Below are a few SLU resources for students:

For general questions contact:

• Student Financial Services

If you need information about veteran benefits contact:

• Office of the University Registrar

Learn more about the scholarship and financial aid opportunities:

• Veterans and dependents
• Medical Scholar Program
• ROTC Programs

SLU also offers veterans reduced tuition rates for the Online Aviation Management degree.

To get a glance at the cost of a SLU education, click here to access Cost Calculators or contact us for more information.

What are the benefits?
Volunteering can help you re-develop your civilian identity by introducing you to new skills and people in the community.

Additional benefits include the chance to meet other students and make friends and opportunities for career advancement through networking.

Where can I find opportunities?
Saint Louis University makes it easy to get involved. You can select any number of opportunities from the Center for Service and Community Engagement (CSCE) or visit SLU’s Community Partners Database to view more options.

You can also assist individuals by joining SLU’s Disability Services Club or help on a larger scale with the following programs:

• Campus Ministry
• Food Outreach
• Mission Continues
• Habitat for Humanity

How do I choose?
Make sure to select a volunteer position you are passionate about or that fits your career goals. If you are still unsure, fill out SLU’s Service Interest Form based on your accessibility and interests and a member of the CSCE team will contact you regarding volunteer opportunities that would best suit you.

When should I start?
Decide if you want to volunteer on a one-time basis or make a longer commitment. The sooner you begin, the sooner you can make a difference and experience immediate satisfaction in your life.

For more information, contact:

The Center for Service and Community Engagement (CSCE)

Location:
Center for Global Citizenship, Suite 130
3672 West Pine Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108

Phone: 314-977-4105
Email: service@slu.edu

Nygel Williams, sophomore at SLU

We recently had the chance to speak with a promising sophomore, Nygel Williams. Nygel is majoring in athletic training, but is also on the pre-med track and plans to be a medic in the Navy. He will serve as treasurer of the Student Veterans Association here at SLU next semester.

Q. Where are you from?

A. All over the place, to be honest. My dad was in the service. I was born in Columbus, Ohio, but we didn’t stay there very long. From there, it was just all over the country and even to Japan for three years. Ever since I could remember, I was on a base.

Q. What made you choose SLU?

A. When I came for my visit, I just loved the environment. Everyone was so excited and so helpful and it seemed like they genuinely wanted me to be here.

They had the program I wanted. Not many schools have the athletic training program I’m in.

And then they worked well with my dad and me – he gave me a couple years of his GI Bill and SLU is very accommodating – just great and easy to work with. SLU may look really expensive upfront if you’re just browsing through, but they were so helpful with their financial aid packet. It ended up being cheaper than almost every other school I applied to. SLU’s very helpful and you just have to keep that in mind. You know that you’re getting a quality education.

Q. What part of the Athletic Training (AT) program at SLU appealed to you the most?

A. The program here is entry level. As soon as you’re accepted in high school, you’re accepted into the five-year’s master’s program. So you get your bachelor’s degree in four years and then the next year you get your master’s degree. And if you so choose, you’re off to the real world. I know a lot of schools have a pre-track for it and then you have to apply to graduate school, which would be an extra year to get your master’s. It’s nice that you can get it all done here.

They’re very helpful and they’re very well connected. I know our program here is connected with all the major teams: the Cardinals, the Blues and the Rams. And we have our own Division I program here.

Q. What’s the best part of the program?

A. The program director, Tony Breitbach is a great guy. He’s really personable. He’s really nice. He really cares about you succeeding and getting through the program. He takes the time to sit down with you every semester to see how it’s going even though he doesn’t need to do that. I really appreciate that. He’s just a great guy. He’s definitely the best part.

Q. What do you find most challenging?

A. I wish someone would had told me how much work it’s going to take. I always thought I’d do my classes and get my degree and go get my job. But really you come here and you want to make friends and then there’s going to be clubs you want to join and then there’s going to be classes on top of that. If someone would have sat me down and told me, “You need to get your time management skills set,” that probably would have been the best advice I could’ve heard.

