Affirming Excellence in Veteran Student Services Program

Each year the Idaho State University Military Education Benefits office is required to complete a comprehensive Federal Compliance Survey with the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to ensure that programs approved for use of VA Education Benefits under G.I.Bill® and Veterans Readiness and Employment programs adhere to all applicable provisions of Title 38 of United States Code (USC).

The Federal Compliance Survey also allows the DVA to identify discrepancies and assist School Certifying Officials (SCOs) and institution officials in better understanding their responsibilities and the procedural requirements of the DVA as the regulations governing these benefits are expansive and ever changing. Additionally, under the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act passed in 2023, the timeframe for securing all necessary compliance documents and completing all questionnaires for the Federal Compliance Survey was reduced to just 10 business days for SCOs at Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) such as Idaho State University.

As an IHL providing student services to approximately 400 DVA beneficiaries under 447 individually approved programs of education across five DVA approved locations comprised of ISU's primary campus in Pocatello and extension campuses in Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Meridian, and Anchorage AK, the complexity of this Federal Compliance Survey is one of the largest tasks taken on by the Military Education Benefits office each year.

With all of this in mind, Military Education Benefits staff members, Kerry Larsen and Jules Churba-Pyzer, report that, upon conclusion of their FY 2023-2024 survey and receipt of the official DVA Findings and Narrative Letter on March 15, 2024, Idaho State University had "zero findings" during their most recent Federal Compliance Survey. As Military Education Benefits Coordinator, Kerry Larsen, reported, that's an accomplishment worth noting.

Larsen said, "In my 14+ years with ISU, this was the first time I have heard of any institution receiving zero findings during their Federal Compliance Survey."

Todd Johnson, director of the Veteran Student Services Center, affirms what the report findings revealed about the Veteran Student Support programming here at ISU and the caliber of the people working to provide those services.  

"Congratulations on having the best Veteran Certifying Official of any institution in the State of Idaho. In my opinion, the best VCO in the country," Johnson said. "Zero findings is truly unheard of in the VA audit world. Kerry and Jules are amazing. The Registrar's Office and Enrollment Management are doing an amazing job for the students and prospective students of ISU. We are all honored to have Kerry and Jules on the Veteran and military support team."

ISU was also awarded the number four spot for military friendly schools in the United States this semester.