7.2 Understanding the Need for Veteran Learning

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Understanding the Need for Veteran Learning Communities
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Paul Grossman, Hastings College of Law
paulgrossman@comcast.net
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Sandra Burnett, Santa Monica College
burnett_sandra@smc.edu
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Wayne K. Miller, II
Wayne.Miller4@va.gov
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Mary Lee Vance, University of Montana
marylee.vance@mso.umt.edu
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“[L]et us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him
who shall have borne the battle….”
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Abraham Lincoln
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Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865
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Outline
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Veterans and Wounded Warriors
Assets, Challenges and Best Practices
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Veterans: Collaboration for Successful Transition
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Essential Practices in Student Veterans Programs: Serving Veterans and Veterans with
Disabilities in Higher Education: A Delphi Study
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Building Process for a Learning Community or VETS Office
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Q/A
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Veterans and Wounded Warriors
Assets, Challenges and Best Practices
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AHEAD 2011
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Seattle
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The Engine Behind the Surge:
The New GI Bill
“The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act”
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Up to 4 years of full support after 36 months post-9/11 active duty (sliding amount
depending on length of service)
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Can Include:
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Tuition (up to highest public college tuition)
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Books, fees
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Housing stipend
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Tutoring expenses
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Licensing expenses
More information is available from the VA GI Bill website, http://www.gibill.va.gov/
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Assets Veterans/Service Members Bring With Them
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Cultural, racial, ethnic diversity
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Maturity: in terms of both age and experience
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A mission/goal accomplishing orientation
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Trained for leadership/experienced in leadership:
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Within diversity
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Within chaos with life and death consequences
Sven Jones, retired US Army Company Commander and Training Officer//Founder of the Institute for
Learning & Understanding, “Understanding Military Culture,” AHEAD, July 2009
Of our 44 U.S. Presidents, only 12 have not had military experience. Twelve of our Presidents
were generals, including Washington and Eisenhower.
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Assets That Can Also be Liabilities
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Cohort/team oriented- they tend to connect with one another more than with non-service
members/veterans
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Do not like to ask for help from others and want to be self-sufficient
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Well-trained in critical-thinking, even in difficult circumstances, but not experienced at
independently taking care of basic bureaucratic responsibilities like registering for class:
”It would be a great help to not just be thrown into college. All the paperwork and what not
that I have to go through. I’m probably eligible for things I am not aware of….[T]hey just tossed a piece
of paper at me…. That does not help.”
Robert Ackerman et al., Transitions: Combat Veterans as College Students, in Creating a VeteranFriendly Campus: Strategies for Transition to Success, (Ackerman & David DiRamio eds., Summer 2009).
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The Challenge
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Ensure that veterans, service members, and wounded warriors come to college, transition and
persist, in light of
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College representing a new culture for everyone
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Immersion in military culture
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Repeated exposure to a traumatic asymmetrical war
“In asymmetrical warfare, battles are fought largely in civilian population with soldiers fighting
an enemy often shielded by civilian populations.” The Untold War
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Newly acquired status as a “wounded warrior”
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Potential collapse of familial supports
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Common Causes of the Transition Challenge for All Vets and Service Members
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Sense of purpose to purposelessness
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No more mission or a very much less critical one
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From high structure where ever minute is scheduled to low structure and little schedule
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High stressors to lesser stressors, hard to let go of the high ones and focus on the lesser ones
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Adverse or hostile attitudes toward war that imply hostility to vets and service members
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Uncertainty about recovery
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Sexism and racism are not permitted---sexism and racism are accepted to the degree protected
by the First Amendment
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Everyone is prepared for the mission, some students are prepared, some are not.
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Deliberate Steps Do
Make a Difference
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66% of all non-veterans will attend some college—29% of all non-veterans will attain at least a
BA vs. 41% - 15%, respectively.
Educating Veterans in the 21st Century, Hermann, Hopkins, Wilson & Allen, 2009, p.7.
