Veterans Outreach and
Transition Assistance
SACRAO 2014
Raleigh, North Carolina
Walter Stewart
Coordinator of Veterans Services
Tina Collins
University Registrar
Today’s Topics
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Overview of UAB Veterans Services
Challenges Faced by Veteran Students and Families
Strategies for Optimizing Service to Veterans
Transition Support
Veteran Services at UAB
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1100 Veterans and Family Members (500 Vets)
Two full-time staff members
Four VA work study student employees
Responsible for:
Recruitment
Counseling
Certification
Military Friendly Initiatives at UAB
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Books for Vets
Information sessions
Cookouts
Updates on latest VA trends
Student Veterans Association
The Reality
• College campuses are starting to see a influx of
veterans seeking an undergraduate education
• Veteran students face many challenges
Financial Challenges
• Testing into remedial classes (some benefit programs
don’t pay for classes not required for degree)
• Late fees assessed when there is a delay in the
processing of benefits
• Non-resident tuition rates (often 3x the instate rate)
• Large out-of-pocket expense
Note:
• Several states waive waiting period required for
military students to meet instate residency
Academic Challenges
• Frustration when military experience doesn’t transfer
as academic credit
• Missing class due to service-related medical
appointments
• Having to take certain number of classes in order to
avoid a reduction in benefits
• Academic skills may need to be refreshed
Social/Personal Challenges
• Creating a balance between work and school
• Feeling “isolated” from the traditional college
student
• Having to support their families
• Marital and family issues
Physical/Mental Challenges
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Anxiety
Depression
PTSD
Traumatic Brain Injury
Service-related injuries
Best Practices for Serving the Military Population
• Provide opportunities for vets to connect
• Start a student veterans organization
• Ensure after-hours services for students who work
during normal business hours
• Create a veterans center
• Hire vets through the VA’s work-study program
Best Practices (con’t)
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Offer housing options for veterans
Award credit for military coursework and experience
Track veterans enrollment and progress
Identify ways to get vets to self-identify
Establish consistent and transparent credit transfer
policies
• Clearly communicate policies on military transfer
credit
FROM SOLDIER TO STUDENT
Transition Support
• Establish a primary point-of-contact for veteran
students
• Train faculty and staff on veterans’ issues
• Connect veterans with non-veteran student groups
• Maintain contact with students who are deployed
• Waive late fees; exempt these students from being
dropped for nonpayment
Transition Support (con’t)
• Provide scholarships/in-state tuition for veterans and
their family members
• Train faculty and staff on military culture
• Consider changing the name of the campus Disability
Support Services office (e.g. Center for Accessibility
and Support)
Transition Support (con’t)
• Advise student veterans on career choices
• Partner with Career Services to prepare students for
resume creation, job interviews, internships
• Collaborate with Human Resources to identify
campus positions for veterans upon graduation
Resources
VA Work Study Program Application:
www.va.gov/vaforms
The American Council on Education
www.acenet.edu
The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning
www.cael.org
Additional Resources
www.USA4MilitaryFamilies.dod.mil
Handbook: From Combat to Classroom (Understanding
Student-Veterans & Servicemembers
Contact Information
Walter Stewart
wcstewar@uab.edu
Tina Collins
collinst@uab.edu