Deborah S. Podwika, M.A., C.S.M. Cari Stevenson, M.S. Kankakee Community College

Deborah S. Podwika, M.A., C.S.M.Cari Stevenson, M.S.

Kankakee Community College

Helping Veteran Students

Succeed in Class

Midwest Institute For Students & Teachers of PsychologyFebruary 23, 2013

Why We HAVE TO Consider Vets

• According to the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center 32,001 service members had Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) in 2011.

• As of the end of 2012, 559,893 veterans have been compensated for PTSD as well. (US Dept. Vet. Affairs)

• In 2010, the Illinois’ VA Summary reported 21,964 Illinois veterans were making use of GI Bills for education.

• Across the Nation Colleges & Universities will be serving over 2 Million veterans returning from Iraq & Afghanistan War. (American Council on Education)

Keep In Mind…

• ALL vets are different • Some may have a great deal of difficulty &

some may not! • Some may not be diagnosed yet or be in

treatment yet .• You may not know they are at Vet• Respect their privacy

http://www.halfofus.com/video/?videoID=78&ChapterID=1

General Issues…

• Attention• Memory• Executive Function• Processing Speed/Reaction Time• Physical Disabilities • Anxiety/Depression/PTSD/Concussions

Creating a Vet Friendly Class Environment

• Syllabus Statement • "Veterans and active duty military personnel with special

circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill requirements, disabilities) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor.“ (VA Veteran’s Toolkit)

• Policy on Background Noises – Students Talking, Cell Phones, Headphones/Earplugs etc.

• Absence Policy for Reserve Duty etc.• Seat Location – Front or Back - Door?• Time of Class – Most alert (medication etc.)• Course Materials available online (Courseware

package/Web): Syllabus/Calendar/Asgn etc.


• Groups for discussion or projects • They may need to leave the class due to Triggers

(Laser Pointer)• Behavior• Be familiar with Campus Policies on Withdrawals for

Service, Special Accommodations etc.• Extra help sessions besides or instead of a Office

Hour (Veteran Specific Tutoring & Courses)• Do you want to give them more time to absorb

Material• Encourage Students to come talk to you about

difficulties they are having in classroom


• Announcements on Vet’s Club, VAC visits etc. • Announcing Freshman Experience/Success Course• Perhaps incorporate Military examples within

content • Example: Spc. Dennis Wiechel “Altruism”

Altruism

Spc. Dennis Weichel of the Rhode Island National Guard

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/spc-dennis-weichel-afghanistan_n_1388153.html

What Can We Suggest To Help Vet Students?

• Cognition/Learning/Memory/Study Methods• Dr. Dewey’s “6 Hour D”• Dr. Chew’s Videos • Drs. Joe Ferrari & Tim Pychyl Procrastination • Variety of Learning Aids• DVBIC: 10 Ways to Improve Your Memory• Blogs/Email for student with written

Announcements, outline etc. for students to review (Use to more Directions)

• Work on one task at a time & make smaller goals• Active Student

http://www.psywww.com/discuss/chap00/6hourd.htm

http://www.samford.edu/how-to-study/default.aspx

http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/2012/03/29/whats-the-hold-up-the-science-of-procrastination/

http://www.podwika.org/General/Success.htm

http://www.dvbic.org/sites/default/files/DVBIC_Fact_Sheet_10_Ways_to_Improve_Your_Memory_5_4_2009.pdf

http://sp13intropsychmwf11.blogspot.com/

What Can We Suggest To Help Vet Students?

• Cognition/Learning/Memory/Study Methods• Note Taking Method Examples• Listening & Taking notes• Tape Recorder (USB to Word)

http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/cornellnotes.html

http://sp13intropsychmwf11.blogspot.com/2013/01/listening-taking-notes.html

http://www.google.com/#q=tape+recorder+convert+to+text&hl=en&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=9mouUeOeMY3wqAH8n4CgCw&ved=0CEoQsxg&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42965579,d.aWM&fp=f6e01beb3b2bd26c&biw=1440&bih=676

Other Campus Support

• Veteran’s Support Club• Veteran’s Space – Prairie State• Other Community Resources • Website with Info• Advisor/Counselor• VA’s Coaching into Care

http://prairiestate.edu/veterans/vetscenter.html

http://www.mirecc.va.gov/coaching/

Discussion

• What issues are you having?• What are you doing in your classes?

Other Resources

• VA Campus Toolkit http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/studentveteran/• Serving Those Who Serve: Higher Education and America's Veterans

http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Georgetown-Summit.aspx• Serving Those Who Serve: Making Your Institution Veteran-Friendly.

American Council of Education http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Documents/Serving-Those-Who-Serve-Making-Your-Institution-Veteran-Friendly.pdf

• Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center http://www.dvbic.org/resources

• Outreach Center for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Support http://www.dcoe.health.mil/24-7help.aspx

• Sullivan, E. “Helping Your Students Succeed in the Classroom” Hines VA Hospital Presentation Oct 19, 2012.

• Student Veterans of America http://www.studentveterans.org/• Toolkit for Veteran Friendly Institutions http://vetfriendlytoolkit.org/

Contact Information

Debbie Podwika [email protected](815) 802-8712

Cari [email protected](815) 802-8724

Kankakee Community College100 College DriveKankakee, IL 60914Fax: 815.802.8101

In Honor of…

Aron C. Michalski age 24, of Plainfield, IL, and Marine Corp VeteranEnded his pain Nov. 29, 2012.