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US Dept. of Education numbers are even more disparate. ED estimates only 3% of vets earn a
BA in four to five years.
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At San Diego State University, a veteran friendly campus, veterans, service members, wounded
warriors have a 7.5 percentage point lower non-completion rate and a GPA .21 points above
their undergraduate peers.
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Business as usual will not work--- Perfect Storm, JPED
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“Wounded Warriors”
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A large part of the vet/service member pool
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A group whose needs must be addressed to have a “veteran-friendly campus.”
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Individuals with distinct legal rights
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“Wounded Warriors—Signature Wounds”
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A variety of sources indicate that significant number of services members returning from
OIF/OEF will have visible and non-visible impairments. Sources vary, but they include 20-50%
for PTSD, TBI and/or depression. Other common injuries include combat eye trauma (13% by
one estimate); amputations (6% by one estimate); blast-related hearing and burn injuries.
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Impaired hearing may be the single most prevalent injury
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Many individuals will be sufficiently limited in major life activities such as walking, seeing,
thinking, concentrating, or learning that the Wounded Warrior qualifies as an “individual with
disability” under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, as amended by the ADAAA of 2008—two disability rights laws enforced by OCR.
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Key Considerations for
Wounded Warriors
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They often are:
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New to their disabilities, without prior history of IDEA/Sec. 504 eligibility
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Unaware of rights and procedures
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Unaware of how to overcome barriers
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Lacking information from high school about disability or accommodations and may not
be likely to acquire information through traditional means like a student handbook
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More Key Considerations for
Wounded Warriors
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Psychological processes for accepting disability status may take time
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Given their military background, some warriors may equate disability with “weakness”
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Their documentation of disability may not meet the needs of higher education in identifying
appropriate accommodations
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A Lethal Mix of Challenges?
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Historically, the suicide rates have been lower in the military than in the general population.
With the continued wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, however, military suicide rates have been
increasing and surpassing the rates for society at large. HOWEVER, in 2009, researchers found
that male veterans were twice as likely to die of suicide as male non-veterans in the general
population.
--Suicide in the Military. Center for Deployment Psychology, 2010.
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The suicide risk is further increased for veterans diagnosed with a selected mental disorder,
such as PTSD or TBI.
-- Risk of Suicide Among US Veterans After Returning From the Iraq or Afghanistan War Zones.
Journal of the American Medical Association, 2008.
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These numbers do not include the high numbers of suicide attempts among veterans. In fiscal
year 2009 alone, there were 1,621 suicide attempts by men and 247 suicide attempts by women
who served in Iraq or Afghanistan, with 94 men and 4 women dying.
--18 Veterans Commit Suicide Each Day. Army Times, 2010.
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Critical Contact Information
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VA Suicide Prevention Hotline:
1-800-273 TALK (press 1 for veterans)
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www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
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Best overall veterans’ assistance:
1-877-WARVETS
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A Challenging Transition
For all the reasons presented earlier,
transitioning from military to student life
can be a very challenging adjustment.
Throw simultaneously adjusting to disability and the challenge can seem overwhelming.
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What May It Take for Colleges to Attract, Retain, and Graduate Wounded Warriors ?
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Examples of promising practices collected from colleges and universities
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What May It Take?
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An understanding by faculty and administrators of what distinguishes Wounded Warriors from
other students, even other students with disabilities.
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Plans and actions well-calculated to address what makes them unique. Suggested actions
include:
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Faculty in-servicing about the signature wounds and disabilities of OIF/OEF
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What May It take?
Another suggested “promising practice”:
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A campus-wide interdisciplinary committee to address the needs of veterans, service
members, and wounded warriors including: DSO, VSO, advising, counseling, student
health, academic deans, curriculum development, campus security, student discipline,
drug and alcohol abuse programs, housing, physical education, athletic and
entertainment events services, recreation and intramural sports, on-line learning,
technology acquisition, adaptive technology, campus transit, and grounds/facilities
maintenance
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What May It take?
