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Campus News

Staples Recognized for Assisting Veterans


staples assisting veterans6/18/15


Minnesota West Community & Technical College is pleased to announce that Barb Staples, Minnesota West Registration Processor & Veterans Certifying Officer, has received a Certificate of Excellence for complying and assisting Veterans on educational benefits at Minnesota West from the Veterans State Approving Agency of Minnesota.


Staples was presented the Certificate at the Certifying Officials annual Conference at Inver Hills Community & Technical College in Inver Grove Heights, MN on June 17, 2015.

The Federal Veterans Administration contracts with the Minnesota State Approving Agency to go to campuses to audit and verify the Veterans records for accuracy and to make sure services are properly dispersed to Veterans and that education agencies comply with State and Federal laws in regard to Veterans benefits. The State Approving Agency must conduct these compliance visits every three to five years. Robert Ahles, from State Approving Agency, recently conducted a compliance survey at Minnesota West campuses: Canby, Granite Falls, Jackson & Pipestone.


During the conference, Robert Ahles, State Agent reported that the Minnesota State Approving Agency had visited 56 schools this fiscal year and reviewed 296 records. Of the 56 schools, the Minnesota State Approving Agency recognized three colleges Certifying Officials, one from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, one from Minnesota State – Mankato, and Barb Staples, Minnesota West for the accuracy and the Veterans records at his Compliance visit.  “He really appreciated the file management and accuracy of the records which made his job a lot easier and assured that Veterans were provided accurate and timely benefits