From Boots to Books: Keeping our Military Veterans in the Classroom Missy Helbert Texas Tech University

 Over 855,000 Veterans have returned from deployments in Iraq (OIF) and Afghanistan (OEF) (DOD).  550,000 veterans of the Post-9/11 era have received benefits and enrolled in more than 6, 500 public, private, and proprietary colleges across the country (sander, 2012).  As of December 2012, 62,000 Veterans have graduated from 4-year colleges and universities and 4,800 have completed non-degree training programs at vocational or technical schools.

Texas Tech University  1533 students are currently using federal and state benefits for veterans which include: 1. V.A. Benefits 2. Hazlewood Act (law passed Fall 2009) Current graduation of Military Veterans is: Fed Enrolled Graduation State Enrolled State Graduation Total Fall Fall Spr Fall Spr

What is Texas Tech doing to retain Vets?  Military Veterans Program (MVP) was established to help veterans and their dependents with G.I. Bill and other benefits for attending college. The MVP office provides Green Zone training for the Texas Tech faculty and staff. These stickers can be found on veteran friendly offices that have completed the training.

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The MVP Green Zone training :  Works to help the TTU student veterans with transition issues, and also provides them resources that are available not only on the Texas Tech campus but in the Lubbock community and can refer students as needed.  Can explain federal & state student educational benefits, explain the responsibilities of Texas Tech in reporting to the state and federal government. They also explain what the academic advisors can do to help veterans as well as provide resources, and discuss veteran student responsibilities.  Also can explain PTSD and TBI-mental health aspects that may affect some veterans.

Events for Veterans  Welcome events for student veterans at the beginning of the semester.  Veteran’s Day National Roll Call and recognition.  Veteran Appreciation day at Texas Tech Football and Basketball games.  Provide Priority registration for Veterans. Started in November  Veteran brown bag lunch for both veterans, faculty, and staff to discuss Texas Tech issues.  Educational Events including: Women in Combat Panel Discussion and Sexual Assault panel

Texas Tech also provides:  Veterans at Texas Tech organization for student veterans.  Graduation Stoles that are given to Veterans to wear at graduation and a Stole ceremony for our graduating veteran students.  Texas Tech was among the first schools in the nation to provide these stoles. Some colleges and universities are providing their veterans cords to wear at graduation.  Endowed Scholarships for Veterans.

Retention of Veterans  1- Getting them involved on your campus.  2-A military office provided to help them with G.I. Bill and V.A. benefits.  3-Providing Veterans and opportunity to sit down with faculty and discuss class room issues. Round table lunch events.  4-Giving Veterans priority registration.  5-Identifying offices that have received training and that work with veterans.  6-Providing stoles for graduating Veterans so they can be recognized for their service to their country.  7-Making sure their college credits transfer. CCTR office can help with transfer students.

References  Sander, Libby (2012). The post-9/11 GI bill, explained, The Chronicle of Higher Education, (Vol. 60, Issue 4) Department of Defense (2013). GI Bill.