Many West Virginia military veterans are benefitting from an educational program called Veterans Upward Bound, which is a federal TRIO program dedicated to helping veterans of the U.S. military prepare for education at the college, community college, trade school or technical school level.
Veterans Upward Bound staff are located throughout West Virginia and are ready to assist veterans by simplifying the process of preparing for postsecondary education. The program helps veterans with applying to school, comparing and applying for GI Benefits, obtaining copies of DD214 forms and military transcripts, applying for federal financial aid and providing timesaving links to other veteran agencies such as VA Medical Centers and Vocational Rehabilitation, among others.
Academic assistance is another service that is provided by the program. Refresher classes are offered to veterans that need to brush up on academic skills or simply want to learn a new skill. Classes are small, veteran-only and are generally offered one evening per week for 6 to 12 weeks at a time.
VUB is currently offering a virtual class on financial planning. However, in-person classes typically offered by the program are currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An announcement will be made when in-person classes resume. Class participants are eligible for a small stipend.
The program provides services throughout West Virginia. All services and materials are free of charge to program participants and most veterans are eligible for the program. VUB also acts as a resource and referral service for any questions veterans may have.
The academic advisor for the Greenbrier County area is Curtis Pauley. To find out if you are eligible, or for more information about the program, call Pauley at 304-646-0684.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.