Veterans are reminded that they are eligible for educational benefits through Veterans Upward Bound (VUB), a federal TRIO Program dedicated to helping veterans of the U.S. military prepare for an education at the college, community college, trade school or technical school level. Veterans Upward Bound staff are located throughout West Virginia, ready to assist veterans by simplifying the process of preparing for postsecondary education, including: applying to school, comparing and applying for GI benefits, obtaining DD214 forms and military transcripts, applying for federal financial aid, and providing timesaving links to other veterans agencies such as VA Medical Centers and Vocational Rehabilitation, among others. Academic assistance is an optional service that is provided by the program. Refresher classes are offered to veterans who need to brush up on academic skills prior to entering postsecondary education. Classes are small, veteran-only and are generally offered one evening per week for eight or 12 weeks at a time. Class participants are eligible for a small stipend that helps to offset the cost of transportation to and from VUB classes. All program participants also are provided access to an online, self-paced tutorial program in which they can progress through various academic subjects and lessons on their own schedule. The program is headquartered at Davis & Elkins College but provides services throughout West Virginia. VUB provides all services and materials free of charge to program participants. VUB also acts as a resource and referral service for any questions veterans may have. Most veterans are eligible for VUB. To find out if you are eligible, or for more information about the program, call Curtis Pauley at 304-646-0684, or email pauleyc@dewv.edu, or visit the VUB website www.vubwv.org.
