Campus Welcome and Reintegration Program

Transcription

1 Campus Welcme and Reintegratin Prgram Overview Veterans ften feel ut f place n cllege campuses. They are typically lder than the majrity f the student bdy, and their experiences and interests may diverge significantly frm thse f the average cllege student. These issues can make cllege a difficult, islated experience. The develpment and implementatin f a Campus Welcme and Reintegratin Prgram can significantly allay these issues. These prgrams prvide a warm welcme t student veterans and ensure a smth transitin int campus life. The military cmmunity will benefit frm having a supprt system prepared t help them succeed in academia. The verall gal f a Welcme and Reintegratin prgram is t help members f the military cmmunity stay in schl, have a psitive experience and graduate. The gal f this practice is t increase student veteran retentin by generating a sense f belnging n campus, which will ultimately be instrumental in the desire t stay and cmplete their degree. There are tw steps t implementing this slutin: 1) Military Cmmunity Outreach and 2) Develp the Welcme and Reintegratin Prgram. Is it being dne already? Befre engaging in the develpment f a Welcme and Reintegratin Prgram, cnduct a thrugh analysis f the clleges and universities in yur cmmunity t determine whether similar prgrams already exist. As a part f yur analysis, it may be helpful t cntact leading rganizatins in yur cmmunity, such as the Yellw Ribbn Reintegratin Prgram, American Legin, Veterans f Freign Wars, and Student Veterans f America. If smething is already in place, yu culd still ffer t help by prviding additinal services r cllabrating t create a mre cmprehensive prgram. Step-by-Step Implementatin Step 1: Military Cmmunity Outreach Befre yu can begin develping yur Welcme and Reintegratin Prgram, yu must gather sme infrmatin abut the size f the lcal military cmmunity. The expected number f attendees can significantly alter the planning prcess. Here are a few ways yu can gather the required infrmatin:

2 Campus Offices: Cntact lcal cllege and university ffices and request infrmatin abut their student bdies. Yu shuld be seeking ballpark figures abut the number f attending service members, veterans, and ther members f the military cmmunity. Many schls have veteran-specific ffices that shuld be able t prvide this infrmatin. Failing that, yu may be able t get infrmatin frm the Office f the Registrar, the Husing Office, r the Student Affairs Office. Crdinatin: Yu may als want t reach ut t the campus ffices t determine whether they are interested in participating in r prmting yur prgram. While their assistance and participatin may nt be strictly necessary fr the success f the prgram, it wuld prvide significant aid, and wuld greatly enhance the legitimacy f yur effrt. Campus ffices can als disseminate infrmatin t the student bdy easily and effectively. Even if they are unwilling r unable t actively participate in the Welcme and Reintegratin Prgram, they may be able t prvide basic assistance, such as spreading infrmatin abut the prject thrugh newsletters, , r ther methds f cmmunicatin. Campus administratrs and prfessrs may als be able t assist yur prgram independently. Cntact thse wh yu knw r believe are affiliated with the military cmmunity and request their assistance. Their participatin, t, culd prvide substantial benefits t the prgram. Cmmunity Organizatins: It may als be useful t perfrm utreach t veteran and military rganizatins in the cmmunity. These rganizatins are highly engaged with the military cmmunity and may substantially aid yur effrts t welcme and reintegrate veterans. Student veteran grups in particular are prime candidates fr partnership. Reach ut t these rganizatins and try t find ut if yu can wrk tgether the create the best prgram pssible. Vlunteer Opprtunities Title: Campus Outreach Specialist Task: Identify the military cmmunity n campus, t include grups like Student Veterans f America (SVA); establish a rugh estimate f attending veterans; identify thse grups wh may be able t assist with the Welcme and Reintegratin Prgram; perfrm preliminary utreach t campus fficials and ther relevant rganizatins. Attributes: Outging, detail-riented, and familiar with survey techniques. Wh: Any student r individual with a wrking knwledge f basic statistical practices. Hurs: Step 2: Develp the Welcme and Reintegratin Prgram Yur assessment f the lcal military cmmunity shuld have prvided yu with an idea f hw t shape yur Welcme and Reintegratin Prgram. All cmmunities are unique, and the specifics f yur prgram will differ depending n the cmpsitin f yur cmmunity, the

