NSHE Notes
by Chancellor Dan Klaich
May 25, 2015

Today we stop and take time to reflect upon the lives of those who died in service to our country. To varying degrees, we have all experienced the loss of a loved one who has made the ultimate sacrifice as a member of our armed forces.

 

I believe we owe these brave soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines a debt. It's an obligation we can start to pay by doing everything in our power to help their military brothers and sisters who were able to return home alive.  Their service and sacrifice has preserved our freedom and democratic way of life.

 

In Nevada, there are approximately 3,500 veterans (about three percent of our student population) who are receiving federal education benefits at NSHE institutions. We have offered most non-resident veterans the ability to pay in-state tuition, fee waivers for Nevada National Guard members (and their spouses and children), as well as grant-in-aid for the children of spouses of those service members killed in the line of duty.

 

In our current legislative session, we have been staunch supporters of bills to help our military. For example, AB 76 requires NSHE to provide reports and data on student veterans to the Interagency Council on Veterans Affairs. This data helps all state agencies better address veterans' needs. In addition, the bill allows NSHE to expand our policy for in-state tuition or free tuition to vets from two years after being honorably discharged to five years.

 

The veterans' resource centers on our campuses provide critical support systems for former military members who are transitioning to the civilian world and life as a college student. A recent multi-million dollar grant from the Department of Labor, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) will help us streamline our services with other state agencies and improve services. This grant allows NSHE to leverage the experience of active duty military, veterans, and older students who are re-entering higher education and will also make dramatic improvements in their ability to earn higher wages. 

 

We are indebted to those who have served and particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could have a brighter and more secure future. They have our gratitude, our respect, and our pledge to support them unconditionally in their return to life here in Nevada. 

 

For additional information on NSHE's veteran services, please visit our website at http://www.nevada.edu/veterans.