Military Outreach: Strategies for Serving our Veterans. Mark Eister Director of Military Outreach November 3, 2015

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1 Military Outreach: Strategies for Serving our Veterans Mark Eister Director of Military Outreach November 3, 2015

2 Mark Eister US Army (Ret) Director of Military Outreach Georgia Perimeter College Tour in Afghanistan, with Military Service across the US and in Germany Austria Switzerland France Italy Netherlands Denmark Belgium Czech Republic Slovenia South Korea Hungary England Luxembourg Poland China

3 Military Friendly Everybody s doing it...

4 Agenda Why Are We Here? Military/Veteran Profile Transition Challenges VA Benefits Trends Veteran Statistics Best Practices/Services Offered Q & A

5 Why Are We Here? Jarrad Turner GPC Student Veteran Navy Corpsman Purple Heart PTSD/TBI Wounded Warrior Leader DAV (Disabled American Vets)

6 Who is a Student Veteran? Student Veterans are a diverse group: From all branches of the military Range in age, race/ethnicity, and gender Have served during times of war and peace Have different educational goals More likely to have families

7 Who is a Student Veteran? Student Veterans have unique challenges: Transitioning from combat to classroom Moving into a less structured environment Some, but not all, have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), etc. Challenges navigating VA benefits process Have never attended college or have been out of school for a long time

8 Military Experience Separation from family or loved ones Most are leaving home for the first time Separation from extended family and close friends Separation from boyfriends and girlfriends May be assigned to a base in a different part of the country or world Adjustments to new climates and culture Bond with new family they now train, deploy and fight with...

9 Transition Strengths Veterans transitioning out of the military onto college campuses bring a unique perspective Military training Life experience Expansive world view Skills taught in the military help students to be successful Leadership Discipline/Motivation Time Management Work Ethic Stress Management

10 Transition Challenges Being an older student Freshman 24+ years old with 18 year old classmates Alienation Veterans may find it difficult to integrate on campus due to their different life experiences Insensitivity of some classmates, faculty, and others on campus when discussing military and war Veterans may have different views or may feel attacked when asked about their experiences

11 Transition Challenges Potential transition barriers to success Difficulty translating military skills into a new profession Difficulty changing focus from military to civilian Schools attempting to decipher transfer credits from military training and multiple colleges/universities Difficulty navigating the application, enrollment and registration process Difficulty using GI Bill and other VA benefits NOT focusing enough on their strengths

12 Transition Difficulties Things to understand about student veterans in the classroom: Some may... Have difficulty relating to classmates Find loud noises to be disturbing Become anxious with changes in the classroom Have excessive absences Have PTSD or TBI (and may not even know it)

13 Veteran Benefits Student Veterans are using a variety of VA educational benefits Post 9/11 GI Bill Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve GI Bill National Call to Service Program Reserve Educational Assistance (REAP) Survivors & Dependents Assistance (DEA) Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

14 Student Veterans with Disabilities 20-30% of Veterans of OIF/OEF have PTSD symptoms 19% (or more) have mild TBIs (Rand, Sept 2014), and some of these veterans are on our campuses. New Disability Unaware of services May not want to identify as having a disability due to stigma, pride, etc.

15 Veteran Stats Georgia has over 774,000 Veterans Wars ending in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to raise this number, plus... Military drawdown is bringing even more veterans to our campuses

16 Student Veterans at Georgia Perimeter College One of the largest veteran populations in the University System of 1,200/semester 700+ student veterans receiving VA educational benefits (Fall Semester, 2015) 500+ more attending GPC who are not receiving VA benefits (Military reduction) + (withdrawal of troops from overseas) = continued growth of student veterans

17 Strategies for Being More Military Friendly Senior Leadership Involvement and Support MOC (Military Outreach Center) Military Scholarships SVA (Student Veterans Association) Green Zone MVP (Mentoring Veterans Program) Free Tutoring Inter-departmental Collaboration/Cooperation Local Organizational Support

18 Military Outreach Center Main MOC: Veterans Lounge, Computer Lab, Library, Study Area, Conference/Training Room, Advisement Offices, Furnished Kitchenette All five campuses have MOC s, staffed full-time by a Coordinator or Military Student Advocates Services provided to active military, veterans and their families in the following areas: Financial Aid Academic Advising VA Benefits Information Disability Accommodations Personal Counseling Services Peer-to-Peer Support and Mentoring Referral to State and Federal Resources

19 Military Outreach Center Computers, free printing, free snacks and drinks, lounge area, TV/DVD, study area, advisement offices, conference and meeting area. Mark Eister and Chris Noerjadi with MOC Donations

20 MOC Art

21 MOC Resource Booths Located on all five GPC Campuses Staffed by VA Work-Study students

22 GPC Military Scholarships Military Outreach Scholarship Marcus Foundation Scholarships (10 per semester) VFW Post Scholarship Remington Youngblood/Change4Georgia Scholarship AVVBA (Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association) Scholarship American Legion Post 66 Scholarship Colonel Robert E. Rogan Scholarship Veterans Emergency Relief Fund (Marcus)

23 SVA (Student Veterans Association) An approved chapter of Student Veterans of America Student-led, college-wide organization providing veterans the opportunity to meet together to study, relax, plan events and perform community service.

24 GPC Programs Green Zone (Staff & Faculty Military Awareness Training Program) MVP (Mentoring Veterans Program) CAV (Calling All Veterans)

25 Things to Remember Military and Veteran students are a unique population with diverse experiences, challenges and contributions they bring to our campuses. There are numerous ways to help student veterans, just as there are for other student populations. Senior Leadership Support is critical to truly becoming a Military Friendly School!

26 QUESTIONS?

27 Military Outreach Center Mark Eister, MOC Director Laura Meyer, MSA-Decatur Nathan Gholston, MSA-Newton John Douglas, MOC Coordinator-Clarkston Lorretta Arrington, MSA-Dunwoody Chris Noerjadi, MSA-Alpharetta John Cockingham, MSA-Newton