3 partnerships yu have frmed, and the rganizatins cntributing t the prgram. It is imprtant that yu remain flexible in yur apprach, and yu shuld strive t accmmdate all interested parties. With that said, there are sme general tpics and activities that yu shuld strive t incrprate int yur Welcme and Reintegratin Prgram: Orientatin fr Transitining Students: An rientatin event fr students transitining directly frm service can be very effective in aiding the reintegratin f veterans. Cnsider making such an event part f yur verall prgram. Sme f the tpics yur rientatin shuld include are as fllws: Campus resurces, such as tutring prgrams, academic cunseling, and health services Cmmunity attractins and events Campus grups and events, such as academic clubs, intramural sprts, and Greek scieties Health services Schl Resurce Fair: Thugh a mre extensive event, a resurce fair may be best fr smaller cmmunities with limited resurces. This will shwcase prgrams n- and ffcampus in a similar style t a career fair with bths, brchures and the pprtunity t netwrk within the military cmmunity. This fair shuld run fr arund fur hurs and can be incrprated int the current rientatin prgram. Veterans Resurce Center: Veterans Resurce Centers are dedicated lcatins fr affiliated students t bring their cncerns, be they academic, financial, scial, r therwise. It shuld prvide a way fr veterans t netwrk with each ther, rganize events, relax, and generally enjy the cmpany f their peers. Veteran-specific services may als be ffered, such as mentring, behaviral health cunseling, and peer discussin grups. Staff shuld be cmprised f veterans and ther members f the military cmmunity. In sme instances, the grup may be spnsred r assciated with a military-affiliated faculty member. Launching a Veterans Resurce Center may be t large a task fr yur Welcme and Reintegratin Prgram. Yu shuld nevertheless attempt t d s, particularly if yu were able t cllabrate with lcal schl fficials. It is ne f the mst effective ways t ensure that veterans are able t transitin seamlessly int the new lives. Expedited Curse Registratin: Veterans ften have difficulty registering fr class in a timely fashin. Delays in G.I. Payments are ften delayed, which can result in blcked registratin. By prviding veterans with expedited curse registratin, the university can ensure that all students are able t sign up fr thse classes they mst wish t take. Recruitment and Outreach: It may be helpful t generate media designed t highlight the prgram, rganizatins, and events fr veterans at each lcal cllege r university. This allws each schl t effectively advertise their services and recruit students while serving the dual purpse f raising verall awareness f veteran-specific prgrams. Distribute any media yu create t lcal military and veteran rganizatins and request that they disseminate it t their members.

4 Start a Student Veteran Grup: Participatin in student veteran grups may greatly assist in the transitin t cllege life. These grups prvide an inbuilt peer netwrk that fully understands the issues veterans face n a daily basis. Many campuses have established veterans grups, and natinal rganizatins such as Student Veterans f America have chapters n campuses thrughut the cuntry. If these grups are nt present at yur lcal clleges and universities, it wuld be very beneficial fr yu t gather student veterans and attempt t start ne. Welcme Event with Faculty: Organize an event t be attended by matriculating veterans and faculty members. Campus leadership, such as the chancellrs, deans, and prfessrs shuld als be encuraged t attend. Prviding veterans with the pprtunity t meet and mingle with campus fficials with make veterans feel as thugh they are a welcme part f the verall campus cmmunity. Measures f Success Measuring the success f yur Welcme and Reintegratin Prgram is very imprtant. The lessns yu learn frm develping and implementing yur prject will play a rle in the refinement f successive effrts. It can be difficult t bjectively track the success f a fairly diffuse tpic like welcming veterans int a cmmunity. The fllwing ideas shuld prvide yu with a sense f hw t d s, hwever: Set Clear Gals: Establish clear gals fr yur prgram early n in the develpment prcess. While the verall gal will likely be the same fr all cmmunities easing the transitin f veterans t civilian and student life the specific targets yu shuld set will differ depending n which aspects f the prgram yu chse t pursue, the grups yu partnered with, and the verall scale f yur prject. Attendance: Take attendance at each event. Nte that this infrmatin requires cntext t be useful. What percentage f thse that were invited attended the event? Hw many veterans attended the event? Hw many student grups, faculty members, and utside rganizatins attended? If yur Welcme and Reintegratin Prgram tk place ver several days, did yur average attendance fluctuate significantly between days r between events? Survey: Surveys can be useful t assess the level f satisfactin felt by attendees at each event. The aggregated results f each survey can be used t establish generally what was successful abut yur prgram and what needs mre wrk. Surveys may als generate ideas abut future events and prgrams.

