. What ends up happening is that every organization, website, and school has their own definition.

The best thing that you can do is contact the schools veteran representatives. Every school has a VA Certifying Official. Many schools have some kind of Veteran Ambassador, or a Veteran Recruiter or at least a veteran’s club. Another organization that handles a lot of education related veteran’s issues is Student Veterans of America or SVA. SVA recently held a national conference in Florida. SVA also has programs with various companies who assist with internships and appointing mentors. If your school has an SVA Chapter they will be an excellent source of information about the school if you are looking at different schools.

By all means if there is an issue, bring it up. Fight it up the chain if you have to because often more senior people within the school administration don’t know of the issues and can help fix them. Certifying Officials often fulfill many other rolls so they may not be the best person to rely on if there is an issue.

Now I’m off, getting ready to be snowed in…  Edmund

Update: Found this on Twitter this morning.

Best Colleges for Veterans

Final post for the Salisbury University stipend saga

So we finally got a good answer. Not the one we wanted to hear necessarily but still an answer that made sense. Here is the email:

After re-reading all the documentation provided by the VA regarding residential/hybrid/online courses (38 CFR 21.4252(g), 21.4267 and the SCO Handbook),  I sent a message to the VA ELR in Baltimore to clarify how the courses might be reviewed to be included as residential credit.   Included were these facts about the courses, obtained from Dr. Batya Hyman, Chair of the Department of Social Work:

• The courses meet in regularly scheduled, conventional classrooms during the 14 term semester for one hour and 50 minutes per week and have a 2 hour and 30 minute final exam.
• There is an online component that has been approved through the curriculum review process as being the equivalent of an additional hour of instruction and which is delivered to the students each week of the semester to supplement the face to face meetings.
• There is no extended time where the student works independently without any face to face contact with the instructor.

The VA ELR responded that the requirements for resident credit for undergraduates are that the course meet for a minimum number of hours equal to the number of credits (in this case 3) times the number of weeks in the term.  Since these courses only meet for 28 hours face to face and need to meet 42, the VA has stated that these courses are Hybrid.

I am continuing the conversation with the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s VA office as well as the ELR in Baltimore to see if there are any exceptions that might apply.

Regards,

JMM

J. Moran Maisel 

University Registrar

Salisbury University | Salisbury MD 21801

Phone: 410-543-6150 | Fax:  410-677-5078

So, for us this makes sense. Now the questions becomes, why is the VA trying to cut our living stipend with obscure rules? This becomes a question for our elected officials and the various veterans organizations. If you are a veteran feel free to share this with your representative and maybe we can get them to fix this on the VA side because after all of the hassle with the university and the VA telling us it was the University’s fault it comes back to the VA. Of course I can find none of this in writing in any of the VA’s policies which makes me very suspicious. Even the VR&E Education advisor couldn’t find it in any written policy. Think about it!

I’m also happy to say that at least one administrator at Salisbury University knows what is going on and was able to explain this. The VA Certifying Official is not competent enough to explain this or maybe even figure it out. Thank you to the Registrar for being willing and able to explain this to us!!

This is going to be a long one

Ok folks, here is the next episode. We both got an answer two weeks ago from Salisbury University.

Good Morning.  I just received  an answer back from the VA.  Their position is that everything will remain the same regarding the hybrid courses you are currently taking or may be planning to take next semester.  If a 100% BAH benefit is important to you then you may want to consider taking non-hybrid courses in future semesters.

Angela received the EXACT same reply, word for word about 20 minutes before I got mine. Note the condescension in the last sentence. Especially since that is the only course type available for SU students at USMH. There seems to be a great deal of confusion surrounding course types. I sent the following email in reply.

I asked you for specifics from actual policies, yet you have not provided them. Please send me the email traffic between you and the VA representative. So far the lack of support from Salisbury University has been quite spectacular. Since there are NO alternatives to the classes we must take for this program we cannot CHOOSE to take none hybrid courses.

Since, according to you, this decision was made by someone at the VA please provide the relevant contact information for that person.

Also, you have yet to provide answer as to why another veteran is receiving the full rate at USMH but others are not.

Salisbury University is rated by several organizations as veteran friendly. I have found this not to be true. Salisbury, through their course classification system, is discriminating against veterans in the social work program thereby ensuring that those of us that were enrolled or may want to be enrolled in the future do not receive the benefits for which we are entitled.

Your condescension is noted. Again, if you tell me what, if any, none hybrid courses are available for the Social Work Program at USM Hagerstown and I will take them. In case it hasn’t dawned on you, some of us depend on the living stipend to live and support our families while we are in school. It isn’t a matter of just wanting more money.

Salisbury University needs to take a good hard look at whether they want to truly be veteran friendly and if they truly want the diversity that veterans provide in the Social Work Program. So far all we have seen is talk that sounds good, but there appears to be no follow through.

I will be filing complaints through the VA and through the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.

Here is what Angela sent.

