Allen Grundy, M. Ed, Consultant Veterans Educational Resource Centers in Higher Education (CVERCHE) “MILITARY FRIENDLY” OR IS IT?

“WHAT IS MILITARY FRIENDLY” The 2012 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students. The 2012 list of Military Friendly Schools was compiled through extensive research and a data driven survey of more than 8,000 schools nationwide. Methodology, criteria and weighting for the list were developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from schools across the country.

QUESTION Is this a valid way in determining “Military Friendly” colleges/universities ?

TEXAS EDUCATION CODE AND TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE REQUIREMENTS How do we adhere to state legislation on campuses to stay in compliance?

CIRCULAR SYSTEM THAT CORRECTS AND STABILIZES CHANGE Veteran Administration Specialize programs for Vets Increase Vet Pop Fed. Financial Resources Vet sense of Community

CRITERIA USED Texas Education Code, Chapter 51,54 and 56 Texas Administrative Code, Tile 19 Chapters 4 and 13

SAO REPORT NO SEPTEMBER 2011 Veterans’ Services at Selected Institutions of Higher Education and Survey Results Related to Veteran’ Services at all Texas Public Higher Education Institutions

SAO OVERALL CONCLUSION Auditors identified several areas that include: Sending targeted communications about financial assistance and resources available to student veterans prior to their arrival on campus. Enhancing their Web sites to ensure that they provide easily located and comprehensive information about veterans, including a link to those resources on the Web site’s home page.

SAO OVERALL CONCLUSION Offering student veterans one central location on campus where they can obtain information about both the federal and state education-related financial assistance available to student veterans. Establishing a veterans advisory committee that includes representation from all stakeholders. Offering early class registration to student veterans. Additionally, auditors reviewed the Web sites of 20 Texas public institutions while most of the Web sites contained information about the benefits and services

KEY CHALLENGES FOR VETERANS ON CAMPUSES How are veterans’ services organized administratively (e.g. staffing, reporting structure)? What services do support offices provide for student veterans? What campus offices and community organizations do offices collaborate with? What are the advantages & disadvantages of the different models for providing veterans services?

QUESTION Could there be other challenges, and what may they be?

VETERANS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTERS Insure veterans receive targeted support in navigating campus Develop a sense of community among veterans on campus Educate the campus community about the needs and interest of veterans

QUESTION Is this a functional definition of what a Veterans Resource Center is?

MODEL 1 Student Affairs Leadership Council

MODEL 2

MODEL 3

MODEL 4

VETERANS TASK FORCE Meet more than once per semester Have members representing key offices, such as veterans office, admissions and registration, financial aid, academic affairs, counseling, and disability services Include a faculty and a student veteran representative

STUDENT FOCUS GROUP A random sampling of approximately student veterans, spouses, and dependents should be chosen for candid responses to policies, procedures and services on your campus.

QUESTION How does academic affairs and enrollment management fit into these administrative models for Veterans Resource Centers?

INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS PLAN Veterans Resource Center Delivery of veterans services Support of veterans services External support for Veterans services, resource center. College/university support of programs

INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS PLAN Do we need to have an institutional effectiveness plan from a Enrollment Services point of view as well as a Student Affairs? Why?

COMPARING SB 1538 and H.R HIGHLIGHTS The purpose of the SB 1538 is to initiate Veteran Resource Centers which would be provide centralized focal points of assistance and resources resembling a one-stop-shop for veterans, spouses and dependents on higher education institutions throughout the state of Texas. H.R. 4137

QUESTIONS How do we support graduate students? How do we support veteran families? How do we support women veterans? What avenues can financial support be obtained for veterans on campuses? How can we solicit the support of administration to support the role of the returning student to their campuses?

UH VETERANS SERVICES WEBSITE

QUESTIONS What community support do you think could assist the returning veteran to colleges/universities? How can we get the student more involved in the culture of the college/university? What is the most effective way in utilizing the veteran reporting fees on campuses? What division do you think veterans affairs should be housed under? Should there be special housing on campuses for the returning veterans, spouses, and dependents?

REFERENCES Military Service Members and Veterans in Higher Education: What the New GI Bill May Mean for Postsecondary Institutions; American Council on Education, July 2009 Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Principles and Criteria, Student Veterans of America Center Handbook, January 1, 2009

REFERENCES Structuring Veterans’ Support Programs on Campus, Education Advisory Board, March 6, 2009 Serving Those Who Served: Higher Education and Americans, American Council on Education, November 2008 Student Affairs Leadership Council; The Advisory Board, 2009