To encourage model programs to support veteran student success in postsecondary education by coordinating services to address the academic, financial, physical, and social needs of veteran students.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Securing Success for Veterans on 
Campus Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR VETERAN STUDENT SUCCESS.

    Title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1133 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new part:

      ``PART F--CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR VETERAN STUDENT SUCCESS

``SEC. 781. 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 student success in postsecondary 
education by coordinating services to address the academic, financial, 
physical, and social needs of veteran students.
    ``(b) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations under subsection (f), the Secretary shall award 
        grants to institutions of higher education to develop model 
        programs to support veteran student success in postsecondary 
        education.
            ``(2) Grant period.--A grant awarded under this section 
        shall be awarded for a period of 3 years.
    ``(c) Use of Grants.--
            ``(1) Required activities.--An institution of higher 
        education receiving a grant under this section shall use such 
        grant to carry out a model program that includes--
                    ``(A) establishing of a Center of Excellence for 
                Veteran Student Success on the campus of the 
                institution to provide a single point of contact to 
                coordinate comprehensive support services for veteran 
                students;
                    ``(B) establishing a veteran students support team, 
                including representatives from the offices of the 
                institution responsible for admissions, registration, 
                financial aid, veterans benefits, academic advising, 
                student health, personal or mental health counseling, 
                career advising, disabilities services, and any other 
                office of the institution that provides support to 
                veteran students on campus;
                    ``(C) providing a full-time or part-time 
                coordinator whose primary responsibility is to 
                coordinate the model program carried out under this 
                section;
                    ``(D) monitoring the rates of veteran student 
                enrollment, persistence, and completion; and
                    ``(E) developing a plan to sustain the Center of 
                Excellence for Veteran Student Success after the grant 
                period.
            ``(2) Other authorized activities.--An institution of 
        higher education receiving a grant under this section may use 
        such grant to carry out any of the following activities with 
        respect to veteran 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 on-going 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 students living in 
                institutional facilities and commuting students.
                    ``(E) Cultural events, academic programs, 
                orientation programs, and other activities designed to 
                ease the transition to campus life for such students.
                    ``(F) Support for veteran student organizations and 
                veteran 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 
                such students in achieving their educational and career 
                goals.
    ``(d) Application; Selection.--
            ``(1) Application.--To be considered for a grant under this 
        section, an institution of higher education shall submit to the 
        Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and 
        accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Selection considerations.--In awarding grants under 
        this section, the Secretary shall consider--
                    ``(A) the number of veteran students enrolled at an 
                institution of higher education; and
                    ``(B) the need for model programs to address the 
                needs of veteran 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 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 increases as a result of such 
programs.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this part such sums as may be necessary for 
fiscal year 2009 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.

Summary: Securing Success for Veterans on Campus Act of 2008 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award three-year grants to institutions of higher education to develop model programs that require each grantee to establish a campus Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success that provides a single point of contact for the coordination of comprehensive support services for students who are veterans. Requires the Secretary to develop an evaluation and accountability plan for measuring the effect such programs have on veterans' success in postsecondary education.