Let me see if I understand:

• The VA classifies the program at SU through USMH as a online hybrid course
• The BAH is reflective of that and is only half time

Then based on the information, I would like to know what information was sent to the VA on my behalf.  Because that is not reflective of Title 38 as I understand it.  Since this information inquiry was sent to the VA regarding an decision for my benefits, I am entitled to know what was sent and I expect to have this by Friday, December 18th.  I would also like to note that I have requested a copy of what was sent to the VA on two other occasions.

As a Social Worker I am taught that I must be an advocate for those who can not advocate for themselves, so based on that, I will be appealing this decision, not for me, but for future veterans that would possible consider SU as a their school of choice.  I feel that SU and the VA have let down the Social Work program in the Hagerstown area and this decision will affect future students of the program because they will not have the insight and diversity of having veterans enrolled into this program.  I sincerely hope for the future of this program that SU considers rewording their program description in order to reflect what actually happens here at the USMH campus.

In addition, I will filing a formal complaint with the VA regarding my treatment while at SU and with the Board of Education.  I had hoped to avoid this type of action, but I feel it is my only choice at this juncture.

I spoke to a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor in Baltimore who informed me that it is up to the school to decide how to code and classify their classes.

Angela got this reply.

Mr. W has forwarded your message to me regarding the issue of the your BAH allowance and the hybrid/online designation of your courses. I regret that you feel that you have received poor treatment from Salisbury University and the VA.  I can certainly understand your position, as we have been working with the VA this past semester for a better understanding of their rulings on hybrid classes.

I have been in communication yet again with the VA.  I have specifically raised the question of Title 38 and how it appears to be in conflict with the VA’s determination of resident credit for Certifying Officials, provided by our VA Educational Liaison in Baltimore:

A course which requires regularly scheduled, standard class sessions at least once every two weeks and which has a total number of class sessions equal to the number of credit hours awarded for the course, times the number of weeks in a standard quarter or semester, as applicable;  (School Certifying Official’s Handbook, p. 53)

Please be assured that I will look into this personally and respond to you as soon as possible, when I hear back from the VA.  In the meantime, if you’d like to discuss with me this or any other issues you’ve had with SU’s handling of your VA educational benefits, please feel free to contact me on my direct phone line at

So finally someone seems to finally understand the problem. Not that we imagine that there will be any fix because it all comes back to how the school codes the program and courses.

I got this in response to my earlier email..

I cannot supply you with the email traffic between me and the VA; however, I will provide you the rational for their decision.  Please see below:

Any courses that consist of some interaction using communications technology and some weeks of standard class sessions, but that do not meet the requirements to be classified as in- residence training, are considered independent study. (page 53 of the SCO Handbook)

A course which requires regularly scheduled, standard class sessions at least once every two weeks and which has a total number of class sessions equal to the number of credit hours awarded for the course, times the number of weeks in a standard quarter or semester, as applicable;

I would also like to provide you the link to the School Certifying Official (SCO) Handbook.  Please see below:

http://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/job_aids/SCO_Handbook.pdf

I do not know the student whom you are referring to at USMH.  Nor do I know if he or she is an SU student.  You are entitled to a second opinion; therefore I would also like to refer you to the “Submit a Question” section on the GI Bill webpage.  Please see below:

http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/

I hope these resources will assist you.

So the last link isn’t relevant since are not not on the GI Bill which has been explained several time. And we are still trying to figure out what he means with the bit about independent study.

 

So basically it all comes down to the school classifying courses on a campus, in a traditional classroom, with an instructor, regularly scheduled once per week as distance learning. This has probably been one of the most frustrating experiences in my life and is a warning to veterans to ask what specifically they will receive and ensure they understand everything to do with the various course types. No matter what anyone tells you, do the research.

Not veteran friendly

Next issue. I am filing an Unemployability Claim with VA. After speaking with a lawyer and my case worker it seems to be the best course forward. On Wednesdays this fall I had four hours of class, two classes back-to0-back. Normally not big deal. It becomes obvious to me that my back was going to make it an agonizing experience. I left early at least six times because of it and spoke with my teacher each time, so she was aware of why I was leaving early. I asked my teacher and my advisor to write a letter  supporting my claim, even if it only included information that I myself was providing. According to my lawyer the more witnesses the better. After several days I received this email:

Heidi Moore <HLMOORE@salisbury.edu>

 Dec 11, 2015, 1:40 PM

to:

• Edmund Dunn <edmund.dunn@gmail.com>

cc:

• Melissa Doyle <MSDOYLE@salisbury.edu>

Good afternoon Edmund,

I appreciate your reaching out to Melissa and me, but we will not be able to write a letter supporting your legal claim with the VA. This was reviewed with the Social Work Department, and we do not have any concrete, objective information (i.e. attendance) that will provide additional backing, to the information that you have already provided to your lawyers at the Legal Aid Bureau.

I wish you well, as you move forward with your academic and professional career.

Thank you,

Heidi Moore, LCSW-C
USM-Hagerstown Site Coordinator
Salisbury University
Department of Social Work
240-527-2751
hlmoore@salisbury.edu

Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.