Q. What do you like best about SLU?

A. The thing I really, really like is that I feel like SLU lives out the Jesuit mission they talk about. I don’t know any other school where two times a year they get most of the student body and most of the faculty together to go out and do service. I haven’t heard about that anywhere else. It’s been a great experience for me and I think it would be a great experience for anyone else.

Q. What campus activities are you involved with?

A. I’m highly involved in Alpha Phi Omega. It’s great – I love doing all the service. I’m also a resident adviser in Fusz Hall and a peer educator for the Student Health Advocates/Peer Educator (S.H.A.P.E.). In addition, I am a member of the SLU Athletic Training Society and am also serving as treasurer for the SLU Veterans Association. I also volunteer weekly at the local veteran’s hospital as a nurse assistant.

Q. What do you do for fun?

A. I try to keep myself in shape. I work out five to six days a week because I am planning on joining the military. I need to keep my fitness up so I can survive basic training.

Q. Who is your hero?

A. Definitely my dad. My whole life, I’ve always looked up to him. He’s done so many great things. He’s a really smart, really great man and I just hope to one day be close to what he is.

Q. What’s the most interesting thing about you?

A. The people who know me, I guess my humor jumps out to them first. I just try to make people laugh. I feel that’s the best way to get connected with people. There’s nothing you can share better than a laugh.

Air Force Detachment 207 at Saint Louis University

Commencement always defines a significant milestone in any student’s life. As Saint Louis University and the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) commissioned 10 2nd lieutenants this semester, students were acknowledged for their dedication and commitment to the program.

The AFROTC Detachment 207, which is housed at SLU, provides students with the military background they will need to serve as officers. The AFROTC program also provides opportunities for full or partial scholarships to help with the rising cost of education.

Along with their regular coursework, students undergo rigorous physical and mental training. From day one, students attend Leadership Lab (LLab) in AFROTC. After mastering military customs and calling commands, students are then responsible for leading their peers.

These students transition their way from cadets to well-rounded leaders with the guidance and training from SLU’s faculty, AFROTC personnel and the people they meet at SLU.

“SLU has diversity – that’s a big thing here. Broadening my horizons in that aspect really is key, especially in a very small group of people like the Air Force,” said recent graduate, 2nd Lt. Matthew Thamphy. He believes the SLU community has revealed a snippet of how the world really is as far as the different kinds of people he will work with.

The AFROTC program at Saint Louis University transforms students into highly trained leaders and prepares them to become officers in the US Air Force. Although a majority of students train to become pilots in the Air Force, others go on to pursue careers in a variety of other fields such as:

• Aviation Science
• Space Operations
• Intelligence
• Combat Systems
• Aerospace Engineering
• Development Engineering

For more information about the Air Force ROTC at SLU, please visit their website.

Air Force ROTC Spring 2013 Commissioning Ceremony

Eve Holzemer, DPN at SLU

Most people are unaware that women are the fastest growing group within the veteran population. Because of this, the number of female veterans in the Veteran Affairs (VA) health-care system has nearly doubled over the last ten years. The numbers are only expected to increase over time.

This can pose a problem for veterans hospitals when it comes to treating women. Female veterans are normally sent to outpatient and women’s clinics for additional gynecological and wellness exams.

Eve Holzemer, DNP and adjunct instructor at SLU’s School of Nursing is also the Women Veterans Program Manager in St. Louis, Mo. It was clear to her measures needed to be taken to accommodate female veterans in the VA St. Louis Health Care System (VASLHCS). Holzemer has proposed a three-phased solution to expand the VA’s health-care program for women veterans in the St. Louis area:

• Partnering with practitioners to treat veterans in their area
• Streamlining processes to allow for same day examinations
• Increasing and improving complex services (electrosurgical excision procedures, hysteroscopy, prenatal services, etc.)

In this article, Holzemer describes in detail how the VASLHCS can take more of a comprehensive approach toward treatment, including coordinating medical care and social services.

Some renovations to the VA hospital at John Cochran will be completed as early as May 2013. Further renovations are expected to be completed in early 2015.

