Jean Chappel l , Ed.D.Dean, HPSCincinnat i State Technical and Community Col lege-Panel Faci l i tator

Darrel l L . Smith, M.Ed.Cincinnat i State Technical & Community Col lege

Mike Farrel l , M.Ed.Wright State Univers i ty

Mike ForrestThe Ohio State Univers i ty

SERVING VETERANS IN HIGHER

EDUCATION

OAIRPCINCINNATI STATE

MARCH 20, 2015

Darrell L. Smith, M.Ed.

Manager, Veteran Student Aff airs

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

ScheduleCertificate of EligibilityProgram VerificationVA Certification

VA CERTIFYING PROCESS

Veterans Upward Bound Program

Student Support Services

RETENTION AND OUR VETERANS

Mike Farrell, M.Ed.

Veteran and Military Center

Offi ce 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 Aff airs 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 offi ce or Veterans Center Course Completion Rates Persistence: from semester

to semester Retention: Year-to-year Graduation Rates or

degree/certifi cate 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 InterviewsParticipation in programming (e.g. using tutors;

attending orientation)

ACADEMICS

Reductions: Late fees and money sent back to VA

Customer satisfaction: Consultation SurveysIncrease

Enrollment or FTEFASFA completion

TrackingEnrollment funnelEmergency 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 #’sAttendance at all eventsVet Voices interviewsCommunity Service Hours Completed VeteransStudent 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 ForrestDirector, 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

Does This Sound Familiar?

Strategy for Action• How to better deliver Military & Veterans

Services?– Why are we doing this? VITAL !– What do our students want/need?– What external requirements are levied on us?– How do we compare to our peers and in Ohio?

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 ServicesNew 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”

Provost

VP Student Life Vice Provost / UE Dean

Asst Provost for Military &

Veterans Services

Director Veterans

Transition & Services

Sr Veterans Benefits

Specialist

Veterans Benefits

Specialist

VA-Funded Work Study

Students

Academic Advisor

VP Strategic Enrollment Planning

Counseling & Consultation

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!