Academic Library Services and Programming for Student Veterans Sarah LeMire First Year Experience and Outreach Librarian Texas A&M University Libraries

About the Presenter Then:

US Army Sergeant Now: Librarian at Texas A&M

• Experience working with student veterans as a librarian at the University of Utah and at Texas A&M University in College Station

• Presented the paper “Beyond Service: New Outreach Strategies to Reach Student Veterans” at ACRL 2015

• Coauthoring Serving Those Who Served, an ABC/CLIO Libraries Unlimited book about libraries and veterans, with Kristin Mulvihill (expected publication 2017)

Other webinars in the series

Previous webinars in the Providing Library Services for Military & Veteran Communities in Texas

Part 1: The National Landscape and Military/Veteran Cultural

Competency (Kristen Mulvihill)

Part 2: The Texas Landscape (Aaron Smith, Perry Jefferies, Dina Abramson)

Part 3: Public Library Services and Programming (Patricia Altamirano, Veronica Anderson, Judy Bergeron, Pattie Mayfield)

What will we be covering?

1. Who are veterans?

2. Veterans in higher education

3. What makes student veterans different?

4. How are colleges and universities serving student veterans?

5. What can libraries do to support student veterans?

6. How can libraries support marginalized populations within the veteran community?

Who are veterans?

ARMY

MARINES

AIR FORCE

NATIONAL GUARD

NAVY

COAST GUARD

(Main, 2011) (Medellin, 2011) (Bruch, 2012)

(Jasik, 2013)

(Lipp, 2011)

(Hill, 2012)

Who are veterans?

Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active military service means full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey. - Veterans Benefits Administration

Any student, alumni, faculty, or staff member of the University of Utah who has been or currently is a military member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard (active or reserve), or National Guard of any state; or has separated from these services with a discharge other than Dishonorable is considered to be a Veteran by the Veterans Support Center. Any ROTC cadet in their 3rd or 4th year and any spouse or children of Veterans under this definition may also seek support from the Veterans Support Center. – University of Utah Veterans Support Center

Not a single unified definition of what a veteran is

Who are veterans?

A veteran is an individual who served or is serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, on active duty or in the National Guard or Reserves, for any period of time, regardless of combat service, deployment, or type of discharge.

Veterans and Higher Education

Veterans make up approximately 5% of undergraduate college students (Military Connected Student Report)

In 2014, over 1 million students were using VA education benefits. (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2015)

Over 93,000 of these students are attending schools in Texas (second only to California)

In 2013, over 275,000 active duty service members received DoD Tuition Assistance benefits (United States Government Accountability Office, 2014)

In 2014, almost 39,000 students received Hazlewood Exemption Awards (State of Texas Legislative Budget Board, 2014)

A significant percentage of student veterans are not receiving VA or DoD educational benefits

Almost 40% of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits & 50% of DoD Tuition Assistance benefits go to for-profit colleges (Harkin, 2014)

What makes student veterans different?

http://memegenerator.net/instance/37591699

What makes student veterans different?

Student veterans are different than their civilian counterparts in a number of ways.

According to a 2013 American Council on Education report based on 2012 National Survey of Student Engagement data:

~80% of student veterans are over age 25

~75% of student veterans are male

~60% of student veterans are first-generation

students

Student veterans are more racially diverse

than their civilian counterparts

(Kim & Cole, 2013)

(Stumpf, 2012)

What makes student veterans different?

Student veterans also exhibit different behaviors than their civilian counterparts.

Student veterans are: More likely to live off-campus

More likely to work off-campus

More likely to be caring for dependents

Less likely to work on-campus

Less likely to participate in extracurricular activities

Student veterans are: More likely to spend time preparing

for class

More likely to discuss grades and/or assignments with their instructors

More likely to have a positive relationship with faculty members

(Kim & Cole, 2013)

(Texas A&M University Libraries, 2015a) (Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System, 2011)

How are colleges and universities serving student veterans?

Many colleges and institutions have services specifically for veteran students.

The Basics:

School Certifying Official

Other Common Services: Education benefits counseling

Credit for military training

Financial assistance or discounts for veterans

Campus social and/or cultural events

The Next Level: Veteran service offices

Student veteran organizations

Staff and faculty training about veterans

Veteran-oriented or veteran-specific courses

Priority enrollment

Vet Success on Campus (VSOC) counselors

(McBain et.al, 2012)

(CT State Democrats, 2015)

What can libraries do to support student veterans?

Although many campuses have been developing specific services for veterans, not many libraries have followed.

Libraries can play an important role in academic services for veterans:

Academic libraries often fill the crucial third space role on campus, but this can present challenges for veterans

Veterans can exhibit unique information-seeking behavior

(Texas A&M University Libraries, 2015b)

What can libraries do to support student veterans?

Case Study: Austin Community College District Activities:

Sheila Ross Henderson – designated representative responsible for recommending collection additions for veterans, identifying veteran-related activities, and serving on college’s Veterans Advisory Committee

Highlighting veteran-related holidays on library homepage “What’s New” feature

Poster in library featuring veterans

Collaborating with campus Veterans Resource Center

Attending and/or providing resource table on-campus and off-campus veterans events

LibGuide for veterans: http://researchguides.austincc.edu/Veterans

(Henderson, S., personal communication, November 3, 2015)

What can libraries do to support student veterans?

