Veteran Student Veteran Student Support ServicesSupport Services

Presented to: Presented to:

College of Education College of Education

Dr. Nicholas J. OsborneDr. Nicholas J. OsborneOffice of the Dean of StudentsOffice of the Dean of Students

What We Will Cover TodayWhat We Will Cover Today

Veterans in Higher EducationVeterans in Higher Education General terminology & definitionsGeneral terminology & definitions Contextual Understanding / Why are veterans in the education spotlight?Contextual Understanding / Why are veterans in the education spotlight? Student-Veteran characteristics & needsStudent-Veteran characteristics & needs Veteran-friendly campusVeteran-friendly campus

Veteran Student Support ServicesVeteran Student Support Services Mission & PurposeMission & Purpose Community ModelCommunity Model Support and Tips for working with VeteransSupport and Tips for working with Veterans EventsEvents UIUC Demographics UIUC Demographics

Exercise Exercise

What images come to mind when you hear What images come to mind when you hear the word the word veteranveteran?? Is there a specific gender you think of?Is there a specific gender you think of? Race? Ethnicity? Political affiliation?Race? Ethnicity? Political affiliation? Age?Age? Are there any emotions associated with these images? Are there any emotions associated with these images?

Where do you get your information Where do you get your information concerning veterans?concerning veterans? Personal experience? (family member, partner, friend of a friend…) Personal experience? (family member, partner, friend of a friend…) Media? Media? Other?Other?

Veterans in Higher Veterans in Higher EducationEducation

BASIC TRAINING BASIC TRAINING

What is the relationship between What is the relationship between Veterans and higher education?Veterans and higher education?

DefinitionsDefinitionsGWOT = Global War on TerrorismGWOT = Global War on Terrorism Approx. 2 million personnel have fought in Iraq / Approx. 2 million personnel have fought in Iraq /

AfghanAfghan 57% are under age 3057% are under age 30

OEFOEF = = Operation Enduring FreedomOperation Enduring Freedom began 7 OCT 2001 / Response to 9/11began 7 OCT 2001 / Response to 9/11 large theatre of operations / Afghanistanlarge theatre of operations / Afghanistan

OIFOIF = = Operation Iraqi FreedomOperation Iraqi Freedom began 20 MAR 2003 / entirely in Iraqbegan 20 MAR 2003 / entirely in Iraq multinational operation fought entirely in Iraqmultinational operation fought entirely in Iraq

Contextual UnderstandingContextual Understanding► Post 9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33) for GWOT VeteransPost 9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33) for GWOT Veterans

Congress approved in summer of 2008 / Began Aug. 2009Congress approved in summer of 2008 / Began Aug. 2009 Covers Tuition/Fees & Monthly Housing Allowance ($1212 / month)Covers Tuition/Fees & Monthly Housing Allowance ($1212 / month) Partially transferrable to dependentsPartially transferrable to dependents Yellow-Ribbon Program / IVG Yellow-Ribbon Program / IVG

► Anticipated growth of GWOT students, 3-5 yrs.Anticipated growth of GWOT students, 3-5 yrs. WWII GI Bill = By 1949, 7.8 million (of 16 million) Vets pursued higher WWII GI Bill = By 1949, 7.8 million (of 16 million) Vets pursued higher

education education

► Higher Education Veterans Service Act (IL)Higher Education Veterans Service Act (IL) Public colleges/universities with at least 1000 students must have a Public colleges/universities with at least 1000 students must have a

designated Veteran Student Services Coordinatordesignated Veteran Student Services Coordinator

Are we prepared for this group of non-traditional Are we prepared for this group of non-traditional students? What are their needs?students? What are their needs?

