Transition Assistance Best Practices Whole Student Concept Transition Assistance Best Practices

What is the Whole Student Concept Going past the initial need/conversation to addressing all of the needs of the student Education Housing Employment Healthcare Child care Relocation

Best Practice: From First Touch to On Campus Northwest Michigan College 1) Upon applying to NMC. every military-related student receives a welcome letter that introduces (& connects them with our POC) and informs them of their application fee being waived.  A checklist is also sent out to all veterans, which is intended to facilitate their onboarding 2) Our system is set up in such a way that our POC knows when a military-related student applies to NMC... in addition to the automatic email the goes out to the student, he personally reaches out to them via phone 3) Our approach is very 'high touch', personal and intentional

Best Practice: Northwest Michigan College 4) We have orientation sessions specifically for veterans - in addition to general info that all NMC students receive, they receive specific information for them as veterans (on campus and in our greater community), view a video made by current NMC veterans which welcomes & encourages them (includes a message from our college president too) then current NMC veterans and/or our POC will escort each veteran around campus to show them where their class is located - this not only enables them to get their 'bearings' but also enables the veterans to picture him/herself in that classroom, identify the seat they would most be comfortable sitting in, etc.   In some cases, we've altered schedules due to veteran not being comfortable with a room he/she was scheduled to take a class in... we also take them around and show them where the veteran's lounge is, as well as other key resources. 5) All veterans receive a specialized t-shirt specifically for NMC veterans

Best Practice: Video Walkthroughs and Introductions University of Nevada, Los Vegas Videos provide a more intimate/personal touch Welcome video In state tuition Videos on the different GI Bills accepted and what the school needs to process them. Info about their VetSuccess on Campus coordinator PAVE program video UNLV SVA chapter informational video https://vimeo.com/173532549

Best Practice: Sponsorship Packets Western Michigan University Folder full of information the student can access at their leisure Community info Campus Map Healthcare info (on and off campus) Housing (on and off campus) Employment Scholarships Military checklist Personalized welcome letter All items either created in house or provided for free from the resource. Costs: $5 to mail.

Best Practice: Military Student Orientation University of Michigan Modules designed for 90-120 minute blocks that can be configured singly or back to back.  Modules will have approximately 60 minutes of “core” instruction and discussion, 30 minutes of activities, and 30 minutes of “stretch” instruction that can be addressed as time allows Standard delivery sequence is 2-3 modules and some local content during a half day / whole day welcome event to pull in all new veterans.  Then a once every two weeks format with one module per meeting (with food) in the evenings after most classes are done.

Modules Academic Readiness Basics Academic Readiness - The Next Level (what’s your purpose) Academic “Health and Safety” Finance Basics Finance – The Next Level  (you make or break your retirement in your 20’s and 30’s) Career Launch Basics (things to do in year 1 & 2) Career Launch - The Next Level (Senior year sprint to graduation and HIRING!) Veteran Benefits from A to Z Healthcare & Wellness Emotional Intelligence & De-Greening

For the Room Where do you see gaps in supporting the transitioning student Veteran? What would you like to do at your institution? What other best practices have you seen?