Serving Those Who Serve
Program Update
Elizabeth O’Herrin
Associate Director
American Council on Education
Elizabeth_oherrin@ace.nche.edu
202-939-9702
www.acenet.edu/STWS
Who is ACE?
• Higher education association:
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Formed in 1918
1,800 college & university presidents and
chancellors, other higher education associations
› Represent 2 & 4 year schools, public and private,
for-profit and non-profit
• What do we do?
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Advocate on behalf of our membership
Initiatives related to college access & success
What does the Serving Those Who
Serve project include?
•ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans Award Grants
•TodaysGIBill.org
•Success for Veterans Jam
•Other: research publications, GI Bill implementation
meetings, the Severely Injured: Fulfilling Their
Dreams project
www.acenet.edu/STWS
ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans
Award Grants Update
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California State Polytechnic University, Pomona •
California State University, Sacramento
Clackamas Community College (OR)
Colorado State University
Empire State College, SUNY
Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ)
Fresno City College (CA)
George Mason University (VA)
Hunter College School of Social Work, CUNY
Lane Community College (OR)
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Los Angeles City College
Madison Area Technical College (WI)
Onondaga Community College (NY)
Park University (MO)
Ramapo College (NJ)
Southwestern College (CA)
Trident Technical College (SC)
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Maine, Augusta
University of Maryland, University College
ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans
Award Grants Update
• Breakdown:
–248 applicants from all sectors
–20 grantees
• 9 public four-year institutions
• 8 community colleges
• 2 private four-year institutions
• 1 consortium
ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans
Award Grants Update
• Process
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Selection committee narrowed the applicants to
30 semi-finalists
Panel of judges selected the final 20 grantees
Weighted scoring:
› 40% program design
› 20% program evaluation
› 20% program dissemination
› 20% program sustainability
ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans
Award Grants Update
• Example programs and services:
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curriculum-driven college assimilation programs;
distance learning preparation modules;
faculty training programs;
face-to-face and online student veteran orientation programs;
peer support and peer mentoring programs (to include student veteran organization
development, formal student mentoring programs and faculty/student mentorships);
one-stop resource centers, dedicated support teams, work-study placement, and
employment support;
programs to increase institutional awareness of the “veteran experience:” student
veteran panels, film screenings, discussions, theatrical performances;
development of community-based collaborations;
partnerships with employer consortiums and workforce training curriculum.
ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans
Award Grants Update
• Example programs:
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Fresno City College
NJASCU & Ramapo College
UCSC
ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans
Award Grants Update
• Fresno City College: “Veterans PowerPathway”
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10 week certification program for utility line worker
positions
Curriculum driven by employer input and support (PG&E)
Prepares individuals for pre-employment tests (math,
reading, spatial reasoning)
Provides “wrap around” support services; onsite case
manager
Create employer consortium to drive interest and further
the program
ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans
Award Grants Update
• Ramapo College & New Jersey Association of
State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU):
Operation College Promise
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9 colleges and universities
Monthly meetings and phone conferences
Workshops for faculty and staff
› 8 more over coming 18 months
Outreach to local National Guard Units
University of California, Santa Cruz
• Corinne Miller, Director, Services for Transfer
and Re-Entry Students
ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans
Award Grants Update
• Next steps:
› Site visits
› Increase visibility and begin dissemination
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› 2010 and 2011 ACE Annual Meeting representation
Create toolkits and collaboration materials
www.TodaysGIBill.org
TodaysGIBill.org
Success for Veterans “Jam”
• Hosted by ACE & IBM (May 3-6)
• 72 hour around-the-clock brainstorming event
• Intended to distill actionable ideas and solutions via
“crowdsourcing”
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In addition to uncovering existing gaps and needs
• Will provide training opportunities within Jam forum
to foster discussions
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GI Bill, ACE credit recommendations, PTSD & TBI
Questions?
Elizabeth O’Herrin
Associate Director
American Council on Education
Elizabeth_OHerrin@ace.nche.edu
(202) 939-9702
www.acenet.edu/STWS