Military and Veteran Services

Yellow Ribbon Program Select SchoolsPacific University has a long history of supporting and accommodating both veterans and active duty service members as both students and faculty members. From veteran-friendly admissions policies to accessibility accommodations for wounded warriors, we’ve been a welcoming community for those who serve for more than 75 years.

Pacific University is proud to be named as one of the Most Military Supportive Colleges in the Pacific Region by MilitarySupportiveColleges.com.

Military and Veteran Resource Services

Students can contact Military and Veteran Services by contacting Denise Giesbers with specific questions, concerns or assistance needed.  We will respond as quickly as possible. 

Mental Health Services

The Student Counseling Center is available for assistance.  Please visit their website for specific information on how to schedule an appointment or call their office at 503-352-2191.

  • Additional Tools - listed on their website
  • To enroll in VA healthcare online, visit How to apply for VA health care
  • Washington County Crisis Line | 503-291-9111
  • Crisis Text Line | Text “Connect” to 741741
  • Suicide Prevention Lifeline | 1-800-273-8255
  • Trevor Lifeline | 1-866-488-7386

Veteran Education Benefits

Chapter 33 GI Bill® Benefits

New legislation has been signed into law that would allow student veterans to continue receiving GI Bill® benefits and housing allowances if their colleges or universities close or shift to providing online education during the coronavirus pandemic. S. 3503, which passed both congressional chambers, was introduced by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT). The law provides the VA with the discretion between now and December 21 to continue paying full benefits even if a program goes online. A companion bill, H.R. 6194, was introduced by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Phil Roe (R-TN). AACOM worked with congressional leadership and other stakeholders to ensure passage of this legislation.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. Government website.

Chapter 31 Voc Rehab

  • At this time we have been informed they do not expect benefits to change.  They are aware we have moved to online classes. 
  • If you need to discuss your situation with your Voc Rehab Counselor contact them by email or leave a voice message. 

For Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve Students

Students called up by their military unit for any reason should use the following protocol:

Email Student Veteran Services with the following information and we will contact you to make arrangements (if limited by OPSEC, please provide as much information as possible):

  • Your Name
  • Boxer ID
  • Military Unit
  • Anticipated deployment location
  • Expected deployment date
  • Estimated deployment duration

At Pacific University, our students, alumni and employees find an inclusive and supportive environment. We welcome veterans and their families as part of our learning community.

Employment

Pacific University is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome veterans to join our ranks as faculty and staff members. Pacific University employees enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package in a supportive working environment.

In addition to our standard benefits, employees who are veterans have the option of taking an extra paid holiday for Veterans Day, either on the observed date or on another date with supervisor approval.

Admissions

At Pacific University, we value your military service. The diverse backgrounds, experiences and mature voice that veterans bring into the classroom have the power to enrich the educational experience for all. We recognize that military service and deployment in particular can have a tremendous impact on a person’s life, academically, personally, and professionally. Young people may mature through their military experience, while the active service and re-entry into civilian life can also be tumultuous for some. Your individual experiences are part of the admissions process at Pacific, and we will take into account how military service has affected your educational career and readiness to be a student.

Financial Aid

Pacific is a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which provides tuition coverage in excess of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This program provides financial assistance for both undergraduate and graduate programs at Pacific.

We also work with a number of other federal programs designed to match veterans with the education and careers they want.

Academics

Pacific offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in the liberal arts and sciences, business, education, health professions and optometry. We welcome students straight out of high school, as well as those further along in their academic journey.

In addition to a rich experience in the liberal arts, our undergraduates often are interested in preparing for further study in the health professions — many right here at Pacific.

Those health professions programs also tend to be of interest to many of our students who are veterans. The College of Optometry has a rich history of partnership programs with the military, and the School of Physician Assistant Studies has a track of study specifically designed to train veterans to become primary care providers.

Services

Students at Pacific enjoy a nurturing, personalized learning experience. This is a place where your professors not only know your name, they care about you as a student and as a whole person.

The Advising Center is undergraduate students' first stop for planning their courses and degree pathways.

Academic advisors provide meaningful one-on-one guidance for students, and the Career Development Center helps students and alumni make their way into the working world.

The Office of Accessibility & Accommodation Services offers students support and accommodations for a variety of learning needs. OAA provides academic accommodations to veterans who have a documented condition. All student veterans who have such a condition are encouraged to register with the Office of Accessibility & Accomodation Services to discuss options for assistance for their success at Pacific.

Student counseling and health centers are available for students in Forest Grove and Hillsboro. Psychologists at the Student Counseling Center have completed UC4 training provided through the Center for Deployment Psychology and are specially trained to provide support for veterans. Students who are service members or veterans are invited to seek consultation, crisis support, or ongoing therapy through the Student Counseling Center at a subsidized rate.

The Student Counseling Center does not provide family therapy services but can provide referrals to providers in the community. Additionally, our School of Professional Psychology also operates a clinic in downtown Portland and in Hillsboro, offering counseling services to the public. Veterans and their families can receive free counseling through the clinic.

The Center for Civic Engagement can help veterans get connected with community organizations that support them in various ways, from mental health to housing to advocacy.

Additionally, our students enjoy a wealth of extracurricular activities, from clubs and organizations to intramural sports and outdoor adventures. Many of our students who are veterans enjoy activities with Connections, our transfer student club, and we also have relationships with local veterans organizations, such as the American Legion.

Most importantly, at Pacific all of our students are valued members of a small, tight-knit community, where they find the opportunities, care, and support they need to succeed in the next steps of their journey.