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Welcome Veterans!
Education: The best strategy before a new career
Here at UMA, veterans and active duty military personnel will find a wide range of courses, degrees, and services available to them at both our campuses, our 9 University College outreach centers, and through distance delivery. Since opening our doors in 1965, UMA has had a strong commitment to providing assistance to veterans as they strive to attain their educational goals. Click here to view the Fall/Winter 2009 edition of The Welcome Mat, opening the college door to service members and veterans.
UMA’s Veteran and Military Support Leadership Team
Support for veterans is augmented by a task force composed of UMA alumni, local community members, faculty, and staff. Key members provide the following support:
- Sheri Fraser, Director of Academic and Career Advising (207-621-3144), or any of our professional academic advisors, can walk you through the steps of becoming a student, including placement testing, choosing a degree and selecting courses.
- Laurie Krzywda, UMA’s Veterans Affairs Certifying Official (207-621-3458), and a veteran herself, can assist you with the required paperwork to access veteran educational benefits programs.
- Amy Line, Project Co-ordinator of Military Achievement Project, Navy veteran, UMA alumna and adjunct faculty member, serves as a Family Readiness Group member for active duty military.
- Don Osier, Director of Learning Support Services (207-621-3066), can assist you with a wide array of resources to help you develop and strengthen your learning skills, so that you become a more effective, self-confident and independent learner.
- Tristan Starbird, Admissions and Intake Associate (207-621-3037), is a business administration major; he can update you on the status of your application for admission.
- Beth Vigue, Transfer Credit Evaluator (207-621-3291), can assist you with the transfer process.
- Dr. Phil Watkins, Marine Corps Reserve Retired, and Coordinator of Student Support Services (207-621-3157), provides individual counseling services and co-chairs UMA’s Military and Veteran Affairs Task Force.
Getting Started
Click here for the steps to follow to get started at UMA.
Who We Serve
- Veterans who were on active duty and contributed to the "Montgomery G.I. Bill"
- Active duty military personnel attending UMA and using the "Montgomery G.I. Bill"
- Veterans who have served since 9/11 and will be taking advantage of the new Post 9/11 G.I. Bill effective August 1, 2009
- Members of the active Reserve and National Guard
- Disabled veterans retraining through VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Education program
- Eligible dependents of 100% disabled or deceased veterans
SOC Agreement
UMA is a Servicemembers Opportunity College and these services are administered by Beth Vigue, Transfer Credit Evaluator in our Registrar’s Office (207-621-3291) The University is committed to improving educational opportunities for veterans as well as for active duty military personnel, reservists, National Guardsmen and women, widows and widowers of veterans, and war orphans. UMA provides pre-service and post-service educational and financial advising and referral, will act as coordinator for local students while in the service, and will arrange for transfer of credit to the students’ home institutions. Service Personnel may receive college credits for their learning acquired in military life based upon the recommendations from the Guides to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services.
Military Activation
Students with inquiries regarding military activation and the effect on their enrollment in a traditional, compressed video, or interactive television class on a campus or at a center should send a copy of their orders and contact the UMA Student Accounts Office (207-621-3412).
Useful Links
- GI Bill: www.gibill.VA.gov - Visit the GI Bill website to learn about the latest developments and vital information concerning your education benefits. To talk with a VA Education Benefits Counselor, call (888) 442-4551.
- UMA Veterans' Request for Certification: http://www.uma.edu/veteranscertificationrequest.html
- Dept of Veteran Affairs – Veteran Benefits Administration: http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/
- Maine’s Togus VA Medical Center: http://www.togus.va.gov
- American Legion "VetCam": http://www.legion.org – a free webcam service that enables U.S. military and veterans to talk face-to-face on their personal computers with friends and family by simply registering as a user