The Evergreen State College, which has campuses in Olympia and Tacoma, offers some compelling incentives for veterans to pursue higher education.

In addition to the standard grants and financial aid loans any student can apply for, veterans who qualify also may be eligible for some specific entitlements.

"One of the good things we have for all vets who have served in times of conflict," noted TESC Veterans Affairs specialist Rafael Lozano, "is a fifty percent tuition exemption right off, including graduate school."

This veterans tuition waiver under State House Bill 1174 will be awarded first to those veterans closest to completion of undergraduate degrees and having documented financial need demonstrated through the financial aid process.

"To qualify for the waiver you must be a resident of the state of Washington," Lozano added.

He also talks about another program, one for veterans who have a 100 percent disability rating or dependents of those killed in action. State Bill 5442/House Bill 1454 requires all public higher education institutions to waive all tuition and fees for service members who received certain medals, children and spouses of totally disabled veterans and children and spouses of service members killed while on active duty.  

While State Bill 5442/House Bill 1452 was a mandate for TESC, implementing the 50 percent tuition exemption was a choice that the university made to serve the veteran population, says Lozano. TESC is affiliated with the National Association of Veterans' Programs Administrators, an organization that promotes the professional competency and efficiency of those working with veterans programs.

Consequently, the school offers a wide range of programs and flexibility designed to meet the needs of veteran students.  These include GI Bill benefits known as Chapters 30, 31, and 35, as well as Chapters 1606 and 1607, the benefits that pertain to increased benefits to National Guard and Reserve component veterans activated after Sept. 11, 2001.

Beyond that, the school offers generous academic credit for military training and course work. As a veteran and TESC alumni, Lozano says, he can speak firsthand about the strengths of the school's veterans programs.

The "unique" college, where students design their own degrees, offers degrees in liberal arts and sciences.  Rather than traditional grades, students work with faculty to set academic goals, chart progress, and evaluate achievements. Curriculum works in "programs." Faculty members have extended interaction and flexibility with the presentation of topics.  

And for veteran students with specific time challenges who want to be in a more adult-centered environment, the Tacoma Campus offers an assortment of programs designed to cater to them.  For those who might fall short of the 90-credit transfer limit, the university works with Tacoma Community College in a "bridge" program to help facilitate a seamless transfer.

The school's Admissions department can be contacted for more information, either in person at 2700 Evergreen Parkway N.W., by phone at (360) 867-6170, or via e-mail at admissions@evergreen.edu; alternately, a trip to the Evergreen Web site at www.evergreen.edu can answer a wide range of questions, too.