Working with Veteran College Students with Disabilities

1. Working with Veteran College Students with Disabilities New England AHEAD University of Massachusetts – Boston November 10, 2009 Jorja Waybrant Assistant Director of Advising Coordinator of Disability Services – Dickinson College PA CARES - Educational Subcommittee

2. Pennsylvania Americans showingCompassion, Assistance, and Reaching out with Empathy for Service memberswww.pacares.org Pennsylvania Americans showing Compassion, Assistance, and Reaching out with Empathy for Service members www.pacares.org • Collaborative network • Voluntary Task Force - Federal, state, local agencies • Educational subcommittee • TBI Subcommittee • Outreach committee

3. Introduction • Variances you need to consider in serving SVWD: • Student veterans • Postsecondary education • Campus services • Collaborative networks that help in serving SVWD: • On-campus • Off-campus

4. Student Veterans • Variances in their demographic classifications by: • Gender • Marital status • Dependent status • Employment status • Status as a student • Military status • Service affiliation • Stateside/war zone • Other demographics to consider for areas of support • YRP • Loved ones • Type of program • Type of postsecondary institution

5. Demographic classifications on student veterans (taken from PA CARES Phase III - student veteran survey [35]) Male/ Female Single (never married) Married/partnered Separated/Divorced With dependents Without dependents (#) Active Inactive Retired Disabled Reserves Army Navy Coast Guard Marines Air Force National Guard Employed full-time Employed part-time Not employed Full-time student Part-time student Living on-campus Living off-campus Living with parents A parent, living with family Served OEF/IEF Served stateside Other demographics • Military dependents YRP • Loved ones Type of program Type of postsecondary inst.

6. Postsecondary Education • Will vary according to: • Type of program • Size of student population • Delivery of programs and services • Financial aid packages offered

7. Demographic classifications on postsecondary educational institutions (taken from PA CARES Phase I & II surveys) • Two year program • Four year program • Public/ Private • Accredited college/university of higher education • Trade/Vocational/Technical program • Military program, college, university • Graduate program • Online only program • Distance learning program • Evening program • Small student population • Less than 2,500 • Medium student population • 2,500-5,000 • Large student population • 5,000 – 10,000 • Very large student population • More than 10,000

8. Demographic classifications on postsecondary educational institutions (taken from PA CARES Phase I & II surveys) • Who is the VA Certifying Official on campus? • How are services on campus provided? • Where are services located on campus? • Yellow Ribbon Program – amount offered • Other financial aid • Self-pay • Do you have a VA rep on campus? • Do you have a DS provider on campus? • Do you offer support services? • Learning Center • Writing Center • Learning Specialist • Peer tutoring • Counseling Services • Health Services**

9. Services • Variances in services • Based on needs • Based on institution/program

10. Services (con’t)(Large student veteran population) • Veterans representative • One-stop veterans assistant • Veterans benefits counselor • Veterans organization • Veterans student listserv • Veterans lounge • Veteran-to-veteran mentors • Veterans services during non-traditional times • Veterans events (picnics, etc.) • Graduation awards - stole, sash, patch, pin for graduation • Veterans job assistance (campus employment, internships, employment) • Veteran-to-veteran peer tutors • Veteran-to-veteran peer counselors • Veteran only courses • Transitional courses • Programs/courses designed to benefit veterans • Veteran-related information • Campus website • Brochures about campus services • Brochures about DS

11. Services (con’t)(Small student veteran population) • One-on-one hands on service • Veteran-to-veteran mentors • Veteran-related information • Campus website • Brochures about campus services • Brochures about DS • Veteran services during non-traditional hours • Graduation awards – stole, sash, patch, pin for veterans and another one for Yellow Ribbon Program recipients • Military Services campus group • Admissions rep*** • VA certifying official on campus • DS rep • Student Veteran • Yellow Ribbon Program recipient • Veteran rep (admin, staff, or faculty) • Veteran rep (alumni, parent) • Veteran rep (community) ***reports back to DS Advisory Council • Disseminates information campus wide through the Advisory Council

12. Services (con’t) • Also consider • Role of DS provider on campus • What a successful model looks like • Two helpful forms • Goal Setting • Veteran to Veteran Mentoring

13. Goal Setting

16. (Part 2 of Form)

17. Collaborative Networks • On-campus • Disability Services • Student Life/Affairs • Veteran representatives • Faculty • Admissions • Financial Aid • Advising Office • Counseling Center • Health Center • Career Center • Off-campus • Other campuses • Federal, state, and local community agencies • PA CARES • www.pacares.org

18. “Having Education as an outlet when you come home from a combat zone is one of the most grounding and focusing avenues a veteran has to his [/her] advantage.” Rick Scavetta, veteran of the Army Reserves Chronicles of Higher Education – June 6, 2007

19. Contact Information Jorja Waybrant, M.Ed. Assistant Director of Advising, Coordinator of Disability Services Dickinson College P. O. Box 1773 Carlisle, PA 17013 Phone: 717-245-1080 Email: waybranj@dickinson.edu j_waybrant@yahoo.com