Director, Military & Veteran Services

Augusta University is Georgia's innovation center for education and health care, training the next generation of innovators, leaders, and healthcare providers. With more than 12,000 students, Augusta offers educational opportunities at the center of Georgia's cybersecurity hub and experiential learning that blends arts and application, humanities, and the health sciences. The university is home to Georgia's only public academic health center, where groundbreaking research and world-class clinical care come together.

About the Role

The Office of Military and Veteran Services (MVS) provides programs and services to veterans, active-duty, reservists, and dependents. The Director of MVS is responsible for services, recruitment, and staffing for Augusta University at Ft. Gordon, as well as the Military Resource Center on the Summerville Campus. This role serves as the university expert on veteran and military student success, developing key relationships to recruit and support military-affiliated students.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the Office of Military & Veteran Services:
  • Provide leadership for MVS, which processed educational benefits for over 1,600 military students in the 2023–2024 academic year, totaling approximately $4M in paid tuition and fees.
  • Develop departmental mission, goals, programs, services, and budgets.
  • Improve efficiency and effectiveness of office processes to better serve military-affiliated students.
  • Lead and supervise five staff members and VA Work Study student team members, ensuring excellent customer service.
  • Manage the Military Resource Center on the Summerville campus and the Augusta University office/classroom at Fort Eisenhower.
  • Monitor and manage expenditures within state-appropriated, VA indirect cost recovery, and foundation budgets.
  • Provide data and reports to university leadership on military and veteran student status, barriers, and programming.
  • Coordinate with campus departments for mandatory submissions (e.g., IPEDS, 85/15 report) and military-friendly surveys.
  • Advise university leadership on military and veteran student concerns and legislative issues.
  • Collaborate with enrollment departments (Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar, Business Office) to support military-affiliated students.
• Serve as Lead School Certifying Official for Augusta University:
  • Ensure accurate and timely awarding of student benefits and processing of enrollment status changes.
  • Submit annual academic catalogs, new program approvals, DoD tuition rate updates, and other required data.
  • Maintain compliance with Principles of Excellence and reconcile military educational funding accounts.
  • Prepare timely responses to VA or DoD student complaints.
  • Stay updated on federal and state legislation, rules, and policies pertaining to veteran student benefits.
  • Oversee support for students related to VA and state benefit procedures.
  • Coordinate updates to AU’s DoD MOU and Veterans Affairs WEAMS system.
  • Supervise processing and reconciliation of active-duty and veteran educational benefits, including Tuition Assistance portals.
  • Coordinate with the Business Office, Registrar, Admissions, Financial Aid, and IT for benefit processing.
  • Oversee reporting of student progression, graduation, and return of funds to Veterans Affairs and DoD.
  • Supervise administration of the Health Professions Scholarship Program benefits, including invoicing and reconciliation.
  • Monitor other financial aid to ensure compliance with laws regarding duplication of benefits.
  • Supervise invoicing and reconciliation of student accounts.
• Lead the Development of Military-Affiliated Student Development:
  • Create support services and programming to increase enrollment, retention, and persistence.
  • Plan and organize events celebrating the military community on and off campus.
  • Develop and assess programs supporting enrollment, engagement, success, and satisfaction of military-affiliated students.
  • Represent military-affiliated students and foster partnerships with community and governmental organizations.
  • Collaborate with veterans, veteran groups, government agencies, and Fort Eisenhower personnel.
  • Establish networks to support and recruit veterans to the university.
  • Coordinate veteran-to-veteran tutoring and mentoring.
  • Implement awareness programs highlighting the benefits and challenges of student veterans.
  • Create initiatives that build community and a sense of belonging.
  • Support the Student Veteran’s Association and other military-connected student organizations.
  • Serve as a resource for faculty navigating military-related situations (e.g., reservist annual training).
  • Conduct periodic needs assessments for military and veteran students.
• Strategically Recruit Military-Affiliated Students:
  • Maintain the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Augusta University as an on-post education provider at Fort Eisenhower.
  • Participate in opportunities at Fort Eisenhower (e.g., ACES, Warriors in Transition Battalion, Eisenhower Medical Center, Georgia Cyber Center).
  • Attend orientation sessions at the Veteran’s Transition Center and other recruitment opportunities.
  • Serve as the point of contact for the AU Degree Completion Initiative.
  • Identify opportunities for MOAs and articulation agreements to recruit military-affiliated students.
  • Build relationships with industries to assist their workforce with degree completion and increase the Military Completion Scholarship.
  • Collaborate with the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement to fundraise for scholarships and services.
  • Communicate with prospective students about programs and services through all available means.
  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive webpage for military and veteran services and events.
  • Create printed publications and use social media to advertise educational opportunities.
  • Collaborate with Communications & Marketing to develop branding and recruitment ads targeted to the military community.
  • Expand outreach to military members and veterans using community resources.
  • Act as a transfer credit ombudsman for credit by examination, prior knowledge, or training.
  • Coordinate services for military-affiliated students and family members with campus and community providers.
  • Assess student needs to recommend services (e.g., Academic Success Center, Counseling Services, Testing and Disability Services).
• Additional Duties:
  • Serve on university and system committees representing military-affiliated and non-traditional students.
  • Complete additional activities as assigned by leadership.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Five years of experience in higher education, military education, or veteran services.
• Experience supervising staff and managing budgets.
• Knowledge of federal and state legislation, rules, and policies pertaining to veteran student benefits.
• Experience with VA and DoD educational benefits processing.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Commitment to supporting military-affiliated students and fostering an inclusive campus environment.

Location: Augusta University Health Sciences Campus, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912.