                      Albert Einstein

I feel like I just got frostbite! This is from the Social Work Department! Normally they are much more supportive. I think they have been told “hands off” when it comes to me and Angela. Our teacher did mention at one point that everything with VA was being handled “at a much higher level.” After seeing this I am really wondering what is wrong with Salisbury University!

What defines veteran friendly?

Hello again! So we still haven’t heard back on the living stipend issue with Salisbury and the VA. After following up, Angela received the below email.

Good Afternoon.  I just spoke with our VA Education Liaison Representative (ELR).  She is currently in discussions with the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) about the matter.  No timeline has been given as to how these discussions will last, but I promise to inform you as soon as I have an answer.

I am not sure if I am impressed or just depressed. We are fighting through this morass of red tape to try to fix this. I have shared the relevant policies with you and I am wondering why it is so difficult? Of course, with the VA, nothing is ever straight forward.

Angela spoke with another veteran who is also in the Social Work program at Salisbury University and USMH. He is attending using his Post 9/11 GI Bill. He is receiving the full stipend. The rules are different between the GI Bill and VocRehab but are very similar. With the email that the Certifying Official sent out referring to this for both GI Bill and VocRehab they are being treated the same. So why are different veterans receiving different levels of stipend for the same thing?

I wish I knew how to reach out to all of the veterans at SU and ask how they are being treated. The veteran Angela spoke to has had many difficulties with the VA Certifying Official. Should this go to Title IX?

Reveille Reveille, All Hands Heave Out, and Trice UP!

Morning ya’ll it’s Angela, just giving you an update to say I have no update! I should, now should being the optimum word here, have an update from the college and the VA today about full time versus half time stipend. Over the last few weeks I have felt a barrage of emotions… some I am all to familiar with. I think what was the most consuming was the ANGER. The anger ate away at me until I was just pissed off all the time. I’ve been there; I recognized the burn and for a little while I let it burn hot. But after a while I noticed it had no value. I once was told that ANGER is all consuming and even though we have several tools in our tool box to mange and cope with our anger… When we get angry we kick the unopened tool box on the fucking floor and let the anger take over. Over the years I learned to always leave my tool box open… so even if kicked the tools I learned will scatter all over the place and being me, I gotta pick them up or it will drive me bonkers!

So while I am angry and upset that there are powers that are making decisions for me; I have control over how I deal with that. There is a 90% chance this will not go the way I hope it will. And that’s okay. I will pick up and press on. I will adapt.

 

I will keep all of you posted on the outcome, but honestly I don’t expect an answer today. Until next time…

 

Fair winds and Following Seas

We need your help

Some Veterans Affairs Workers Keep Jobs Despite Severe Misconduct, Including Sleeping or Having Sex on the Job

This article really identifies part of the problem at the VA. It is extremely difficult for the VA to fire under or non-performing employees. Congress did make it a little bit easier but it is still very difficult. The old joke about it taking an act of Congress to get someone fired is mostly true. To begin to fix this we need you to call or write to your representatives in Congress and ask them to help fix this. We need to take care of our veterans!

Know the policies and regulations

As I’ve relearned from this fight over the living stipend it is so important to research and learn the relevant portion of Title 38. For all veterans Title 38 United States Code should be your bible. It defines everything when it comes to the VA.

There are several ways to access Title 38:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/38

http://www.benefits.va.gov/warms/topic-title38.asp

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfr3_main_02.tpl

Any and all of these work. Goggle or any other search engine can be useful too. This will allow you to look for specific items within title 38. All of the websites above have search functions too. I used all of them when doing research about my interactions with the VA.

Most of you probably remember your time in the military and there was always someone, a commander or a barracks lawyer, who knew the regulations and tried to use them to get something. If you had a good commander like I did when I was stationed at Ft. Carson, CO they will use the regulations to help their troops. If you have a and one they will use the regulations to try to hurt their soldiers. Just as it benefited us to know relevant information from regulations while serving, it now behooves us to know and understand the relevant portions that can help us now.

Also remember that there are a lot of good people who work at the VA. They honestly are trying to help veterans. It doesn’t help that there are bad ones who are only there for the pay check and look at veterans as if we should be thanking them for working at the VA. VA has some problems, and they are having a hard time getting rid of the dead weight.

Be your own advocate and if you need help with that let us know and we will help you or find someone who can!

Why we decided to start blogging

My name is Edmund Dunn. Myself and Angela Ryan decided to start a blog after we have had to deal with a myriad of veterans issues dealing with the VA and the University we are both attending.

We are both disabled veterans and enrolled in VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program. I retired in June, 2013 and Angela got out in 2004.

Our current battle has been going on since October 1, 2015. This is only one of many battles with the VA that we have both fought and there will probably be many more.

In our blog we will be covering veteran’s issues, veteran’s stories and useful information that we want to share. Please feel free to contact us at any time. We also have a Twitter account under @reveilleafter.