5 Vlunteer Opprtunities Title: Success Tracker Task: Cnduct thse tasks assciated with the chsen measurements f success and analyze resulting data; cnduct relevant surveys; cmpile survey results; prepare an verall presentatin f the acquired data. Attributes: Familiarity with basic statistical analysis is a plus. The vlunteer shuld be interested in the military cmmunity. Wh: A member f the university s ffice f budgeting and planning r recrds ffice wuld be an excellent candidate. Hurs: 10-15

6 Other Resurces Student Veterans f America has many resurces fr campuses interested in becming mre veteran friendly. Yu can access guides n starting Student Veterans f America chapters and ther resurces at: Hustn State University has instituted a prgram fr welcming student veterans n campus that incrprates many f the prgrams suggested here. Yu can visit their resurce center here: San Dieg State University Student Veterans Organizatin has incrprated an interesting veterans space nt campus. They have included a lunge, cmputer/study area, a barbeque and pl table: In rder t incrprate veterans with PTSD r TBI, the university will need t make adjustments t certain curses and plicies. The American Cuncil n Educatin has a reprt that wuld be beneficial fr vlunteers and university faculty and staff t familiarize themselves with. Yu can find the reprt at: /AccmmdatingStudentVeterans_ pdf The American Cuncil n Educatin has a Military Guide, which many clleges and universities use t adapt military experience and training t academic credit. All yu need is the Military Occupatinal Specialty (MOS) f the sldier in questin; yu can then search the guide fr recmmendatins. There are additinal credits granted fr skill level and rank. Yu can find the guide here: Additinal Resurces American Legin: The American Legin was chartered and incrprated by Cngress in 1919 as a patritic veterans rganizatin devted t mutual helpfulness. It is the natin s largest wartime veterans service rganizatin, cmmitted t mentring yuth and spnsrship f whlesme prgrams in ur cmmunities, advcating patritism and hnr, prmting strng natinal security, and cntinued devtin t ur fellw service members and veterans. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans f America: IAVA is the cuntry's first and largest nnprfit, nnpartisan rganizatin fr veterans f the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. With mre than 200,000 Member Veterans and civilian supprters natinwide, IAVA is building the next greatest generatin with a three-prnged mdel based n advcacy, awareness, and assistance. Student Veterans f America: SVA is a 501(c)(3) calitin f student veterans grups n cllege campuses acrss the glbe. These member chapters are the "bts n the grund that help veterans reintegrate int campus life and succeed academically. Each

7 chapter must be an fficially recgnized student grup by their university r cllege and prvide a peer-t-peer netwrk fr veterans wh are attending the schl. Transitin Assistance Prgram: The Transitin Assistance Prgram (TAP) is a Department f Defense (DD) prgram designed t assist transitining military persnnel and family members leaving the service. Veterans f Freign Wars: The Veterans f Freign Wars (VFW) is a large and influential rganizatin f veterans. Tracing its rutes back t 1899, the rganizatin has been very successful in influencing plicy supprting veterans thrughut histry. The VFW has a significant number f grants and prgrams designed t supprt veterans in the higher educatin system. Yellw Ribbn Reintegratin Prgram: The Yellw Ribbn Reintegratin Prgram is a DD-wide effrt t prmte the well-being f Natinal Guard and Reserve members, their families and cmmunities, by cnnecting them with resurces thrughut the deplyment cycle. Thrugh Yellw Ribbn events, service members and lved nes cnnect with lcal resurces befre, during, and after deplyments.