Case Study: West Texas A&M University – Cornette Library Activities:

Shawna Kennedy-Witthar, Director of Information and Library Resources serves as cosponsor of campus chapter of Student Veterans of America (SVA)

Friends of the Library sponsor a monthly lunch for SVA members

Friends of the Library sponsored a table at the WTAMU Military Veterans Ball; Cornette Library Circulation Desk sold tickets

Veterans and Library partnered on “Books ‘N Boots” team for Relay 4 Life

Outcomes:

SVA chapter meetings well-attended; 44 members in attendance at first Fall 2015 meeting

Student veterans are comfortable in the library, and SVA leaders even hang out in the Director’s office

(Kennedy-Witthar, S., personal Communication, October 20, 2015)

What can libraries do to support student veterans?

Case Study: Texas A&M University Libraries Activities:

Librarian business cards in campus veterans office

Librarian involvement in Aggie Vet Network

Library resource table at VetCamp and Boots to Backpacks events each semester

Librarian involvement with campus Troops2College committee

Librarian participation in campus group of scholars researching issues related to veterans

Librarian partnership with campus veterans office and community organizations to develop a series of women veteran-themed events scheduled for March 2016 (stay tuned!)

Outcomes:

Beginning to receive referrals from student veterans who need library support

Developing representation as campus individual and entity interested in veterans’ issues

What can libraries do to support student veterans?

Common Outreach Starters: LibGuide for Veterans (e.g.

USC Library)

Provide instruction in veteran-specific or veteran-targeted courses

Displays of veteran-related or veteran-oriented library material

Office hours in campus veterans center

The Next Level: Develop veteran-specific programs, events, or initiatives

Move outside the library, physically or virtually, to provide support to veterans

Build relationships with campus and community veteran organizations

What can libraries do to support student veterans?

Campus and Community Veterans’ Organizations:

Campus Campus veterans’ office

Campus chapter of Student Veterans of America

Other campus committees, student organizations interested in military issues

State State Veterans Affairs Office

Texas Veterans Commission

Federal US Department of Veterans Affairs

Regional Offices, Vet Centers, VA Hospitals

Veterans Service Organizations (e.g. VFW, American Legion)

http://www.va.gov/vso/

How can libraries support marginalized populations within the veteran community?

Women Veterans Women veterans are more likely than male veterans to enroll in

college. (National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, 2013)

Women veterans “are equally likely to have had emotionally traumatic or distressing experiences while serving (47% vs. 42% of men), and their transition back into civilian life has been equally tough. More than four-in-ten female post-9/11 veterans (43%) say their readjustment to civilian life after their military service was very or somewhat difficult (along with 45% of men).” (Patten & Parker, 2011)

Potential Partners: Campus Women’s Resource Center

VA Center for Women Veterans

Texas Veterans Commission Women’s Program

Veterans Service Organizations (many large organizations have targeted outreach to women veterans, and there are also organizations just for women)

(Slovensky, 2011)

How can libraries support marginalized populations within the veteran community?

LGBT Veterans Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repealed in 2010

Originally passed in 1993 as a compromise for lifting existing ban on gay and bisexual individuals serving in the military

Over 13,000 men and women were discharged under DADT (Gates, 2010)

Transgender individuals are still technically barred from service

Trangender veterans are entitled to medically necessary care through the VA (VHA Directive 2013-003) and are beginning to take advantage of this care (Kauth, M.R. et. al, 2014)

LGBT veterans experience barriers to care through the VA (Johnson & Federman, 2013)

Potential Partners:

Campus LGBT Resource Center

VA LGBT Program

Veterans Service Organizations – e.g. American Veterans for Equal Rights

(VA Boston Healthcare System, 2015)

How can libraries support marginalized populations within the veteran community?

Veterans with Disabilities ~30% of Post 9/11 veterans have a service-connected disability

(National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, 2015)

Most common service-connected disabilities: 1) Tinnitus, 2) Hearing loss, 3) Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2015 )

Potential Partners: Campus Center for Disability

Services

Veterans Health Administration hospitals or clinics

Veterans Service Organizations – e.g. Disabled American Veterans, Wounded Warrior Project

(Hersom, 2013)

Questions?

Sarah LeMire First Year Experience & Outreach Librarian

Texas A&M University Libraries (979)458-9785

slemire@library.tamu.edu

References

Cate, C.A. (2014). Million records project: Research from Student Veterans of America. Retrieved from http://studentveterans.org/index.php/aboutus/what-we-do/million-records-project

Gates, G.J. (2010) Discharges under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy: Women and racial/ethnic minorities. Retrieved from http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Gates-Discharges2009-Military-Sept-2010.pdf

Hannaford, L.M. (2013). Transitioning from the out-date: Information seeking behavior of junior enlisted army veterans of Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (Order No. 1545926)

Harkin, T. (2014). For profit higher education: The failure to safeguard the federal investment and ensure student success. Retrieved from http://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/for_profit_report/Contents.pdf

Johnson, L. & Federman, E.J. (2013). Pathways and barriers to care for LGBT veterans in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 7(3), 218-235.

