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A survey by the RAND Corporation has found that the GI Bill played a significant role in motivating veterans to obtain post-secondary education after returning from service. About 24 percent of survey respondents told the RAND Corporation that the new GI Bill, otherwise known as the Post 9/11 Government Issue bill, was the driving force behind their decision to enroll in college. The new GI Bill was instated in August 2009 and increased the higher education benefits that were originally available to veterans through the first GI Bill, which was passed after World War II. The survey revealed, however, that a prevalent issue surrounding the bill is one of clarity - 38 percent of respondents reported having difficulty interpreting the bill and the benefits it provides. "[The benefits] are quite complex and depend on where you live, the kind of classes you are taking and your institution," said Jennifer Steele, associate policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Steele also noted that participants reported problems transferring military training credits to their academic institutions, in addition to several cases of veterans having trouble transitioning to campus life. Mike Smith, executive director of the University's Accelerated Master's Programs in systems and information engineering, said his program encourages veteran recruitment and helps ease the transition process. "I think the more effective thing is using the network of contacts to help get the word out," Smith said. Steele said it was important for institutions to portray themselves as friendly toward veterans and help with the transition process. "Veterans have particular needs and goals, so from a student services perspective, it's really important for institutions to make the investment so that they become known to take good care of veterans and do attract [potential student-veterans]," Steele said. Michael Wilcheck, a student at the University's Darden School who is a veteran, said the bill played an important role in helping veterans obtain education upon returning home. "[The GI Bill is helpful] for a lot for the guys here who are applying and considering an MBA coming out of the military; it certainly is impactful in their decision," said Wilcheck, who is a beneficiary of the bill.
Four officers from the University and Charlottesville police departments participated in a Wednesday night panel hosted by Student Council's Safety and Wellness Committee. The officers addressed a wide range of topics, including how to deal with a police officer when intoxicated and how to check the status of crimes that have occurred in different areas. The panel also discussed what seems to be a recent increase in crime in the University area.
[caption id="attachment_38554" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Alcoholic beverages such as Phusion Projects' Four Loko beverage cannot be sold if they contain caffeine following the FDA's recent ban of such products.
The Board of Visitors approved changes Monday to the University's financial aid application process. Effective for the class of 2015, the University will use the College Board's PROFILE application, a standardized form used by more than 600 institutions of higher learning, rather than its own internal application.
Prince William County's immigration policy, similar to the controversial policy enacted in Arizona this April, appears to have had an impact on the county's Hispanic population, according to the University's Center for Survey Research. The report, released Tuesday in conjunction with the Police Executive Research Forum, found that between 2,000 and 6,000 illegal immigrants left the county after the policy was implemented.
University astronomers analyzing images picked up by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer have helped confirm the discovery of a cool brown dwarf, a small star that is much cooler than our own sun. WISE, a satellite that was launched last December, monitors infrared light and encodes different wavelengths as different colors on images it takes of the universe.
[caption id="attachment_38445" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Early action will allow prospective students to apply by November without committing immediately.
[caption id="attachment_38443" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Representatives of Student Council engaged in a discussion about the DREAM Act and whether they should encourage the administration to support the bill at last night's meeting.
University alumnus and Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued a letter last Friday in which he supported the Department of Motor Vehicles' decision to reject federal work permit cards as adequate proof of lawful presence in the country. The Employment Authorization Document is issued to people who are temporarily in the United States and seeking employment.
[caption id="attachment_38379" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The University's Board of Visitors began its November meetings yesterday.
[caption id="attachment_38377" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The University's International Studies Office also reported a slight decrease in the number of students studying abroad in accordance with a national decline.
[caption id="attachment_38375" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Students wore black and held signs during the Latino Student Alliance's silent march to support the DREAM Act.
Albemarle County has launched a trial run of its PhotoSafe program, which uses cameras to enforce red-light driving infractions at dangerous intersections. During the 30-day warning period that began last Friday, county police officers will use signs positioned 500 feet away from the light at Route 29 and Rio Road to warn violators about the new enforcement plan.
[caption id="attachment_38330" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The Honor Committee discussed changes to the intent clause at its meeting last night.
A University student was robbed at gunpoint near the Eagle's Landing apartment complex last Wednesday, and another student was sexually assaulted while walking on Wertland Street early yesterday morning. The robbery last Wednesday took place at about 9 p.m. The 24-year-old student, who lives in the Eagle's Landing apartment complex located near Jefferson Park Avenue and Interstate 64, was on a sidewalk outside the apartment complex when a man approached him with a gun and demanded his wallet. The suspect was described as a black male between the ages of 18 and 30 who was wearing a dark-colored jacket and blue jeans, according to Albemarle County Police Sgt.
A grand jury indicted Ralph Leon Jackson, 57, on charges related to a shooting incident at the Rock Point Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway last April. Jackson, of Stuart's Draft, Va., is charged with one count of premeditated murder and one count of using and discharging a firearm in the death of Timothy Phillip Davis, 27, according to a press release from U.S.
A recent study at Indiana University, Bloomington shows that students tend to gain weight and exercise less as they move throughout their college careers, contradicting the commonly held notion of a "freshman 15" weight gain. In general, seniors at the campus walk less, perform less moderate exercise and perform less vigorous exercise than their freshman counterparts, said Jeanne Johnston, study author and assistant kinesiology professor. Seniors weighed more and had higher body-mass indexes, probably as a result of these habits, Johnston said.
The Darden School was ranked No. 11 in BusinessWeek magazine's latest list of the nation's top business programs and came in at No.
