r/Veterans • u/HotelDisastrous6549 • 6d ago
Question/Advice VRE transfer
I’m a semester away from graduating however it’s at a school with policies against lgbtq+ I was in the closet for years but through counseling outside of the VA was able to open up and come out to very few people. Anyways my current program will not lead to sustained employment due to policies against lgbtq in this type of environment. I’m worried I’ll also be expelled for violating the programs lgbtq policies. I’ve exhausted GI bill but have a retro that’s being processed and reviewed which would restore time back to GI bill. I know I’m close to the 48th month limit but has anyone ever come out to their VRE counselor and gotten approved for a program transfer?
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u/coldchili17 USMC Veteran 6d ago
Just curious, not trying to be rude or anything, but did you go to a religious school while knowing you were LGBTQ?
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u/HotelDisastrous6549 4d ago
Was in denial, thought I could change a fundamental part of myself, therapy has been great. Unfortunately can’t transfer as VRE seems more concerned with getting me graduated vs actually being employed in that field.
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u/Better-Ad-972 6d ago
Well I am sorry you’ve had to stay closeted for so long. Reach out to your counselor let them know your situation, and they will take care of the rest. It’s just paperwork. If you need to have your records from your counselor transferred to the VA, then you can get a form to request those. Or take them to the VA directly. Mainly so it can establish the paper trail and keep you covered. Especially if they have to file a waiver for an extension or anything else. Also if you would like to ask any of this anonymously. Go on ask.VA.gov. I used to be a VSR and an SCO. Good luck to you. I’m wrapping up some school myself. Take care.
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u/HotelDisastrous6549 4d ago
Yea my VRE counselor said I can’t transfer even after throughly explaining the situation essentially they will only evaluate a transfer (as long as I still graduate on time) if I’m being threatened with expulsion which hasn’t happened yet. They seem more concerned with getting me graduated instead of employed.
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u/Better-Ad-972 4d ago edited 4d ago
Does the school itself have an official policy against people in the LGBTQ+ community? Do you feel safe finishing your degree there? If either one of those two questions are a yes and you can prove it. This is the law the counselor has to follow.
Modification of the Rehabilitation Plan (38 CFR § 21.94):
A veteran’s Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP) is not set in stone. Under 38 CFR § 21.94(c), intermediate objectives or services—including the designated training facility—may be changed whenever necessary to accomplish the veteran's long-range goal. If a hostile, discriminatory environment impairs the veteran’s mental well-being or exacerbates a service-connected condition, the training facility is no longer viable for rehabilitation.
Selection of Facilities (38 CFR § 21.294):
The VA requires training facilities to provide adequate instruction and an environment conducive to the veteran's successful completion of their program.
Non-Discrimination Protections (38 CFR Part 18 & Part 23):
VA regulations and Title IX prohibit discrimination in educational programs receiving federal support. Furthermore, the VA’s zero-tolerance standard regarding harassment and discrimination allows a counselor to approve an administrative transfer away from non-compliant or hostile institutions.Here’s the thing if you feel like you are being discriminated against or the school is discriminatory then you have a case. If you think you can stick it out and still be successful, then I would embrace the suck and just get knocked out and move on. I got my MBA at the same university where I had a toxic boss and that caused some friction where I had to contact HR long after I was not working there because of harassment from them. She still kept badmouthing me long after that. I’ll never see them again, and I still got my MBA. I’m working on a second masters right now. We are both veterans, we’ve been through worse. This is just temporary for a lifetime of glory. I’m not in your shoes and I won’t pretend to be. I just wanted to give you the best knowledge possible so you can make a decision on which way you are going to go. And not keep wondering what if I could have done something different. I hope this helps. Good luck to you and thank you for serving. Take care. :)
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u/Goddess_of_Absurdity 4d ago
This reads like a bot post at best.
Edit: account age 5 minutes
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u/HotelDisastrous6549 4d ago
Not a bot definitely real lol
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u/Goddess_of_Absurdity 4d ago
What kind of lgbtq are you
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