---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 1161t"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "1161t"
heading: "Model programs for Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/1161t"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance"
  - "Subchapter IX — Additional Programs"
  - "Part T — Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success"
---

# §1161t. Model programs for Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success

- (a) **Purpose—** It is the purpose of this section to encourage model programs to support [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) student success in postsecondary education by coordinating services to address the academic, financial, physical, and social needs of [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) students.
- (b) **Grants authorized—**
  - (1) **In general—** Subject to the availability of appropriations under [subsection (f)](#f), the [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) shall award grants to institutions of higher education to develop model programs to support [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) student success in postsecondary education.
  - (2) **Grant period—** A grant awarded under this section shall be awarded for a period of three years.
- (c) **Use of grants—**
  - (1) **Required activities—** An [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a) receiving a grant under this section shall use such grant to carry out a model program that includes—
    - (A) establishing a Center of Excellence for [Veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) Student Success on the campus of the institution to provide a single point of contact to coordinate comprehensive support services for [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) students;
    - (B) establishing a [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) student support team, including representatives from the offices of the institution responsible for admissions, registration, financial aid, [veterans](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-2) benefits, academic advising, student health, personal or mental health counseling, career advising, [disabilities](/usc/20/1003.md?p=6) services, and any other office of the institution that provides support to [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) students on campus;
    - (C) providing a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to coordinate the model program carried out under this section;
    - (D) monitoring the rates of [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) student enrollment, persistence, and completion; and
    - (E) developing a plan to sustain the Center of Excellence for [Veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) Student Success after the grant period.
  - (2) **Other authorized activities—** An [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a) receiving a grant under this section may use such grant to carry out any of the following activities with respect to [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) students:
    - (A) Outreach and recruitment of such students.
    - (B) Supportive instructional services for such students, which may include—
      - (i) personal, academic, and career counseling, as an ongoing part of the program;
      - (ii) tutoring and academic skill-building instruction assistance, as needed; and
      - (iii) assistance with special admissions and transfer of credit from previous postsecondary education or experience.
    - (C) Assistance in obtaining student financial aid.
    - (D) Housing support for [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) students living in institutional facilities and commuting [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) students.
    - (E) Cultural events, academic programs, orientation programs, and other activities designed to ease the transition to campus life for [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) students.
    - (F) Support for [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) student organizations and [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) student support groups on campus.
    - (G) Coordination of academic advising and admissions counseling with military bases and national guard units in the area.
    - (H) Other support services the institution determines to be necessary to ensure the success of [veterans](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-2) in achieving educational and career goals.
- (d) **Application; selection—**
  - (1) **Application—** To be considered for a grant under this section, an [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a) shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) an application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) may require.
  - (2) **Selection considerations—** In awarding grants under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) shall consider—
    - (A) the number of [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) students enrolled at an [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a); and
    - (B) the need for model programs to address the needs of [veteran](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-1) students at a wide range of institutions of higher education, including the need to provide—
      - (i) an equitable distribution of such grants to institutions of higher education of various types and sizes;
      - (ii) an equitable geographic distribution of such grants; and
      - (iii) an equitable distribution of such grants among rural and urban areas.
- (e) **Evaluation and accountability plan—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) shall develop an evaluation and accountability plan for model programs funded under this section to objectively measure the impact of such programs, including a measure of whether postsecondary education enrollment, persistence, and completion for [veterans](/usc/20/1087vv.md?p=c-2) increases as a result of such programs.
- (f) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–329, title VIII, § 873, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title VIII, § 801, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3428.)