Kauth, M.R., Shipherd, J.C., Lindsay, J., Blosnich, J.R., Brown, G.R., & Jones, K.T. (2014). Access to care for transgender veterans in the Veterans Health Administration: 2006-2013. American Journal of Public Health, 104(Suppl 4): S532-S534.

Kim, Y.M. & Cole, J.S. (2013). Student veterans/service members’ engagement in college and university life and education. Retrieved from https://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Documents/Student-Veterans-Service-Members-Engagement.pdf

LeMire, S. (2015). Beyond service: New outreach strategies to reach student veterans. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/conferences/confsandpreconfs/2015/LeMire.pdf

Marquez, A. (2014). Assisting college military veterans in academic libraries. ACRLog. Retrieved from http://acrlog.org/2014/09/29/assisting-college-military-veterans-in-academic-libraries/

McBain, L., Kim, Y.M., Cook, B.J., & Snead, K.M. (2012). From soldier to student II: Assessing campus programs for veterans and service members. Retrieved from http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Documents/From-Soldier-to-Student-II-Assessing-Campus-Programs.pdf

Mills, C.P., Paladino, E.B., & Klentzin, J.C. (2015). Student veterans and the academic library. Reference Services Review, 43(2), 262-279.

References (continued)

Molina, D. & Morse, N. (2015). Military-connected undergraduates: Exploring differences between National Guard, Reserve, active duty, and veterans in higher education. Retrieved from https://www.naspa.org/rpi/reports/military-connected-undergraduates-exploring-differences

National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (2015). Profile of post-9/11 veterans: 2013. Retrieved from http://www.va.gov/vetdata/docs/SpecialReports/Post_911_Veterans_Profile_2013.pdf

National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (2013). Women veteran profile. Retrieved from http://www.va.gov/vetdata/docs/SpecialReports/Women_Veteran_Profile5.pdf

Patten, E. & Parker, K. (2011). Women in the U.S. military: Growing share, distinctive profile. Retrieved from http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/files/2011/12/women-in-the-military.pdf

Sojdehei, V. (2013). Boots to books: Helping college student veterans through library outreach and engagement programs. College & Research Libraries News, 74(10), 537-538.

State of Texas Legislative Budget Board (2014). Report on the Hazlewood Exemption. Retrieved from http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/Documents/Publications/Policy_Report/1462_Report_on_the_Hazlewood_Exemption.pdf

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2014). I am a veteran. Retrieved 10/30/2015 from http://www.va.gov/opa/PERSONA/index.asp

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2015). VBA annual benefits report fiscal year 2014 - Education. Retrieved from http://www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/ABR-Education-FY14-10202015.pdf

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2015). VBA annual benefits report fiscal year 2014 - Compensation. Retrieved from http://www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/ABR-Compensation-FY14-10202015.pdf

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans Health Administration. (2013). Providing health care for transgender and intersex veterans: VHA directive 2013-003. Retrieved from http://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2863

United States Government Accountability Office (2014). DOD education benefits: Action is needed to ensure evaluations of postsecondary schools are useful. Retrieved from http://gao.gov/assets/670/665580.pdf

University of Utah Veterans Support Center (2015). Our mission. Retrieved 10/30/2015 from http://veteranscenter.utah.edu/our-mission.php

Images

Bruch, M. (2012). US Air Force weapons school [Image 20 of 24]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/7241801914/

CT State Democrats (2015). Flexer checks in with student veterans. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctsenatedems/22756838256/ Used with Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license

Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System (2011). Writing letters to home. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/6238553350/in/dateposted/

Hersom, E.J. (2013). 2013 Warrior Games. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/8744881674/

Hill, B. (2012). Hoist training [Image 2 of 5]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/7754647964/

Jasik, K. (2013). 1st Marine Logistics Group bulk fuel challenge. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/32419562@N04/8653504733/

Lipp, D. (2011). ND National Guard responding to flood emergencies [Image 2 of 18]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/5610089423/

Main, T. (2011). Mongolia, US build on friendship during Khaan Quest 11 [Image 5 of 8]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/6033014992/in/dateposted/

Medellin, E. (2011). USS Cleveland action [Image 1 of 2]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/5884452015/

Slovensky, A. (2011). A diverse force in Steel Dragon [Image 2 of 4]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/6198306662/in/dateposted/

Stumpf, W. (2012). 140th Wing Colorado Air National Guard Deployment Departure [Image 11 of 17]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/8147805428/

Texas A&M University Libraries (2015a). Libraries – Summer 2015. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/36274857@N05/19463404382/in/album-72157653210157133/

Texas A&M University Libraries (2015b). Libraries – Summer 2015. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/ohiouniversitylibraries/3506866503/

The COM Library (2015). Veteran’s Day book display. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/comlibrary/22724622845/ Used with Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license

VA Boston Healthcare System (2015). Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender veterans. Retrieved from http://www.boston.va.gov/services/images/LGBTTAGS3.jpg