nacada presentation :advising veterans: challenges and constraints-kevin dean

8/14/2019 NACADA Presentation :Advising Veterans: Challenges and Constraints-Kevin Dean

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Advising Veterans:

Challenges and Constraints Empire State College Overview

Mentoring process

Who are todays military students?

Empire State College Military programsand Services

Assigning military student advisorsTips: Advising Military Students

Questions


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Empire State College

Founded in 1971 as part of SUNY,

expressly designed to meet the needs of

adult learners Dedicated to enabling motivated adults,

regardless of geography or life

circumstance, to manage and master a

rigorous academic program and earn a

degree

35 statewide locations in 7 regional areas


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Empire State College Empire State College employs 169 full-

time faculty and over 1,200 part-time

and adjunct faculty.

Empire State College is one of 64

institutions that comprise the StateUniversity of New York (SUNY) system.


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Empire State College 70% of students are non-matriculated.

The largest number is students who are

enrolled in the Business, Managementand Economics (BME) area of study then

Community and Human Service (CHS).

60% of students are female The median time to complete a bachelors

is under 3 years.


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Degree programs Offer 5 undergraduate degrees in 11

broad areas of study, 6 graduate

programs Offer highly individualized degree

programs, various modes of study, as

well as assessment of prior learning

Guided independent study

Distance learning

Study groups

Cross registration


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What is CDL? In 07-08 the Center for distance learning

generated 86,000 credits.

The Center for Distance Learningaccounts for over 38% of totalundergraduate enrollments at the

college.

Last year had the greatest growth in thenumber of credits offered


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Highly non-traditional population

Adults Average age (undergraduate) 35

Majority working full-time engaged inpart-time study

Majority have had some prior collegeexperiences/credits (transfers)

Who are the Students?


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Advising Model We offer one-on-one advising.

Every student works with their assignedmentor to design an individualizeddegree plan to meet educational, careerand employment needs.

The mentor-student model keeps theindividual student in mind.


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Advising Model Graduating Student Quote

It could be compared to collecting (on an informational level) all

the fruits of prior endeavors, interests, hobbies, experiences,etc., placing them all on a table and giving them form. Havingcreated this form, with the assistance of one's mentor, enablesthe designing of an appropriate and exciting degree program.On a more personal level, accomplishing this review within theframework of academia, allowed me to enhance my sense of

self identity. In other words, it gave me a clearer understandingof who I am.


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Military/Veteran StudentsThere have been two major shifts in

military postsecondary education over

the last few years:2. The advent and acceptance of online

learning.

2. The advent of the new G.I. bill for

military/veterans


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Military/Veteran Students Adult learning theory stresses the value

of instructional approaches that respect

and draw upon learners experiences andstrengths.

Military/Veteran students have certain

strengths


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Military/Veteran Students

People who join the military are less

likely to attend to college afterwards even

after factoring out the self selection ofjoining the military. *

Veterans are less likely to attend college

than non veterans from all socio-economic backgrounds. *

RAND report by Alair MacLean


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Military/Veteran Students Institutions creating programs for the

military should include be aware that

there may be cultural barriers that willhave to be overcome to ensure student

success.

Do we speak Army? Over!


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Military/Veteran Students by the time the original G.I. Bill ended in July

1956, 7.8 million World War II veterans hadparticipated in an education or training

program (V.A.).

The signature wound of the current conflicts istraumatic brain injury (TBI) which can cause

cognitive damage. Clearly, returning veterans onsome level are going to need special servicesand trained staffs who understand the culturefrom which the soldier has come as they enterinto the culture of higher education.


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Military Programs Dedicated Staff Outreach

On-site military advisors Preliminary reviews Community events

Partnerships GoArmyEd Navy College Distance Learning Partnership (NCPDLP) Air University

SOC On-going Admissions and Registration Semi-structured degree programs Military credit transfer ACE recommended credits


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Military Programs PTSD/TBI training module for Course

instructors, mentors, and staff.

Assist college employees with identification of

symptoms and how to approach students which might

be experiencing behavior.

NEW! Transitions: Career and Educational

Skills for Military and Veteran Students. Discuss education, career, and civilian transition and

resources that will assist with the transitions.


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Mentor Assignments Mentors are assigned daily for all

students after their acceptance and

completion of an online orientation.

We are continually integrating/updating

information in our online orientation sothat mentors can focus on academic

advisement.


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Mentor Assignments Military Program students are assigned

an advisor immediately.

Military Program students are assignedto a core group of advisors.

Plan for continued training and supportfor mentors regarding working withmilitary students.


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Conclusion Returning veterans are going to needspecial services and trained staff who

understand the culture from which the

soldier has come as they enter college.

The military leader is influenced not by

the degree but by the college culture.Vitas.


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nacada presentation :advising veterans: challenges and constraints-kevin dean

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