Southwest Virginia Community College is offering a unique program to veterans interested in attending college. The TRIO Veterans Upward Bound Program (TRIO VUB) is a free, intensive, pre-college program funded with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
The program offers a fast track academic remediation program in English and Math, job readiness seminars, academic strengthening workshops, and transitions group counseling services for veterans just returning from deployment.
Students in the program will be fully prepared to enter college and succeed. They receive free, pre-college, non-credited courses and textbooks as well as valuable information on preparing for college, paying for college, time management, stress management, taking notes, and test taking. Students also get to meet with TRIO VUB Counselors to discuss and plan academic, financial, and career goals. Tutoring services are provided to students in the program.
“What is great about this program is that we are able to design services based on what veterans have identified as needs. The program also has the flexibility to continue meeting their needs as those needs change,” said Gwendalyn Slone, program director.
According to Slone, only 45 grants were awarded in the United States and the program is the only one in Virginia.
To be eligible for the program, a veteran must have served 181 days of active duty in the military (under special circumstances one may be eligible with less than 181 days), have a discharge other than dishonorable, meet certain income standards or be a first generation college student.
The TRIO Veterans Upward Bound program has hired two counselors, Denise Miller and Martha Strouth, to assist veterans in meeting their academic goals. The program will begin accepting students for the spring 2008 semester. For more information contact the TRIO VUB office at 276.964.7363.