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Best Practices for Serving Veterans with Disabilities in Post-secondary Settings

Best Practices for Serving Veterans with Disabilities in Post-secondary Settings. Presenters Al Souma Scott Bellman Deb Casey July 13, 2011. Defining Veterans. Combat Veterans, Post 9/11 Veterans, Women Veterans…

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Best Practices for Serving Veterans with Disabilities in Post-secondary Settings

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  1. Best Practices for Serving Veterans with Disabilities in Post-secondary Settings Presenters Al Souma Scott Bellman Deb Casey July 13, 2011

  2. Defining Veterans Combat Veterans, Post 9/11 Veterans, Women Veterans… Student Veterans are those who served in the Armed Forces, are eligible for VA related benefits, and have matriculated into an institute of higher learning Dependent and Veteran used interchangeably

  3. Challenges for Returning Veterans Inflexible/bureaucratic administrative structures and lack of preparation by university systems Unique social barriers with student body as result of age and experience Loss of sense of purpose, teamwork and camaraderie experienced while serving; need for cohesive interaction with “true” peers Significant mental health barriers as a result of military service “1 out of 5 returning OEF/OIF veterans experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress” – RAND Corporation

  4. Student Testimony Hardest three areas of transition… Knowing what type of services are offered/available. Relating to other students/loss of identity. Balancing work and school. (going from a two year to four year college as well).

  5. A State-wide Approach to Creating a Veteran Centered Campus Increase awareness of veteran’s programs on and off-campus Provide staff and faculty with a core set of veteran cultural competencies Encourage campuses to implement best practices and policies to foster social support, acceptance, welcoming environments, and acknowledgement of veteran contributions Facilitate ways veterans can use GI Bill benefits Implement academic success by providing wrap-around support services

  6. Washington State’sMemorandum of Understanding (MOU) Washington Governor Gregoire, the National Guard, Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, Higher Education Coordinating Board, State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, and the Independent Colleges of Washington all signed a MOU outlining a commitment to serving returning veterans. http://www.dva.wa.gov/PDF%20files/Partners%20for%20Veteran%20Supportive%20Campuses%20MOU.pdf

  7. MOU Initiatives Work with Legislative, workforce and higher education community to develop state-wide initiatives to ensure higher education is seamless which includes issues such as transfer and articulation agreements, credit for prior experience, career ladders, applied bachelor degree success, online tools, and support services. Develop state-wide best practices such as Post 9/11 GI Bill procedures and finding ways to connect returning veterans to Veteran Affairs

  8. MOU Initiatives Develop state-wide student orientations for veterans Create a safe-zone space for veterans Evaluate college and university state-wide policies and procedures that create barriers to academic success

  9. Enhancing Student Support Services Create a user-friendly campus website and link to veteran resources Dedicate space for veterans use Advise a Veteran’s Club Implement a Veterans Resource Team or Veterans Council Develop a veterans Peer Mentor Program Create a resource list of all campus employees who are veterans or family member of veterans Partner with veteran-related community organizations

  10. Enhancing Student Support Services Create transitional support programs Provide faculty and staff training on veteran culture Create tuition waiver program and eliminate non-residency tuition Train Disability Support Services staff and Counseling staff on veteran issues Hire counseling staff with a therapy foundation in serving veterans, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injuries, etc

  11. Enhancing Student Support Services Coordinate campus resources across functional areas including academic affairs, student affairs, and central administration Offer mandatory orientation Provide a campus point of contact for veterans Establish a foundation account to assist student veterans with tuition, books, and other fees Coordinate and Implement symbolic events and activities to recognize and honor veterans

  12. Enhancing Student Support Services Train VA representatives to stay up with current trends and information that affect veterans Implement tuition hold policies for veterans Develop an electronic data-base Hire a transition coach Conduct a survey or focus groups with veterans to develop best practices Implement universal design strategies in service areas and academic classrooms

  13. Questions??

  14. Washington State VETS Corp Student representatives serving 26 community and technical colleges and 6 four year institutions AmeriCorps volunteers (1,000 hours a month) Veterans who have been to Iraq or Afghanistan or both and many have been wounded Build a support network and resource-base for veterans and to assist the campus in creating additional mentoring and support services

  15. Best Practices Veterans Conservation Corps Vet Corps Representative VA Counselor on Campus VA Mental Health Mobile Unit comes monthly Veterans Council (staff, faculty, students) Veterans Garden Vietnam Course (offered as a diversity course requirement at the College) Faculty and Staff Training on Vet Culture (vet-friendly signs on doors after completion of training)

  16. Best Practices Provide safe funds to veterans who need food, housing, transportation, childcare, etc. Housing Option (living-learning communities) Veterans Coin Veterans Day Parade Float Faculty Lecture series on veterans Scholarship and foundation strategic initiatives “Giving from the Heart” Care package program Veterans Office Geographical Information Services (GIS) academic program mapping veterans on campus

  17. Best Practices Outreach program to state-wind military bases Student Government recognized Vets Club Restoration and Service-Learning programs for veterans College Choir song specifically written for GRCC veterans Veterans walk-way in remembrance of staff, faculty, and student veterans

  18. Fostering Administrative Support Determine campus allies and champions Publicly recognize and acknowledge staff, faculty, students, administrators, Board of Trustees, Foundation, Alumni, and community members who are veterans Ask students to share their stories at administrative and community meetings Connect veterans needs to other diversity initiatives on campus Encourage student veterans to meet with key stakeholders to address needs

  19. Fostering Administrative Support Consider budget opportunities and ways to enhance services already offered to students Implement ways to enhance campus website Market the advantages of having veterans on campus Offer professional development opportunities for faculty and staff connected to Teaching and Learning Centers Increase campus connections and partnership opportunities with local and state-wide community agencies

  20. Fostering Administrative Support Incorporate veterans into the institutional strategic and budget planning process Suggest how veterans can enhance the research initiatives and goals of the institution Coordinate veterans service-learning and restoration projects that have direct affect on the state’s economy and workforce demand Develop “Think Tank” workshops that bring together administrators, faculty and students to address policy and procedural barriers for veterans and family members

  21. Fostering Administrative Support Seek out top administrators who serve on President’s Cabinet or other high level teams to support the needs of veterans Celebrate accomplishments of veterans on campus Provide space on campus for external support (Veteran Affairs) services to provide direct service Educate administrators on why veterans go into the military Share how this is an opportunity to give back to the men and women who served our country

  22. Questions ??

  23. References Ackerman, R., & DiRamio, D. (Eds.). (2009). Creating a veteran-friendly campus: Strategies for transition and success. New Directions for Student Services, 126, 61-69.San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Cook, B. J., & Kim, Y. (Eds.). (2009). From soldier to student: Easing the transition of service members on campus. Washington, DC: ACE. DiRamio, D. , Ackerman, R. , Mitchell, R. L. (2008). From combat to campus: Voices of student-veterans. NASPA Journal, 45(1), 73-102. Retrieved from http://publications.naspa.org/naspajournal /vol45/iss1/art5 Mangan, K. (2009, October 18). Colleges help veterans advance from combat to classroom. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/article/Colleges-Help-Veterans-Advance/48846/?sid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en Student Veterans of America Website – http://www.studentveterans.org/ Today’s G.I. Bill. (N.D.). [Website]. Retrieved from http://www.todaysgibill.org Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. (N.D.). What is the veterans conservation corps? [Website]. Retrieved from http://www.dva.wa.gov/vet_conservation_corps.html

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