Click here to read more about Dr. Holzemer. To learn more about VA health care for women veterans, visit their website.

Most individuals choose a military career early on in life; however, Peter Emerson went down a different path. While everyday life got in the way of his dream of serving in the military when he was younger, Emerson was able to achieve his goal later in life.

The Next Step

By earning his Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Studies (with a minor in strategic communications) from SLU earlier this year, Emerson was able to become a lieutenant in the Missouri National Guard while maintaining his senior purchasing coordinator position at Citi Mortgage.

He chose SLU because of the flexibility of the night and online business classes offered through the School for Professional Studies. He was very impressed with how highly qualified SLU’s faculty was. For instance, one of his favorite classes was taught by a marketing executive from Anheuser Busch. Lieutenant Emerson believed other universities couldn’t compete with the prestige of a SLU degree.

The New Role

His SLU education has positioned him well for his current job as well as for his future career. He has been able to take what he learned at SLU and apply it to his role as a National Guard officer. The organizational studies curriculum helped him understand large organizations like his employer, Citi Mortgage, while his knowledge of strategic communications helps with external crisis management.

He currently trains new soldiers in the Recruit Sustainment Program, designed for soldiers who have not been through basic combat training. In this class, they learn terminology and protocols that are part of the Army and National Guard service. Lieutenant Emerson looks forward to the day when he can lead his own platoon.

Live Your Dream

If you have always wanted to continue your education, but were unable to fit it into your busy schedule, consider enrolling in classes through Saint Louis University’s School for Professional Studies, which offers several undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Undergraduate degrees currently offered fully online through the School for Professional Studies:

• Criminal Justice & Security Management
• General Studies
• Organizational Studies
• Aeronautics: Aviation Management Concentration
• Nursing – RN to BSN
• Organizational Leadership & Technology

Graduate degrees currently offered fully online through the School for Professional Studies:

• Leadership & Organizational Development
• Organizational Informatics

Visit BusyAdults.slu.edu for a full list of programs and scholarships offered.

Taylor Baum, sophomore at SLU

I had the pleasure of interviewing Taylor Baum, ROTC cadet and exceptional SLU student. Read on to learn a little bit about her experience with SLU and ROTC.

Q. Where are you from?

A. St. Louis (South City)

Q. Why did you come to SLU?

A. SLU has a very good medical/pre-med program and it is a well-renowned school. I know that they have a very good science program and figured it would be a good choice.

Q. What are you majoring in and what will you be doing with your degree?

A. I am a psych/pre-med major and I will like to go to medical school and become some kind of doctor.

Q. What are your interests and hobbies?

A. I do research at SLU. I work in an evolutionary botany lab. I spend a lot of time studying. Besides that I like to relax with friends.

Q. How did you become interested in Army ROTC?

A. I like to be challenged constantly – physical, mental, emotional – and I feel like ROTC encompasses all of those different things and is making me a better person. I really like that. And I think the Army has tons to offer, like health benefits and travel. I knew I wanted to go to college first so ROTC was an obvious choice.

Q. How have you benefited from your ROTC training?

A. I’ve definitely been more confident. My interpersonal skills have been better, like leadership obviously. Sending out emails and talking to people and giving them all the information necessary, like every detail and realizing how much you have to tell people, just things like that.

Q. Would you recommend Army ROTC to incoming college freshmen and high school seniors? If so, why?

A. Yes. I definitely would. Obviously I would tell them it is a huge time commitment because it is more than I thought it would be. Just like I said it made me a better person and more confident. The things that I have learned are amazing and I have a ton more to learn too. I really look forward to coming to stuff like I have met a lot of good friends through ROTC and a lot of really awesome people.

If you would like more information about the ROTC at SLU, visit: http://www.slu.edu/military-student-resources-home/rotc-programs.