Transitional Issues Transitional Issues ►Military Culture (one-half of 1-percent)Military Culture (one-half of 1-percent)

““Suck it up & drive on” – “No whining”Suck it up & drive on” – “No whining” Heavily structuredHeavily structured Team orientedTeam oriented Exposure to life & death situationsExposure to life & death situations

►University CultureUniversity Culture Feeling “old” / loss of camaraderie & purposeFeeling “old” / loss of camaraderie & purpose Being singularly defined as a “Veteran”Being singularly defined as a “Veteran” Possibly being judged or misunderstood Possibly being judged or misunderstood

Non-traditional FeaturesNon-traditional Features►Veteran students are typically:Veteran students are typically:

Older learnersOlder learners More likely to have dependentsMore likely to have dependents More likely to work while going to schoolMore likely to work while going to school Employment / Career focusedEmployment / Career focused Often lack academic confidence / break in educationOften lack academic confidence / break in education

►NeedsNeeds 1 in 5 have a documented disability (compared to 1 in 10 non-veteran)1 in 5 have a documented disability (compared to 1 in 10 non-veteran) Gender-specific: over 150,000 women have served in Iraq / Afghanistan / Gender-specific: over 150,000 women have served in Iraq / Afghanistan /

25% MST Self-reliant culture / Difficulty asking for help 25% MST Self-reliant culture / Difficulty asking for help (hegemonic masculinities)(hegemonic masculinities)

Loss of community / camaraderie – “I don’t relate to these 18 year-old kids!”Loss of community / camaraderie – “I don’t relate to these 18 year-old kids!” PTSD, TBI, Wounds resulting in loss of limb(s) = accommodationsPTSD, TBI, Wounds resulting in loss of limb(s) = accommodations Combat stressorsCombat stressors

Veteran Student Veteran Student Support Services Support Services

(VSSS)(VSSS)

What does it mean to be veteran-What does it mean to be veteran-friendly?friendly?

Veteran-Friendly CampusVeteran-Friendly Campus►Programming Initiatives Programming Initiatives

How do we apply what the literature is telling us?How do we apply what the literature is telling us? What does it mean to be Veteran-friendly?What does it mean to be Veteran-friendly? Starting a new program in Student Affairs (where do I start??!!!)Starting a new program in Student Affairs (where do I start??!!!)

►Key features from the literature:Key features from the literature: Identify veterans accurately & Identify veterans accurately & communicatecommunicate regularly regularly Transitional support / peer-to-peer mentoring (Vet Connect)Transitional support / peer-to-peer mentoring (Vet Connect) Formulate an Advisory Committee Formulate an Advisory Committee Collaborate – link to internal & external unitsCollaborate – link to internal & external units Be visible (events, professional dev.)Be visible (events, professional dev.) Create a context – not isolated “events”Create a context – not isolated “events” Do not view veterans as “damaged” Do not view veterans as “damaged” Be authentic and listen (SVA relationship)Be authentic and listen (SVA relationship) Assessment – is this working? How do we know?Assessment – is this working? How do we know?

Mission / Purpose of VSSSMission / Purpose of VSSS

►Identify Veterans, active military, & dependents Identify Veterans, active military, & dependents (Admissions & OSFA)(Admissions & OSFA)

►Provide transitional support / “Boots to Books”Provide transitional support / “Boots to Books” Have a plan in place prior to arrival on campus (Resource Guide) / Vet ConnectHave a plan in place prior to arrival on campus (Resource Guide) / Vet Connect Link students to appropriate units (DRES, Women’s Resources, LGBT) & Link students to appropriate units (DRES, Women’s Resources, LGBT) &

externalexternal Assist with activation / mobilization & National Guard and Reserve trainings Assist with activation / mobilization & National Guard and Reserve trainings

►Serve as the central unit for Veteran mattersServe as the central unit for Veteran matters Serve as a liaison to staff & faculty / professional developmentServe as a liaison to staff & faculty / professional development Coordinate Veteran-specific events (discussion panels, media columns)Coordinate Veteran-specific events (discussion panels, media columns)

Community ModelCommunity Model

Veterans

SupportService

s

Veteran Student

Faculty / Staff

Support Units

Visibility

Outreach

External

Student Org.

How can I assist? How can I assist? ► Make a referral to VSSS / ask questions / researchMake a referral to VSSS / ask questions / research

► Collaborate with partner units – DRES, Counseling Collaborate with partner units – DRES, Counseling Center, Women’s Resources CenterCenter, Women’s Resources Center

► Remember that military / veteran status is only Remember that military / veteran status is only partpart of a student’s identityof a student’s identity

► Don’t view veterans as “damaged” – veterans bring Don’t view veterans as “damaged” – veterans bring a wealth of life & work experience to the classroom a wealth of life & work experience to the classroom and contribute to the diverse richness of the and contribute to the diverse richness of the UniversityUniversity

► Be mindful of our words / assumptions / Be mindful of our words / assumptions / environmentenvironment

Questions / Comments to AVOIDQuestions / Comments to AVOID

► All for nothing, what a All for nothing, what a waste, etc.waste, etc.

