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Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Benefits and Resources for Veterans and Military

As a veteran-friendly institution, Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ is committed to the hiring, retention, and professional development of veterans and military service members. Between robust institutional offerings and numerous state-sponsored benefits, there are many advantages of being a Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ team member for military service members, veterans and their family members. Whether you are active duty or a veteran, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center has a program or resource to help you succeed. 

Paid and Unpaid Military Leave

At Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ, you may receive up to 15 days of paid military leave each year if you are called to active duty or authorized training as a member of the state military forces or any of the reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces.

You also may be eligible for Military Family Leave under FMLA if you have a spouse, child or parent who is on active duty or has been called to active-duty status, and you may be entitled to up to 26 workweeks of unpaid leave in a single 12-month period if you are the primary caregiver of a covered service member who is recovering from injury or illness.

Additionally, Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ proudly offers Medical and Mental Health Care Leave for Veterans, pursuant to Texas Government Code § 661.924. This provides up to 15 days of paid leave each year (separate from, and in addition to, vacation leave, sick leave, earned overtime credit, etc.) to be used to obtain medical or mental health care administered by the Veterans Health Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, including physical rehabilitation.

Educational Benefits

As an institution of higher education dedicated to innovative research and public service, Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ recognizes the importance of pursuing your own educational goals and professional growth. 

Employee Tuition Assistance Program

This program waives tuition fees for one eligible course per semester term (up to three courses in an academic year) for TTU System employees who have been employed in a full-time position for more than six months. One benefit of this program is that eligible employees taking a permitted course offered by TTU or Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ do not need to apply for the Employee Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more 

Hazlewood Act

The Hazlewood Act is a State of Texas benefit that provides qualified veterans, spouses, and dependent children with an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition exemption, including most fee charges, at public institutions of higher education in Texas. Learn more about the or visit the Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Veterans Resource Center for more information about this program.

Veteran and Military Employment Preference

Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ is proud to offer veterans employment preference as established in the Veteran and Military Employment Preference Act (Senate Bill 646/). Individuals who qualify for military employment preference are entitled to a preference in employment with or appointment to a state agency over other applicants for the same position who do not have greater qualifications. More information is provided in depth below. Jump to the section ↓

Military Service Credit 

As an institution that is part of the Teachers Retirement System of Texas, Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ employees who are veterans have the ability to count their military service towards their retirement.

State of Texas Perks and Resources for Veterans and Military Service Members

As one of the most veteran-friendly states in the nation, Texas offers many benefits and advantages for military service members, veterans and their families.

Your unique skills are in demand. 

From health care providers to programmers and more, Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ hires individuals with all skill sets and experience levels. Explore our careers to find your perfect fit.

Veteran and Military Employment Preference

Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ is proud to offer veterans employment preference as established in the Veteran and Military Employment Preference Act (Senate Bill 646/).

Individuals Who Qualify for Military Employment Preference

1. a veteran, including a veteran with a disability;
2. a veteran's surviving spouse who has not remarried;
3. an orphan of a veteran if the veteran was killed while on active duty;
4. the spouse of a member of the United States armed forces or Texas National Guard serving on active duty; and
5. the spouse of a veteran, if the spouse is the primary source of income for the household, and the veteran has a total disability rating based either on having a service-connected disability with a disability rating of at least 70 percent or on individual unemployability.

Individuals who qualify for military employment preference are entitled to a preference in employment with or appointment to a state agency over other applicants for the same position who do not have greater qualifications.

Who is a "Veteran"?

Section 2308.251 of the Texas Government Code defines a veteran as a person who:

1. Has served in:
   1. the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps of the United States or the United States Public Service under 42 U.S.C. 2010 et seq. as amended
   2. The Texas Military Forces as defined by section 437.0001; or
   3. An auxiliary service of one of those branches of the armed forces; and
2. Has been honorably discharged from the branch of service in which the person served.
    

How does this preference impact the hiring process?

Eligible applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for a position will be shown preference in several aspects:

Interviews:

• If the total number of candidates interviewed for the position is six or fewer, then at least one of those interviewed applicants must be a qualified individual eligible for Veteran’s preference.
• If the total number of candidates interviewed for the position is more than six, then at least 20% of the total number of applicants interviewed must be eligible for Veteran’s preference.
• These requirements are dependent on the number of qualified applicants who are eligible for Veteran’s preference. If no applicants who are eligible for Veteran’s preference apply to a position, then the interview requirement is waived.

Employment Decisions: 

• If two applicants are finalists for a position, and both are equally qualified for the position in every way except that one is eligible for veteran’s preference and the other is not, then the applicant eligible for veteran’s preference will be selected for hire.

Does the veteran’s employment preference guarantee an interview?

No, it does not. The eligible individual must meet the same required qualifications as every other applicant in order to be interviewed. Likewise, veteran’s preference does not guarantee that an eligible applicant will be hired – they must be the best-qualified applicant for the position. If the applicant is not the best candidate for the position, then they will not be selected for hire, regardless of veteran’s preference status.

How does an applicant claim Veteran or Military Employment Preference?

Eligible applicants should apply through the appropriate job site:

Professor and Instructor positions, both full-time and part-time.

Care Providers, Administrative and Business Professionals, Facilities Workers, etc.

During the online application process, applicants will be asked questions that will be used to determine their eligibility for the Veteran or Military Employment preference. Applicants who qualify for employment preference will have a special designation attached to their applicant profile to ensure preference procedures are followed. An applicant who qualifies for and claims employment preference may be asked to provide additional documentation upon hire.  

How can a Veteran or Military service member find a job suited to their skills?

The helps match civilian careers with military skills and occupations. This tool is provided by the Department of Labor and may help service members identify good career matches as they explore Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ job openings. In an effort to make it even easier for veteran applicants to find a good fit, many of the job openings posted on the Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ job sites have been matched to a corresponding military occupation category. In these cases, the military occupation codes can be found included in the bottom half of the job posting. 

Do you pay for relocation?

Yes, relocation reimbursement is available for some positions. If eligible, funds may include moving expense reimbursement for relocation to Texas. Please speak with your recruiter or hiring manager for details.

Who can I contact for more information about the Veteran’s Employment Preference?

Please contact our veterans’ employment liaison, Joy Alsabrook, at veteranemployment@ttuhsc.edu