Student veterans say information isn’t sufficient

The UNC system plans to attract more veterans to state universities — but some veterans already on UNC-CH’s campus are frustrated.

Junior Pavel Dounaevski, a platoon leader in the Army Reserve, said information about University resources for veterans is not widely distributed.

“They have a lot of resources but it’s not projected to the public,” he said.

Part of the system’s proposed five-year strategic plan recommends increasing the number of degrees earned by military-affiliated students. But the transition to student life takes time.

Michael Dakduk, executive director of Student Veterans of America, said the Post-9/11-G.I. Bill and troop withdrawals have resulted in higher veteran enrollment. The percentage of students using G.I. Bill benefits at six system schools was higher than the national average in fall 2011.

He said veterans receiving benefits must navigate the bureaucracy of both campus and federal agencies.

“You can’t get the G.I. Bill unless you’re enrolled in courses that lead to your academic major,” he said.

Policy changes, including priority registration, would help assuage some of the problems veterans face, he said.

Ann Marie Beall, director of military education for the UNC system, said veterans bring leadership skills and a unique perspective to the classroom.

She said the UNC system provides a list of resources and techniques for veterans that aims to improve retention and graduation rates.

But there’s room for improvement, Dakduk said.

“I think that some campuses are not implementing programs and policies to support veterans because they may not be educated on the issues,” Dakduk said.

Student Veterans of America chapters are present on 741 campuses nationwide and 15 in North Carolina — but not on the UNC-CH campus — promoting camaraderie among veterans, he said.

Aaron Bachenheimer, UNC-CH’s director of fraternity and sorority life and community involvement, said UNC-CH attempts to publicize its services through the Veterans Resource Team website.

“We are trying to do more to educate the campus about how we as a University can be more veteran-friendly,” he said.

Dounaevski said veterans are often intimidated by schools like UNC-CH and worry about being admitted.

“I love UNC, it has offered me so many opportunities,” he said, adding that his and other veterans experiences’ would be improved if services were more widely advertised.

Contact the desk editor at state@dailytarheel.com.