► Did you kill anyone?Did you kill anyone?► Why did you go, if you Why did you go, if you

knew people would die?knew people would die?► Are we winning?Are we winning?► Should we be over Should we be over

there?there?► Are you OK (mentally)?Are you OK (mentally)?► Do you think you have Do you think you have

PTSD?PTSD?► Do you have to go back?Do you have to go back?

► What was it like? / How What was it like? / How (bad) was it?(bad) was it?

► What do you think What do you think about the war / the about the war / the President?President?

► Did you see anyone die?Did you see anyone die?► Talking about why we Talking about why we

shouldn’t be “there”shouldn’t be “there”► Vietnam all over againVietnam all over again► As a woman, you were As a woman, you were

probably shielded from probably shielded from the violencethe violence

Events / Get InvolvedEvents / Get Involved

► EventsEvents

New VSSS webpage New VSSS webpage (August)(August) OEF/OIF Welcome Home Event OEF/OIF Welcome Home Event (August)(August) September 11September 11thth 10-year Ceremony 10-year Ceremony (September)(September) Daily Illini Daily Illini Veterans SeriesVeterans Series (September)(September) Diversity Conference / Veterans Discussion Panel Diversity Conference / Veterans Discussion Panel (September 19-(September 19-

20) 20) Orientation / Meet & Greet w/Parkland Veterans Orientation / Meet & Greet w/Parkland Veterans (October)(October) Women’s Resources Center / Veterans Lunch SeriesWomen’s Resources Center / Veterans Lunch Series (October) (October) Veterans Day Veterans Day (November)(November) SVA Research ProjectSVA Research Project (November)(November)

Student Veteran Lounge Student Veteran Lounge (November (November ‘12)‘12)

Veterans Display at the UG Library Veterans Display at the UG Library (November (November ‘12)‘12)

November 10November 10thth Recognition Ceremony Recognition Ceremony (November ‘12)(November ‘12)

Veterans Recognition Veterans Recognition

Descriptive FeaturesDescriptive FeaturesUnique Identifiers for Assessing NeedsUnique Identifiers for Assessing Needs

► 387 student-Veterans identified in Spring 2012, 53 387 student-Veterans identified in Spring 2012, 53 dependentsdependents

When we help a Veteran to heal, we help his or her family to heal,

and from there, the community, and from there,

our Country.

ReadingsReadings

► Personal Reflection – what emotions came Personal Reflection – what emotions came up?up?

► Are these two pieces related? In what ways?Are these two pieces related? In what ways?

►Question, Quote, or Comment Question, Quote, or Comment

► In what way(s) can these articles inform our In what way(s) can these articles inform our practice as scholar-practitioners?practice as scholar-practitioners? Ex: Linking Veterans to counselingEx: Linking Veterans to counseling Talking about issues that bring-up shame & guiltTalking about issues that bring-up shame & guilt

Readings Readings ►Humanizing the data (my work with Veterans)Humanizing the data (my work with Veterans)

San Francisco Zen CenterSan Francisco Zen Center Book that triggered a Veteran Book that triggered a Veteran

►Military Culture vs. University CultureMilitary Culture vs. University Culture Emphasis on being self-reliantEmphasis on being self-reliant TransitionsTransitions

► Construction of Masculinities (hegemonic)Construction of Masculinities (hegemonic)Fear of the FeminineFear of the FeminineEmotional illiteracy “I’m fine”Emotional illiteracy “I’m fine”Linking to services Linking to services

Contact Contact

Nicholas J. OsborneNicholas J. Osbornenosborne@illinois.edu

Assistant Dean of StudentsAssistant Dean of StudentsDir., Veterans Support ServicesDir., Veterans Support Services

Office of the Dean of StudentsOffice of the Dean of Students217.333.0050217.333.0050

http://veterans.illinois.edu