University of Iowa veterans program to end, loses federal support

IOWA CITY - Just a year ago, the University of Iowa began offering an array of services for military veterans through a first-of-its kind federally-funded consortium that would grow and spread to colleges nationwide.

But a branch of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has already pulled support for the Iowa Consortium of Veteran Excellence before it was fully implemented.

'It's frustrating for me to have this program leave,” said Michael J. Hall, a neuropsychologist for the Iowa City VA Health Care System and ICOVE director who, along with three staffers, will be vacating the UI offices this month.

'We made a commitment, and we are not following through,” he said. 'That worries me, because the university is doing a lot for veterans. And they are doing a lot at their cost.”

More than 700 on the UI campus receive veteran benefits, including more than 500 veterans and military service member dependents.

ICOVE aimed to help veterans transition into college, providing them services to increase their chances of graduation and employment. Although the program offered services to all veterans, it provided specific attention to those with disabilities.

Its services included a veterans' transition course, a peer mentoring program, career development and a jobs club among other services.

The decision to terminate the program, which cost $2.2 million to get off the ground, was made by the VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services. But Hall said officials there haven't given him a good explanation for it.

'I don't think this is about budget,” he said. 'It makes no sense to me. I don't know why they're pulling it.”

Federal officials have said the program could be revived later. But, Hall said, there is no guarantee that will happen. And if it does, he said, it could exclude Iowa and look different.

The money spent on the pilot project would be wasted if the program is never revived or changes significantly, Hall said.

'And my concern is that the UI has wasted its resources because this programming was assumed to stay,” he said, adding that he's embarrassed by the VA's lack of support for it.

The news comes less than a week after a new U.S. News & World Report college rankings moved the UI from among the top 10 best colleges for veterans to No. 67. That drop was not tied to the loss of ICOVE, according to Hall, who said the program's existence over the past year actually should have bolstered UI's rank.

Officials with UI Military and Veteran Student Services Office are searching for ways to continue programs introduced through ICOVE.

'We will do what we can,” said UI Registrar and Assistant Provost Larry Lockwood, who also is a veteran. 'But the job placement aspect of it is going to hurt.”

Lockwood said in the program's short tenure, it had proved 'very successful,” easing the transition for returning military veterans, hooking students up with academic advisers, supporting them in their career pursuits and providing extra attention to those with disabilities.

'We were shocked they are terminating it.” he said. 'We expected it to be extended.”

Lockwood said officials had hoped to introduce the program on Iowa campuses including Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa and Kirkwood Community College.

Drew Wherry, a UI student, veteran and director of communications for the UI Veterans Association, said he came to campus just as ICOVE was being conceived. Wherry said he has benefited from the programming - it has given him a niche, offered him career experience and linked him with employers in the region.

'As our military is drawing down from the longest armed conflict in U.S. military history, more and more of our brothers and sisters are going to be in need of these exact services,” according to a letter to government officials written by Wherry and his colleagues. 'It is unfathomable that a program built and tailored specifically for our needs would succumb so quickly.”