Jean Chappell, Ed.D. Dean, HPS Cincinnati State Technical and Community College -Panel Facilitator Darrell L. Smith, M.Ed. Cincinnati State Technical & Community College Mike Farrell, M.Ed. Wright State University Mike Forrest The Ohio State University SERVING VETERANS IN HIGHER EDUCATION OAIRP CINCINNATI STATE MARCH 20, 2015

Darrell L. Smith, M.Ed. Manager, Veteran Student Affairs Cincinnati State Technical & Community College PROCESSING SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

 Post 911 G.I. Bill (Chapter 33)  Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)  Selective Reserve Montgomery G.I. Bill (Chapter 1606)  Surviving Spouse/Dependents (Chapter 35)  Montgomery G.I. Bill (Chapter 30) CHAPTER OF BENEFITS

 Have graduated nearly 100 veterans from our Get Skills to Work Program  Have placed over 70% of those veterans that graduated from the Get Skills to Work Program  Next course is to be combined with Machine Operators Course (MSSC/MO) GET SKILLS TO WORK

 Service members and qualified family members meet each week to discuss how to use their VA educational benefits  Sessions are held at both the Middletown and Clifton Campuses VA INFORMATION SESSION

 Using the old Montgomery G.I. Bill versus the new Post 911 G.I. Bill  Financial aid issues associated with receiving Post 911 G.I. Bill and financial aid  Other additional fees the VA will not pay FINANCIAL AID AND THE VETERAN

 Schedule  Certificate of Eligibility  Program Verification  VA Certification VA CERTIFYING PROCESS

 Veterans Upward Bound Program  Student Support Services RETENTION AND OUR VETERANS

Mike Farrell, M.Ed. Veteran and Military Center Office of Institutional Research— Emphasis on Veteran Services Wright State University COUNTING STUDENT VETERANS SUCCESS

 Currently  Over reliance on benefit users  What happens when they fall off  Future: Shift to Student Affairs Model  Must identify all student-veterans and military-connected  Benefit users + former benefit Users + non-benefit users  Enrollment management model (still important)  Blend more subjective indicators of success  Engagement, satisfaction, sense of belonging, etc.  Dissection of data for trends  Age, race, benefit type, etc. DATA ON STUDENT VETERANS

 # of inquiries received  # of applications received (conversion rate)  # student accepted (acceptance rate)  # of students enrolled (yield rate)  # of students assisted by the office or Veterans Center  Course Completion Rates  Persistence: from semester to semester  Retention: Year-to-year  Graduation Rates or degree/certificate completion A COMPLETE FUNNEL: THE SVA RECOMMENDS

 Reduction in  Academic Probation  Dismissals  X Grades  Add/Drops  Student performance:  Credits attempted vs. completed  Aggregate GPA’s (slice by benefits)  Exit Interviews  Participation in programming (e.g. using tutors; attending orientation) ACADEMICS

 Reductions: Late fees and money sent back to VA  Customer satisfaction: Consultation Surveys  Increase  Enrollment or FTE  FASFA completion  Tracking  Enrollment funnel  Emergency fund requests BENEFITS/FINANCIAL

 # jobs posted in Student Center  Follow-up after graduation  Job attainment  Employment/Unemployment rates  Satisfaction  # Vets actively enrolled in career database  Engagement in career activities  Social Media Activity – Linked In Groups CAREER/EMPLOYMENT

 Tracking #’s  Attendance at all events  Vet Voices interviews  Community Service Hours Completed Veterans  Student Veteran Organizations (SVO)  participation/progress  Contributions to campus and community  Fundraising  $  In-kind donations COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

 # of students served: Accu-track  # of students using the Student Center  Printing Usage  Computer Usage VETERAN AND MILITARY CENTER

1.We must Survey Veteran and Military Connected Students Annually to identify satisfaction with current services and any unmet needs. 2.To explore any indicators that differentiate success rates based on any single or group of identifiable variables. 3.Include qualitative evaluation into the experience of Veteran and Military-Connected students. 4.Explore the decision to attend and leave WSU. CHARGE

Mike Carrell Assistant Provost & Director Mike Forrest Director, Veterans Transition OFFICE OF MILITARY & VETERANS SERVICES

Issues facing the University Growing Number of Military & Veteran Students – Rising complaints from the cohort Lack of Dedicated Resources--Who is the advocate? Lack of Understanding from Faculty & Staff, but desire to help Growing Regulation/Guidance from Federal & State University Concern/Desire Better Serve These Students Don’t Re-invent the Wheel Leverage our Strengths and Current/Previous Efforts Want to be more Effective and Efficient Position for the Long-Term

Strategy for Action Roadmap to make OSU The choice for Military & Veterans Academic Success Build Trust with Veterans, Military, & Families

Importance of “Why” Where does this office “sit” administratively? Who Funds it? How do we decide Priorities when pulled in several directions? What do we do when we don’t have enough money? Who will help us or Champion us? Other Issues Veteran Lounge – Co-Locate or Not to Co-Locate / In or Out of the Union/Hub? – Centralized Location or Better Space? Development Balance Community Involvement

Military & Veterans Services New Office, Expanded Roles Seamless Benefits Processing Collaboration on Provided Services within and outside of OSU Educate & Train Faculty & Staff Cut Through Bureaucracy/Red Tape for Students -- Advocate Serving Our “Buckeye Military Family”

University Exploration VA “Vet Success on Campus” Employee New Office Construct Visiting Counselor

Military & Veterans Services “We truly believe that no one office should ‘own’ military or veteran students in a university, but rather everyone must, as every entity makes a critical contribution towards their success.”

Future Challenges Relevancy—How to maintain the “Sea of Good Will” Funding – Lounge Example Process/Policy Regulation/Guidance Answers The “Why” Relationships – How do we contribute to Your mission and help solve Your Problems?

Questions….Comments….Concerns??? Thank you!