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Introduction: The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is fully committed to providing all of its

(more than four-hundred) Student-Veterans with Veteran-Centric academic and moral support

services that culminate in a transformational educational experience.

In line with this commitment, the 3 Dub Club—“Women Warriors of Whitewater” support group

was created and implemented as part of a comprehensive University action plan for bridging

gaps in how Women-Veterans receive support services on campus.

Problem Statement

Gender-Specific Support Services

Women-Veterans currently account for about twenty percent of the University of Wisconsin

Whitewater’s Student-Veteran population.

However, there is a serious lack of access to informational and educational material regarding

gender-specific support services available to Women-Veterans enrolled at the University of

Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Moreover, at the present time less than fifteen percent of Women-Veterans enrolled at the

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater utilize Veteran-Specific Services such as study/leisure

opportunities at the Student Veterans and Military Service Members Lounge, participation in

campus-related celebrations honoring veterans and military service members or are active

members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Student Veterans Service Organization

(VSO).

Based on the above, it is clear that the unique needs of Women-Veterans on the campus of the

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are unrecognized and overlooked.

As such, this effort to facilitate easy access to gender-specific support services for Women

Veterans attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is urgent.

Goal 1

Objectives

Identify issues of concern to the

Women-Veterans on the University

of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s campus

and develop recommendations to

address these concerns through the

development and implementation of

gender-specific programming and

outreach activities.

Collaborate with key university department staff and

faculty to aggressively pursue the development and

implementation of gender-based programming on campus.

Collaborate with key university department staff and

faculty to create a culture on campus that recognizes and

celebrates the contributions and achievements of Women-

Veterans to the military.

Collaborate with key university department staff and

faculty to provide safe, secure and supportive environment

for Women-Veterans on Campus.

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Projected Outcomes

Growth in Women-Veterans Population

Over the past three decades women have entered the military in ever-increasing numbers.

Ultimately these women will transition from Service Members to Veterans and from Veterans to

Students.

Consequently, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater can expect to see an increase in

enrollment of Women Student-Veterans accompanied by a greater need for gender-specific

support services.

Present Outcomes

Increased need/use of Support Services by Women Student-Veterans

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is currently experiencing a noticeable increase of

demand for and use of support services by Women Student-Veterans.

In particular, the increase is most noticeable in the elevated number of Women Student-Veterans

utilizing the “re-oriented” Student Veterans and Military Service Members Lounge that

prominently features the new Veterans Resource Information Center.

Goal 2

Objectives

Provide access to an up-to-date

directory of services that are

available to Women-Veterans and

Service Members who are

transitioning from military to

academic life at the University of

Wisconsin-Whitewater in order to

ensure their awareness of array of

equal and effective services being

provided to

Women-Veterans.

Collaborate with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans

Affairs (WDVA) Hospital to develop and maintain an

up-to-date directory and services that are available to

Women-Veterans and Service Members who are

transitioning from military to academic life.

Collaborate with Wisconsin Vet Centers to develop and

maintain an up-to-date directory and services that are

available to Women-Veterans and Service Members who

are transitioning from military to academic life.

Build upon the local community partnerships and

outreach established for other programs, such as

domestic abuse intervention services, to establish support

networks for Women- Veterans in accessing health care,

employment, financial counseling and housing.

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This increase in use of the Lounge has directly led to more Women Student-Veteran referrals to

both on-campus support services, such as the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) and

community-bas mental health care services of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.

For example, during a recent Veterans’ group study session held at the Student Veterans and

Military Service Members Lounge, the University’s Coordinator of Student Veterans and

Military Services overheard a Student-Veteran expressing her frustration and high level of

anxiety due to her inability to remember simply math equations.

Further discussion between the Coordinator and the Student-Veteran revealed that she may be

suffering from an undiagnosed math disability. The Student-Veteran was referred to the

Wisconsin Department Affairs Medical Center for neuropsychological testing and to the

University’s Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD).

Program Feedback

What People Are Saying:

“I wish this program was around when I was a freshman here at the University. I really could

have used it.”

Jazlyn Goudy,

Student-Veteran (Class of 2015)

“A gender-specific program at the university is a very much needed. I would to love to be

involved with the program and help out in any way that I can.”

