September 11, 2012
When Shawnee State University became aware of a possible delay in education benefits for veterans, the institution took immediately steps to help students affected by the delay to continue their education.
The university was notified that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs encountered a systems problem while transferring electronic records between regional offices.
The issue resulted in the temporary loss of a number of eligibility certifications for Ohio and West Virginia veterans with pending college enrollments received between July 24 and August 9.
"Our veteran students rely on those education benefits," Dr. Rita Rice Morris, said. "We wanted to assure them that we were made aware of the problem and that we would do everything in our power to minimize the potential impact of a delay."
In a letter to veterans enrolled at SSU, the university notified students that no late fees would be charged for veteran students whose benefits were delayed because of the issue. Additionally, the university's Development Foundation established a short-term emergency loan fund to assist veteran students experiencing financial difficulties because of the issue.
"We know how important getting an education is to our veterans and we want to do everything that we can do to help them achieve their goals," Morris said. "A vital part of our mission is making a college education accessible to the students in our region, including our veterans."
Veterans who are enrolled at Shawnee State University have been asked to contact the SSU Veteran Affairs Representative at (740) 351-4441 for assistance.