Veteran Success: How to Bridge the Gap

University of Washington Tacoma

> Jorge M. Martinez - Admissions Advisor UW Tacoma alum, Marine Corps Veteran

> Andrea Coker-Anderson- Registrar, UW Tacoma with 28 years of experience serving veteran and military students

> Rosalynn Johnson - West Point Grad, Army Veteran, Military Spouse, Associate Director of Veteran and Military Services, 2018 Student Veteran Association Advisor of the Year

About UW Tacoma

8 Keys to Veterans’ Success

❖ A voluntary initiative through the Departments of Education, Veterans Affairs, and Defense

❖ Highlights specific ways that colleges and universities can support veterans

❖ 2,237 colleges and universities committed to supporting veterans

1. Create a Culture of Trust and Connectedness Across Campus

❖ Student Veteran Organization❖ Peer Advisor for Veteran Education (PAVE)❖ VetCorps Navigator❖ VA Work Studies❖ Partnerships with local VSOs: USO Pathfinder,

FourBlock, Wounded Warrior Project❖ Syllabus Statement❖ Campus Programming - Quarterly Schedule ❖ Veteran Informer - Twice a quarter newsletter

Key Points in the Syllabus Statement

❖ Autumn 2017 Implementation❖ Available resources for military-connected students❖ On campus location❖ Contact Information - email and phone❖ Key Points of Contact for use by faculty and students

2. Ensure Consistent and Sustained Support from Campus Leadership

❖ Growth of Staff to best serve students❖ Support from Campus Leadership❖ Increase of services to include programming❖ Relocation to larger space to better support increasing

population

3. Implement an Early Alert System

❖ Coordination with Admissions and Academic Advising ❖ Veteran Administration benefits❖ Financial Aid❖ Disability Resources for Students❖ Student Advocacy and Support❖ Veteran Navigator❖ Departmental faculty and staff briefings

4. Coordinate and centralize campus efforts in a designated space

❖ Current location in Tioga Library Bldg. as of February 2017

❖ 3,455 square feet of space❖ Sponsored by Alaska Airlines - yearly $20k❖ Within the center - VIBE (Veterans Incubator of Better

Entrepreneurship) and Veteran and Military Services❖ VMS - Associate Director, 2 School Certifying Officials, 6

VA Work Studies, WDVA VetCorps Navigator, PAVE Team Leader

❖ VIBE - Director, 2 VA Work Studies, 1 intern

UW Tacoma VMRC

5. Collaborate with Local Communities and Organizations

❖ FourBlock❖ USO Pathfinder❖ Wounded Warrior Project❖ Travis Manion Foundation❖ Washington Dept of VA❖ WA State Military Transition Council❖ JBLM Garrison, Education Center, and SFL-TAP❖ Navy Education Program❖ PLU ROTC Detachment❖ US Army War College Fellows

Examples of Collaboration with Local Communities and Organizations

❖ FourBlock cohorts meet in the VMRC❖ FourBlock career counseling and resume building

guidance for UWT students❖ Organizations participate in campus Veterans Working

Group, comprised of internal and external organizations

❖ Local education fairs on JBLM and Bremerton❖ Involvement in USO Education Advising Board❖ Involvement in Washington State Military Transition

Council❖ Quarterly campus visits by SFL-TAP participants

6. Utilize a uniform set of data tools to collect and track information on veterans

❖ Quarterly demographic data ❖ Development of certification tool❖ Military Friendly Data Collection❖ PAVE Participation - expanded to graduation❖ Priority Registration❖ Data Fellows

7. Provide Comprehensive Professional Development for Faculty and Staff

❖ VMRC Staff attends department, faculty, and staff meetings

❖ Encourage use of military-connected syllabus statement

❖ National Military Spouse Network 2017 Conference - pre-conference event focused on faculty and staff

❖ VIBE events - Motivational Mondays focus on resiliency

8. Develop Systems that Ensure Sustainability of Effective Practices for Veterans

❖ PAVE Campus - 1 of 38 campuses across the US

❖ Best Practice - One Stop Shop involving Academic

Advising, Disability Services, Financial Aid, Career

Services

❖ Recognized as a WDVA Veteran Supportive Campus

What’s Next - UW Tacoma Priorities

❖ Implementing Forever GI Bill - BAH by zip code for practicum/internship enrollment

❖ New Army Tuition Assistance❖ Transfer of Benefits❖ Implementing Document Management system❖ Enrollment Increases - specifically Voc Rehab❖ Expansion of PAVE to include Spouses/Children

Tacoma Husky Pride