Veterans and Military
Organizational Development

Helping serve those who have served

We are honored to assist active military, veterans and their families in their journey to complete a college degree and are pleased to welcome them to Eastern Illinois University. As a program originally designed to servee the men and women stationed at Rantoul Chanute Air Force Base, the Organizational Development program has been assisting both active duty personnel and veterans in their quest to complete a college degree for nearly 40 years. The Organizational Development program allows veterans to take advantage of the training received through their military service in order to complete their degree as quickly as possible. We believe in you and will facilitate degree completion in a manner that works best for.

EIU is a military friendly institution with support services available to facilitate the academic endeavors of active duty personnel and veterans. For more information, please contact Veterans Services via email or by phone at 217-581-7888.

When applying to the Organizational Development degree program, active duty military personnel and veterans should submit their military transcripts directly to the Organizational Development Coordinator.  

The JST (Joint Services Transcript) is the transcript service for soldiers and veterans of the Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Navy. These transcripts are a record of an individual’s military courses with descriptions and credit recommendations by the American Council on Education (ACE). For information on how to request a JST transcript, visit the ACE website.  In addition, soldiers and veterans who have attended the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) should have an official transcript sent to Eastern Illinois University.

Some Advantages We Can Offer

• Earn a Bachelor of Science Degree through EIU's Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences
• Alternative delivery formats including weeknights, weekends, and online delivery
• All residential credit requirements may be achieved through several delivery options including on- campus, off-campus, and online course delivery
• Receive upper-level, senior hour 3300 credits for military education/training up to 20 hours
• Online degree completion options
• Flexible degree completion timeframes
• Experienced and professional faculty and advisors
• Fees waived and in-state tuition available
• Accept all credits from military training and from other regionally accredited institutions attended
• Minimum number of required courses
• Textbooks are rented for a minimal fee through the university—never buy another textbook

Other Important Links For Military/Veterans

• Guaranteed Tuition Rate Plan
• Students Called to Active Duty or Deployed
• Veterans Services at EIU

Veteran’s Benefits

Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31 U.S. Code)
Vocational Rehabilitation is a comprehensive educational program administered by the VA, open to veterans with a compensable, service-connected disability. A monthly stipend is awarded along with all tuition and fees, as well as necessary tools or supplies. Contact Veteran Services for more information.

Post-Viet Nam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 32 U.S. Code)
Individuals who contributed to the VEAP while in the service may be eligible to receive a monthly stipend while attending college. Contact Veteran Services for details.

Dependent Educational Assistance (Chapter 35 U.S. Code)
Dependent Educational Assistance is available for widows, widowers, and children of veterans who died as a result of a service-connected condition or veterans who carry a permanent and total disability. Contact Veteran Services for details.

Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1606 U.S. Code)
Members of Military Reserve Units should contact their units for eligibility requirements. Applications may be obtained at Veteran Services.

Illinois Veteran Grant
Any person who served at least one full year of full-time active duty in the United States Armed Forces, received an honorable discharge and resided in Illinois six months before and after active duty service is eligible to apply. A recipient may not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant. A member of the Illinois National Guard or a Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States who meets the eligibility requirements is considered a qualified applicant for the Illinois Veteran Grant program. More information and application can be found online at www.collegezone.com. Letters of eligibility should be sent to the Veteran Services Office.

MIA/POW Scholarship
Any spouse, natural child, legally adopted child, or any step-child of a veteran or service person who has been declared by the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Veterans’ Administration to be a prisoner of war, missing-in-action, deceased as a result of a service-connected disability, or permanently disabled from service-connected causes with 100% disability and who, at the time of entering service, was an Illinois resident or was an Illinois resident within six months of entering service, may be eligible for the scholarship. Applications may be obtained at Veteran Services.

Montgomery G.I. Bill - Active Duty (Chapter 30 U.S. Code)
Eastern Illinois University is an approved institution for Veterans’ Affairs benefit programs. Applications may be obtained at Veteran Services.