Business Plan. Collegiate Veterans Association FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY 1

Transcription

1 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY 1 Collegiate Veterans Association Business Plan Prepared by Abby Kinch (President, Collegiate Veterans Association) Andrew Sloan (Director, Veterans Student Union)

2 2 COLLEGIATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION ~This page is intentionally left blank~

3 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY 3 Table of Contents Mission Statement... 4 Background... 4 At a Glance... 4 Tools... 5 Goals... 6 Measuring Success... 7 Budget... 8 Student Veteran Initiatives Accomplishments Notes... 12

4 4 COLLEGIATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION Mission Statement The mission of the Florida State University Collegiate Veterans Association (CVA) is to further the Florida State University as the nation s most veteran- friendly institution of higher education by ensuring the academic and professional success of every veteran and military- affiliated student. Background The CVA was founded in 2005 by a handful of students who saw the need for student veteran advocacy on and off campus. They created a Registered Student Organization whose sole purpose was to create a community of mutual support for veterans at Florida State University (FSU). Following the growth of this organization, students arranged a meeting with the president of FSU and not only pointed out this necessity, but offered solutions including the need for a Student Veterans Center, a director for that Center, and a Student Veteran Film Festival that would serve to bring to light veterans issues to the FSU community. Since that time, the CVA has challenged veterans initiatives at FSU on a daily basis with full support from the university administration, faculty and staff, and students, as well as community supporters and local government leaders, and that support only continues to grow. CVA members are looked at as campus leaders both in and out of the classroom and many have garnered prominent positions within student government. FSU s CVA has gained national recognition from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and played host to Secretary Eric Shinseki in the spring of At a Glance Representing over 330 student veterans Fully staffed Student Veterans Center Student Veteran liaisons within major university departments Full media exposure TV, radio, social media, newspaper, website Student Veteran Orientation Student Veteran Graduation Reception Priority registration for student veterans Career planning, training, and workshops Military Appreciation Games football, basketball, and baseball

5 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY 5 Tools Student Veterans Center The Student Veterans Center is a one- stop- shop for student veteran resources. Marketing and Communications A full- time university position under the SVC is responsible for marketing efforts. Student Success Center Provides career advising and training and résumé and employment workshops specifically geared towards veterans. Veterans Benefits Office Benefits counseling and certification for veteran educational benefits by a VA certified staff. Veteran Transition Counselor VA certified counselor providing education and guidance for the transition from military to scholastic life. Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans Education and training for veterans seeking to create and operate a new business. Civilian Volunteer Panel Created by Lt. Gen. Lawrence F. Snowden, USMC (Ret.) to garner community support for student veterans at Florida State University. Creative Arts Therapy Offers visual arts and music therapy for transitioning student veterans. Created by two Florida State students. The greatest tool afforded to the student veterans at Florida State University is the incredible support from the FSU faculty, staff, and students as well as the Tallahassee community as a whole. Abby Kinch, president, Collegiate Veterans Association, FSU

6 6 COLLEGIATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION Goals To continuously strive to be the most veteran- friendly university in the nation. Gain accreditation for military service Pass a bill allowing all veterans in- state tuition at all Florida public universities o SB35 / HB84 To empower the students, faculty, and staff of Florida State University through the largest and most cohesive group of student veterans at any public university.. Create a new fully- funded agency for student veterans in the Fall 2013 SGA session o Staff this agency with both student veterans and traditional students Bring a presentation called Boots to Books to educate and instill awareness of the faculty and staff about transition from military to scholastic life o Train student veterans in the presentation o Perform at least 3 of these during each semester Bring student veterans into classrooms as guest lecturers in pertinent classes o Talk to professors suggesting that student veterans can offer a broader perspective on topics o Set at least one of these engagements per semester Encourage student veteran participation in the student body and vice versa. Have two student veterans in active student government positions by Spring 2014 elections (Feb). o Create a team to execute the campaign on behalf of the student veterans. o Educate student veterans on positions available within student government and the importance of those positions. Sell- out (~1200 tickets) the 2013 Veteran Film Festival, including 900 to Greek Life and other student organizations. o Attend Greek Organization chapter meetings for every fraternity and sorority on campus to inform them of the event. o Hold a competition for the university organization that sells the most tickets to the film festival. Delivery: As a newly formed Student Union and representing a diverse set of students, the CVA & FSU Veteran Student Union will partner with each of the other Student Unions on campus to promote collaboration o Partner with the PRIDE Student Union to put on a drag race with PRIDE members and CVA/VSU members. o Partner with the Black Student Union, hosting a panel discussing service of African- Americans across all branches of the military throughout America s history. Retention / graduation rates greater than or equal to those of traditional students retention rate at 87% Increase enrollment in Veterans Success Course o Make this course mandatory for all student veterans on benefits Employment rate within one year of graduation greater than or equal to that of traditional students. Create a tracking system beginning with the Veterans Success Course with regular meetings and workshops at the Student Success Center Work with the Student Success Center to create more workshops and career fairs aimed at student veterans o Conduct workshops continuously or at least twice per semester o Conduct a Student Veteran Career Fair once per semester