Kristin Linsley,

Student-Veteran (Class of 2015)

Key Efforts

Richard Harris, Coordinator of Student Veterans and Military Services will (CSVMS):

Make contact at least once per month via face-to-face, by phone or e-mail with

program coordinators of VA Hospitals in Madison and Milwaukee that have Women

Veterans Health Programs which provide an array of services to Women Veterans to

discuss on-going strategies to better serve the Women-Veterans population at the

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Make contact at least once per month via face-to-face, by phone or e-mail with

program coordinators of Vet Centers in Madison and Milwaukee that provide an array

of services to Women-Veterans & their family members to discuss on-going

strategies to better serve the Women-Veterans population at the University of

Wisconsin-Whitewater.

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Engage in the distribution of educational and awareness material for Women-

Veterans Services via prominent display at the designated Veterans Resource

Information Center located in the University’s Veterans & Service Members Lounge

and other areas on campus;

Include Women-Veterans education and awareness in the University’s Veterans

Orientation Program sessions;

Partner with key university department directors to hold staff/faculty information

workshops on issues concerning Women-Veterans; and

Collaborate with various university student organizations to hold student information

workshops on issues concerning Women-Veterans.

Program Documentation

Richard Harris, Coordinator of Student Veterans and Military Services (CSVMS) will:

Document the number of Women-Veterans requesting and receiving education and

awareness of service provider material;

Document the number of Women-Veterans referrals made to both campus and

community-based resources;

Document the number of student and staff/faculty information workshops conducted on

issues concerning Women-Veterans;

Document the number of the University’s Veterans Orientation Program sessions that

include Women-Veterans education and awareness;

Document results of Women Veterans Satisfaction of Program Services Surveys; and

Document CSVMS participation in trainings/conferences/seminars/workshops that focus

on services provided specifically to Women-Veterans and Military Service Members.

Key Collaborations/Partnerships:

Community-Based Resources

Dr. James Lickel

VITAL Program Manager

Madison VA Medical Center

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Libby Muller

Women Veterans Program Coordinator

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs

Jill Feldman, PhD, LCSW

Women Veterans Program Manager

Milwaukee VA Medical Center

Sandra Schumacher, PhD, CNM, WHNP, BC, RN

Women Programs Manager

Madison VA Medical Center

Arpita Ghosh, PhD,

Advanced Fellow in Women’s Health at the Madison VA

Jerri Jefferson

Program Support Assistant

Milwaukee Vet Center

Jennifer Sluga

Counselor

Madison Vet Center

Campus-Based Resources

Andrew Browning, Case Manage

University Care Team

3 Dub Club—Women Warriors of Whitewater developed and implemented by:

Richard Harris, BSW

Coordinator of Student Veterans & Military Services

HarrisR05@uww.edu

Cell # 608-718-6120

Office # 262-472-5236c

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APPENDIX

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Referral Tracking Form

* The Coordinator of Student-Veterans and Military Service Members assigns random seven digit numbers to Student-Veterans for

confidentiality reasons.

Student- Veteran Date Issues/Concern Referral? Referred To:

#8253890 09/27/15 Student-Veteran indicates that she is a victim of

Military Sexual Trauma and is in counseling at the

Madison VA Medical Center. Student-Veteran also

indicates that she struggles with depression, which has

at times adversely impacted her academic

performance. Student-Veteran commutes to UW-

Whitewater from Milwaukee and requested

information about gender-specific services in the

Milwaukee area.

Yes Dr. James Lickel, VITAL

Program Manager

Jerri Jefferson, Program Support

Assistant Milwaukee Vet Center

#6742398 10/14/15 Student-Veteran indicates that she may have an

undiagnosed math disability that is adversely

impacting her academic performance.

Yes Dr. James Lickel, VITAL

Program Manager

UW-Whitewater Center for

Students with Disabilities

#7439214 10/24/15 Student-Veteran indicates that she suffers from severe

depression and several physical ailments. Student-

Veteran also indicates that she is concerned about her

G.I. Bill benefits running-out before she completes her

degree.

Yes Dr. James Lickel, VITAL

Program Manager

Jan Nordin, UW-Whitewater

Veterans Benefits Certification

Coordinator

Maggie Pray, Department of

Veterans Affairs Vocational

Rehabilitation Counselor