No One Stands Alone:There is Help for our Veterans

Maricopa Community Colleges 2013 Student Success Conference

Breakout Session II, 11:30 AM to 12:15 PM, Salon C

Panel Members▪ Marsha Carlen, M.Ed., Student Services Specialist & Certifying Official,

Veteran ServicesEstrella Mountain Community College

▪ James Fawbush, Co-Founder, Vets on Media, StudentMesa Community College & Arizona State University

▪ Jeremy Glasstetter, MBA, Director, Lt. Col. Bryant A. Murray Veterans CenterExcelsior College

▪ Patrick Reid, M.Ed., Student Services Specialist, Advising & Registration Mesa Community College

▪ Christina Yang, MBA, Director of Academic PartnershipsExcelsior College

The Student Veteran• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates approximately 5% of college students

are military veterans, primarily post 9/11 conflict veterans

• Student veterans often:- Are more mature- Are married- Are a parent- Have reservist responsibilities- Have job skills and abilities- Have career goals- Already posses general studies skills in global awareness and cultural diversity

Yet, on average students only use 17 out of 36 months of their benefits and only 6% use the entirety of their benefits

Many of our Student Veterans do not persist.

The Re-entry Transition• Returning from the War

- Loss of Time- Loss of Part of Themselves- Loss of Others

• Re-entering the Civilian World- Unsharability of war experience- Idealized home vs. reality and spouse/family vs. reality- Change in social norms- Negative typecasting

• Reintegration- Reintegration is most successful through family support and

education-occupation programs

Reintegration & Persistence:Tinto & DiRamio• Intentions / Goal & Institutional Commitments

- Partnered with external commitments

• Initial Institution Experience

• Academic & Social Integration

Where to Find these ResourcesLt. Col. Bryant A. Murray Veterans Center

excelsior.edu/veteranscenter

Available Resources for Veterans▪ Money for Education

▪ Financial Guidance

▪ Health & Wellness

▪ Webinars

▪ Information for Faculty & Staff

▪ Vet to Vet Wisdom

▪ Veteran Small Business Incubator

Money for Education▪ Educational Funding

▪ Federal Aid

▪ Grants

▪ Loans

▪ Military Programs

▪ Scholarships

Financial Guidance▪ Justice for Veterans

▪ VeteransPlus

▪ Stateside Legal Aid

▪ USAA Financial Center

Health & Wellness▪ MyHealtheVet

▪ Give an Hour

▪ WarWithin

▪ The Pathway Home

▪ The Brainline

▪ Troops First Foundation

▪ Higher Ground

Webinars▪ You’re Home – What’s Next Series

▪ How to Use Your Post-9/11 Benefits

▪ Veteran Strategies for College Success

▪ How to Demonstrate Your Value in the Civilian Job Market

Information for Faculty & Staff▪ Resources related to:

▪ Health

▪ Continuing Education

▪ Research

▪ Statistics

▪ Military

▪ Veteran-specific Disability Resource & Services Training

Vet to Vet Wisdom▪ Examples of Mentor Programs

- connects new or visiting student veterans with a current senior level veteran

student or recent veteran graduate.

▪ Military-Affiliated Mentorships- Excelsior's mentorship program offers new veteran students a

veteran mentor tohelp navigate the Internet classroom environment and provide

assistance inlocating support and resources.

Veteran Small Business Incubator▪ Model at Excelsior College

▪ SCORE

▪ GI Jobs

Don’t Recreate the Wheel▪ We want you!

▪ To provide any national and local resources for our veterans

excelsior.edu/veteranscenter

No One Stands Alone:There is Help for our Veterans

Questions?