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Policy and service review with regard to:
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requesting the removal of program access barriers
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requesting and documenting the need for accommodations
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adding, dropping, and withdrawing from classes
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bringing on campus personal attendants
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discipline
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drug and alcohol abuse
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suicide prevention
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use and control of service animals
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What May It Take?
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Veteran-centric programs
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A veteran/service member/wounded warrior-based focus group to help identify how
the campus can welcome and support such students
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A new student orientation run by and for veterans/service members/wounded warriors
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Athletic/strength training activities for veterans, service members and wounded
warriors
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What May It Take?
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A clear, comprehensive, point of contact for all types of veterans and service members,
as a “portal,” or as a “one stop shop” through which veterans may resolve common
administrative tasks like course registration, housing registration, GI bill benefit
registration
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Academic credit to veterans, service members and wounded warriors for military
experience
What May It Take?
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Places where service members and veterans, including wounded warriors can
congregate and support one another --- vets’ house, center, fraternity, etc., to enable
these individuals:
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to network with their peers
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to advocate for better policies and practices on campus
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to engage in social interaction instead of isolation
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to emerge as campus leaders
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to eventually create and implement their own programs
What May It Take?
More vet–centric promising practice programs:
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Late registration and late drop privileges for veterans/service members/wounded
warriors
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Campus events honoring veterans
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Housing programs that allow veterans/service members/wounded warriors to pair up as
roommates/floor mates and contain vet-centric counselors
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What May It Take? (cont.)
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Revision of DSS services:
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An opportunity to lead other campus components in preparing for wounded warriors
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New name/location that is more “vet-friendly”; e.g., Access Services
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Adoption of vet-centric outreach through channels of communication veterans/service
members and wounded warriors are likely to use like VA county service centers, oncampus veterans’ service office, veterans’ web-sites and social network sites.
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What May It Take? (cont.)
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Off campus outreach by a campus team to:
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Local VA medical center/polytrauma center
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Local military base transition programs, training officers and family assistance
centers
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Veterans’ Assistance Centers
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Mental health services
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Drug and alcohol abuse services
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Suicide prevention programs
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Local Vocational Rehabilitation Office
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U.S. Department of Labor’s Transition Assistance Program vendor, such as an
employment development agency
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Governors’ programs
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Video:
Tammy Duckworth’s Closing Remarks
Video Clips Courtesy of
George Washington University
The nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking
done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.
Thucydides
History of the Peloponnesian War , 431 BC
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Veterans: Collaboration for Successful Transition
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Sandi Burnett
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Santa Monica College
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Re-tooling in Tough Economic Times
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No added $$$$$
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Shrinking staff and resources
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Doing more with less
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Sound familiar?
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Regional Players
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College Disability Services
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College Veterans Resource Centers (VRC)
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Veterans Affairs/ VBA (Chap 31, 33)
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VA Medical Centers
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County Veterans Offices
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Private Non-profits
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Last but Not Least, student veterans
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Cross Training
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Invite for a face-to-face meet-up
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Identify information gaps
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Identify best practices
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Identify mutual support mechanisms
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Schedule future opportunities
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Santa Monica College
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College-wide Committee
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Regional Committee
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Transition course
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VRC/ High Tech Center support
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Student Veterans Club
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Dedicated academic counselor and VA Work Study students
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Essential practices in student veterans programs: Serving veterans and veterans with
disabilities in higher education: A Delphi study
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Preliminary Results
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Wayne Miller, ABD
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University of Connecticut
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Study Overview
Sample = 45 Institution's of higher education
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18 responded for all 3 rounds of the study
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Respondents chose a level of essentiality
■ identified practices for student
veterans with disabilities
■ identified practices for student
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Study Overview
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The choices were:
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Not important with a value of 1
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Somewhat important with a value of 2
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Important with a value of 3
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Essential with a value of 4
veterans without disabilities
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Study Overview
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An essential practice was one which had a Mean of 3.75 or greater
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At the end of the second round there were 11 practices that statistically could have qualified as
an essential practice
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There were few changes between the 2nd and 3rd rounds.