7 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY 7 Measuring Success Boots to Books Completed 8 across FSU s Campus Facebook Group Membership Active Member Roster 2013 September General Body Meeting: 65 (CVA) + 35 (Greek, SGA, other) 2012 September General Body Meeting: 24 (CVA) + 5 (other) list roster 2013 November: 1,142 people 2012 November: 60 people

8 8 COLLEGIATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION Budget Collegiate Veterans Association Budget Academic Year Expenses Line Item Line Item Description Budget Actual Difference ($) Difference (%) Meetings (4) per semester $ $(800.00) % Operating Expenses **National Conference (4) Tailgates Homecoming Consortium $1.00 $(1.00) 0.00% Business Cards $ $(630.00) 0.00% Name Tags $ $(135.00) 0.00% Clothing $1, $(1,500.00) 0.00% Student Veteran's Orientation $2, $(2,300.00) 0.00% Travel $2, $(2,000.00) 0.00% Lodging $1, $(1,000.00) 0.00% (4) Fraternity Partnerships $ $(800.00) 0.00% CVA Tailgate $ $(100.00) 0.00% Float $ $(20.00) 90.00% Clock & Seal $ $ % Revenue $9, Line Item Line Item Description Budget Actual Difference ($) Difference (%) Community Fundraisers Robert Wise Chili Cook-Off $3, Tomahawk $ Campus Fundraisers Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity $1, Student Government Veterans Student Union $1, Semester Total Budget Difference ($) Difference (%) Difference (still to raise) = $4,066 $5,700.00

9 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY 9 **National Conference Breakdown Line Item Line Item Budget Actual Flight Info Difference ($) Airfare President $ $ Vice-President $ $ Treasurer $ $ Secretary $ $ VSU Director $ $ AA1214, AA1101, AA2441, AA2201 $(75.40) VSU Assistant Director $ $ Future Leadership $ $ Future Leadership $ $ Airfare Total Budget Difference ($) Line Item Number of Rooms x Number of nights $4, $3, $(155.20) $/room/night Budget Actual Difference ($) Hotel 4 x 4 $99.00 $1, $1, $ Hotel Total Budget Difference ($) $99.00 $1, $1, $ Line Item Line Item Budget Actual Difference ($) Per Diem Breakfast ($6) $ $ $- Lunch ($11) $ $ $- Dinner ($19) $ $ $- Per Diem Total Budget Difference ($) $1, $ $- Conference Total Budget Actual Difference ($) $6, $6, $(203.20) IMPORTANT: Florida State University Collegiate Veterans Association would like to bring 8 members to the SVA National Conference. This is because our organization has grown to the extent that we require more and more leadership. We would also like to bring not only current leadership, but also future leaders in order to maintain the steady growth of student veteran initiatives both on and off FSU s campus.

10 10 COLLEGIATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION Student Veteran Initiatives Student Veteran Film Festival Creative Arts Workshops Student Veteran s Consortium Corporate Partnerships Student Veteran Success Course Student Veteran & ROTC Graduation Reception Veterans Research at FSU Florida State University Veterans Legacy Complex

11 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY 11 Accomplishments Florida State University 2013 Florida State University Organization of the Year Seminole Spirit Award for Student Leadership (Ryan Taylor, CVA president) Established a Veterans Student Union o first veteran- specific student agency in the state of Florida o first agency at FSU since 1999 o received a unanimous voting from the 65 th Student Senate Received a resolution from the Leon County Commission affirming local government and community support for the CVA s mission Election of veterans to 65 th and 66 th Student Senate, Board of Directors OGA and establishment of VSU Director 20+ CVA members participated in the 2013 Homecoming Parade Partnered with University Athletics to organize the 2013 Military Appreciation Football game, welcoming 150 vets and 400+ military members of the community Recognized as a Top Ten Veteran- Friendly University Annual Film Festival featuring a student veteran selected film highlighting veterans issues and transition from conflict o Awarded $25,000 honorarium to Sebastian Junger for film Which Way Is The Frontline From Here? o Donated to Reporters Instructed in Saving Colleagues (RISC) Veterans Two recognitions for continued support of Operation One Voice Raised $900 for VFW Post 3308 to prevent shutdown 20 CVA members volunteered for the Homeless Veterans Stand down 2 female CVA members participated in the September 2013 Women Veterans Conference in San Diego, CA 7 CVA members participated in the September 2013 SVA Leadership conference in Savannah, GA Community Present during bill signing expanding Florida s acceptance of credit hours earned during military service First annual Urban Disturbance Run Veterans Day Parade CVA members took 1 st place in the 2 nd Annual Robert Wise Chili Cook- Off, donation of winnings to Honor Flight Tallahassee Participated in discussion panel with Lt. Gen. Snowden on conflict educating the community on veteran experiences

12 12 COLLEGIATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION Notes