The online aviation management program at Saint Louis University provides students with specialized knowledge of the aviation industry and a strong foundation in corporate operations. This program is offered in partnership between SLU’s School for Professional Studies and SLU’s Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology. The program emphasizes learner-centric education, utilizing problem-based learning. Students demonstrate a deeper understanding of their discipline and develop greater intellectual curiosity, confidence and engagement. Courses include:

• Air Carrier Operations
• Aviation Finance
• Airport Planning
• Airport Management
• Accident Investigation
• Aviation Law
• Economics of Air Transportation
• International Aviation
• Applied Professional Ethics & Standards
• Marketing Strategies
• Human Resources in Organizations

What does an Online Aviation Management student look like?

One student in the program is Major Jeremy Jeffrey, Marine Corps pilot. Major Jeffrey lives in Camp Lejeune, N.C. and is able to take aviation courses online that fit his busy military schedule. Major Jeffrey has been in the Marines for 20 years and 12 of those years have been as a pilot. With his hectic work schedule, Major Jeffrey needed an online academic plan that could meet his needs.

What can I do with an Aviation Management degree?

Major Jeffery serves as an excellent example of how even active duty military personnel can continue their education after ending their military career. Through the online aviation management program at SLU, you will learn comprehensive knowledge of the aviation industry that can open up several career opportunities including management positions at an array of organizations, such as aircraft manufacturers, airports, higher education institutions and airlines.

What are some additional benefits of the program?

SLU is now offering this online aviation management program at the reduced tuition rate of $250 per credit hour for benefit-eligible military students, veterans and their dependents. Please contact Jennifer Matteson, VA Certifying Official, for veterans benefits information at 314-977-2259 or jmattes2@slu.edu.

How do I enroll in this program?

To register for Saint Louis University’s online aviation management program, contact Debra Blanquart, Military Advisor, at 314-977-3347 or dblanqua@slu.edu.

Some veteran students say that unlike the clear structure and organization of the military, the process of enrolling in college is convoluted and vague. Rather than moving directly from point A to point B, they feel like they are mired in an endless maze of bureaucracy to apply for admissions, VA educational benefits and financial aid, in addition to the hurdles of registering for classes and learning their way around campus.

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) recognized this concern and addressed it during this year’s annual convention. NACAC has provided a detailed checklist to help veterans get started.

Here are some main points:

• Decide on an approved Veteran Affairs (VA) Education Program
• Choose a university
• Contact the VA Certified Official at the institution and ask if your program is supported
• Compile all transcripts and paperwork
• Apply for VA benefits
• Complete the Student Financial Aid Application (FAFSA)
• Apply for scholarships and grants
• Apply for admission
• Ask about additional placement testing
• Attend orientation
• Contact an academic advisor
• Seek additional support for help filling out VA forms

Why SLU?

Saint Louis University offers nearly 100 undergraduate programs that are challenging and relevant in today’s world, so you’re sure to find something that interests you. SLU also provides academic and social support for veterans as well as other services.

Finally, if you need help starting your college career at Saint Louis University, we are here to help. Schedule a visit or give us a call today:

General Inquiries

Michael Bamber, Program Director for Military Outreach
314-977-3425
mbamber1@slu.edu

Admissions / Transcript Review

Matt Schutte, Assistant Director
314-977-3716
tschutt1@slu.edu

Registrar Coordinator / VA Certifying Official

Jennifer Matteson
314-977-2259
jmattes2@slu.edu

Financial Aid

Student Financial Services
314-977-2350
sfs@slu.edu

Saint Louis University’s Disability Services is available to help all students with documented medical or clinical disabilities receive reasonable accommodations, in hopes disabled students can participate in all facets of their educational experience. If students have documented clinical medical or clinical disabilities and anticipate requiring accommodation, they should contact the University to officially recognize and consider their needs. All inquiries are confidential.

Disability Services may be particularly important to veterans who may be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a result of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) blasts. There is help available for veterans and students in general who suffer from the following conditions:

• Physical limitation, i.e. loss of limbs, paralysis, etc.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Traumatic brain injury

Any Saint Louis University student suffering from these or other documented medical or clinical conditions should contact Disability Services at 314-977-3484 or disability_services@slu.edu