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3rd and final round results identified 9 essential practices
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Top Three Essential Practices ONLY for Student Veterans with Disabilities
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Three of the most essential practice applying ONLY to student veterans with disabilities are:
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Three essential practices applying to both student veterans WITH and WITHOUT
disabilities
Three of the most essential practice applying ONLY to student veterans with disabilities are:
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What can you can do?
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Review you institutions Student Veteran Program (if you have one).
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Work with the AHEAD Veterans SIG to develop a plan for implementing all of the essential
practices.
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Beginning the Building Process
Mary Lee Vance, Ph.D.
Director
Disability Student Services
The University of Montana
marylee.vance@mso.umt.edu
February 2, 2011
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University of Montana
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Campus Exploratory Group
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VETS Office (Veterans Education Transition Services)
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Recommended UM Committee
UM Committee on Services for Veterans
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Provost and VPSA Executive Officer oversight
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Faculty, student (veterans), staff, community
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Adjustments or Accommodations?
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Adjustments for PTSD and TBI
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Have syllabus, and list of required texts as well as any audio clips, finalized by registration
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Plan ahead to insure all audio clips, videos and movies are captioned (many veterans have lost
hearing functions, as may have older students)
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Eliminate timed tests in favor of other assessment methods that do not penalize students
requiring extra time/lower distraction testing accommodations and/or attendance flexibility
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Describe in advance audio or other media, so students can opt to leave the classroom if it might
trigger PTSD symptoms
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More Adjustments for
PTSD and TBI
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Eliminate timed tests in favor of other assessment methods that do not penalize students
requiring extra time/lower distraction testing accommodations and/or attendance flexibility
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Allow students to be able to use an index card with faculty-approved notes and/or build in
memory joggers into the exams (if exams are deemed necessary)
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Allow use of head-sets and/or dark glasses and/or earplugs etc. to reduce distractions
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Allow use of head-sets and/or dark glasses and/or earplugs etc. to reduce distractions during
quizzes/exams
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The Best Practice: Universal Design
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No stigma for users, no reluctance by veterans to engage in mitigating measures
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No need to deal with compliance questions
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A source of innovation in higher education
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A terrific opportunity to change “business as usual” (teaching, assessment etc.)
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Suggested Publications
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AHEAD – JPED Special Issue: Veterans with Disabilities, Vol. 22, No. 1, 2009
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AHEAD - Veterans with Disabilities: Promoting Success in Higher Education Thomas E. Church
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NACADA - M19: Advising Students with Disabilities: Striving for Universal Success, 2nd ed. ISBN
No. 978-1-935140-19-1
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American Council on Education
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http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ProgramsServices/MilitaryPrograms/
serving/index.htm
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Additional Publications
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Creating a Veteran-Friendly Campus: Strategies for Transition and Success: New Directions for
Student Services, No. 126 (J-B SS Single Issue Student Services) - Paperback (July 20, 2009) by
Robert Ackerman and David DiRamio
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Educating Veterans in the 21st Century by Douglas Herrmann, Bert Allen, Roland B. Wilson, and
Charles Hopkins (Sep 18, 2009)
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Improving College Education of Veterans by Charles Hopkins, Douglas Herrmann, Roland B
Wilson, and Bert Allen (Jul 8, 2010)
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Government Resources
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Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and
Responsibilities, http://www.ed.gov/ocr/transition.html
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Auxiliary Aids and Services for Students with Disabilities,
http://www.ed.gov/ocr/docs/auxaids.html
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“Dear Colleague” letter including announcement of the Wounded Warriors Initiative and
attaching “So You Want to Go Back to School,” a document for wounded warriors.
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/back-to-school-2008.html
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http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/benefits.html
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