Veterans Outreach and Transition Assistance

SACRAO 2014Raleigh, North Carolina

Walter StewartCoordinator of Veterans Services

Tina CollinsUniversity Registrar

Today’s Topics

• Overview of UAB Veterans Services• Challenges Faced by Veteran Students and Families• Strategies for Optimizing Service to Veterans• Transition Support

Veteran Services at UAB

• 1100 Veterans and Family Members (500 Vets)• Two full-time staff members• Four VA work study student employees• Responsible for:

RecruitmentCounselingCertification

Military Friendly Initiatives at UAB

• 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 expenseNote:• 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

• 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)

• 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 Educationwww.acenet.edu

The Council for Adult and Experiential Learningwww.cael.org

Additional Resources

www.USA4MilitaryFamilies.dod.mil

Handbook: From Combat to Classroom (Understanding Student-Veterans & Servicemembers

Contact Information

Walter Stewartwcstewar@uab.edu

Tina Collinscollinst@uab.edu