When Johnny and Janey Come Marching Home The challenges of integrating our veterans back to campus Craig Whiteside

Veterans and College Post 9-11 Veterans Assistance Act of 2008 – Generous benefit: tuition, fees, stipend Increased veteran enrollment ? – GI Bill – Future reduction in force Veterans and the general population

Recent Research From Soldier to Student II (ACE) – Survey assessing campus programs for veterans and service members

Survey Results Follow up survey (2012) – Original survey was 2009 – 690 institutions – 38% response rate from 4 year institutions – 62% of respondents provide programs specifically for veterans – 72% included veterans in their long term strategy – 64% were actively recruiting veterans

Survey Results (cont.) Average veteran attendance rose more than 100% in just three years – From 201 to 453 active duty members on campus – From 156 to 370 veterans on campus More Public (71%) than Private (51%) have veteran programs

Findings Highest increased activity was in recruiting Next was financial aid assistance/counseling Social events Most offer services for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) but less for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Findings (cont.) Most commonly reported veteran challenges: – Finances – Retention/completion – Social acculturation

Veterans as Assets World Experience – Majority have spent time overseas, not as tourists Funding – Attractive to universities – This limits distractions for student Diversity – Higher % of out of state, ethnic groups

Concerns about Veterans Academic preparation – From 2 years to 7 years away from high school or college – Atrophied study skills – Discipline and hard work might not be enough Social integration Health issues Classroom issues

Veterans at according to the Daily Evergreen Types – Returning active duty veterans – Continuing veterans Washington Army National Guard Active in the Reserves (Army, Navy, AF, Marine, CG) – Veterans continuing service in the ROTC Mostly single, male, 22-29

Advising Veterans Major selection – Confident and not afraid to pick tough majors Engineers, nurses, wildlife biology Unaware of the difficulty of these prerequisites – On a strict timeline as non-traditional students Narrows choice quickly, reticent to change Adjustment issues Health issues Respect

UCOLL 304 The Veteran’s Transition Seminar Purpose: Provide focused exploration for military veterans to adjust to the college environment Activities: – Major Selection and Career Planning – Journaling – Academic Research – Academic and Career Fairs – Book Review – E Portfolio (Electronic Resume) – Student Success Strategies

Class Experience Advantages: – Low cost – High touch time (no more than 15 students) – Modeling – Advising in teaching – Career focus

Class Experience Challenges: – Recruiting veterans into class – ALIVE – Recruiting the instructor

Veterans in their own words “One of the most scary and life changing decisions I ever made was to join the military and then to leave the service. I left small town ______ and joined the Navy because I wanted to see what else the world had to offer. I am glad I did as going to school was the last thing I wanted to do after high school.”

Veterans in their own words “So in short, that brings me here. My goal is to one day become a federal investigator, once I earn my major in Criminal Justice. I am very excited to be going to school full time and I plan on enjoying my next several years here in Pullman.”

Veterans in their own words “Originally I had no intentions of going to college. I did a year of college before I joined the Army. After basic training I realized I had a lot of improvements to make. After that, I began to see college as a mechanism for self- advancement.”

Veterans in their own words “While in Iraq last year, I made the decision to return to school after a four year break. I looked at my interests and decided that a degree in fisheries biology or wildlife management would allow me to accomplish my goals.”

Veterans in their own words “I enrolled in this course primarily to be amongst people like me: college students who have served their country.” “I have had many factors that have motivated me to attend college. The foremost being that my college is all but paid for.”

Veterans in their own words “I think most of all, I took this course because civilians make me angry (i.e. on Facebook during class – as an NCO I would have choke-slammed him into his computer).” “My motivation to go to college didn’t occur until I joined the Army at 20 years old. Right after high school I went to a community college but was more focused on partying. I knew I had to go back to school and do it right.”

Warrior Scholar Program Yale University – Week long pilot program this past June – Eased transition from combat to classroom for nine service-members – Focused on academic skills – “academic boot camp”

Conclusion Way forward for these Universities – Vet Center/picnic mentality vs. true transformation – The veteran as recruitment targets – Who is the veteran’s advocate? Questions?