NAVPA - The Transitioning Student Veteran in Higher Education

THE TRANSITIONING STUDENT VETERAN IN HIGHER EDUCATION: HELPING STUDENT VETERANS ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS

STUDENT VETERAN TRANSITION COURSE

Karina Money, Ed.D. and LTC (ret) Andrew Griffin, Ed.D.

STUDENT VETERAN TRANSITION COURSE


“Every New Beginning Comes from Some Other Beginning’s End.”

Seneca

Change!

Session Overview Introduction:

Who we are…

Today’s plan… What are some of the characteristics that

comprise today’s student veteran? What are the major challenges they will face

within the two-year transitional period between military service and the first year of school?

What role can a properly provided transition course plan in their success?

Military to Education Progression

The “Short-timer” (365 days out)

Arriving on Campus (D-day)

That First Critical Year (Next 365 days)

Academic Success

Career Success

Challenges to Transition Success (1)

POST 9/11 GI Billo Getting the GI Bill started o Great benefit, but arduous

Transfer credits and Initial Academic Counseling

o JST or CCAF o VACO with Academic Advisement


A Non-traditional Studento 47% married o 47% Single parents

Navigating new Bureaucracieso Provost Who? o A new “Posting”

Challenges to Transition Success Huddles/Discussions

How can a Student Veteran Transition Course help overcome these challenges?

Post 9/11 GI Bill

Transfer credit and academic counseling

A Non-traditional Student

Navigating new Bureaucracies


Socialization o Sense of Belonging o Who are these “kids?”

Combat-related Woundso I am not Disabled! o Visible and maybe not? PTSD and TBI


First Generation Studento 64% are 1st generation o The trail-blazer

Academic rigoro Non-structured environment o Long time since their last class

Challenges to Transition Success Huddles/Discussions


Socialization

Combat-related Wounds

First Generation Student

Adjusting to academic rigor

The Cultural Context of Veteran Transition

The Military Culture They leave Behind

The “New” Civilian Culture

The Culture of Academia

The Female Veteran

A Proud Heritage of Service

Surviving in a Masculine Environment

Challenges Deserve Support

Child Care is a Major Issue

The Cultural Context of Veteran Transition Huddles/Discussions


The Military Culture They Leave Behind

The “New” Civilian Culture

The Culture of Academia

The Female Student Veteran

The Student Veteran Transition Course (1)

Can be offered in Three Learning Environments

Dedicated Textbook Specifically tailored to help student veterans

incorporate their personal journey of transition from military to college and design their path to academic and professional success.

We set the stage for transitional resilience and follow with the exploration and examination of best practices towards academic and career development success for the newly transitioning student veteran


Module One the course begins by defining what it means to be a student veteran, the challenges most commonly faced, and share best practices towards successfully attacking your educational transition with a focus on veteran benefits and the first weeks on campus.


Module Two provides focus on adjusting to the classroom and academic rigor, where to seek help on campus, the role of the veteran resource centers, developing a sense of belonging on campus, the value of the veteran mentorship program, and what it means to be a Wounded Warrior in education.


Module Three: the student veteran will be introduced to the tools for future academic success. The student will gain an appreciation for the use of personality styles and learning styles to help guide academic major and career exploration and matching.

Students will be asked to compare and contrast military experience and learn to use their military cultural strengths towards becoming a successful student.

Personality Type and Learning Style

Being aware of learning preference also provides students with awareness of what is not their learning preference.

Having that awareness allows students to make adjustments to their learning style so that they can still succeed to be best of their ability E.g. paper writing vs. multiple choice

exam; study alone vs. group; independent learning vs. structured learning

Personality Type and Major Match

Does my major match my personality type? Future career? Interests? Values?

How will my military experience help me in achieving my civilian career goals and are those goals compatible with my major?

How do my personality traits relate to my civilian career goals?


Module Four: Focuses on civilian career exploration. In this module the student veteran will learn how to translate their military experience to civilian experience while learning the true value of their military experience and how best to build a resume to reflect that.

Next, the veteran will travel through the career development process and walk away with the confidence their academic major and personal interests and abilities and firmly linked to their ultimate career goals.

Career Development Process

How can I gain the most out of my military training and education as I transition into my civilian career?

Ultimate goal of obtaining degree in to transition into civilian career.

How can I use my education and major to demonstrate my capabilities to my future employee?

How can I translate my military experience to illustrate my skills and experience in the civilian job market?


Learning Team (ALT) We seek creative solutions to improve the transition and retention efforts of our military veterans through innovative ways. One such pioneering example is the ALT concept.

The class is divided into ALT teams of approximately five students. Each team should have a veteran mentor as a coach/adviser who will also serve as an individual mentor for the members of the team. ALT projects are developed by the teams and approved by the course instructor.


Proven Success StoryA University in the Southwest

Fall 2014 GPA comparison: Took the course: 3.13 Did not take the course: 2.76

Fall 2014 Retention comparison: Took the course: 100% Did not take the course: 73%

The Transitioning Student Veteran in Higher Education: Helping Student Veterans

Achieve Academic Success

Veteran Transition Text Book Resource for your Student Veteran Center Resource for DOD TAP and Ed Centers Personal and Professional Reference Book

“WE DID NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF TRANSITION “TOOLBAG” TO ASSIST OUR VETERANS IN THE PAST, LAID OUT IN A LOGICAL, HIGHLY USEABLE STYLE. WE DO NOW, AND I HIGHLY COMMEND THIS SUPERB EFFORT TO ANY AND ALL VETERANS ANYWHERE ALONG THE PROCESS OF TRANSITION." -David D. McKiernan. General (RET), US ARMY

How to Contact Us

Karina Money, Ed.D [email protected]

LTC (ret) Andrew Griffin, Ed.D [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


If I have seen further, its because I have stood on the shoulders of Giants!”

Isaac Newton

Thank you!