The Veterans Center

APAC BrownbagNovember 9, 2011

Welcome*Objectives• Simple Objectives for this afternoon: – Develop awareness and understanding of

student veterans on the UW campus– Learn about the mission and future of the

Veterans Center–Overview of benefits and resources

available to student veterans

Important Principles• This is not about being a Republican, Democrat,

or other political party you support.• This is not about your personal beliefs of

military, war, foreign affairs, government.• Not all veterans are the same.• This is about supporting an extraordinary

population of students on our UW campus.• This is about Serving Students Together.

UW Goals• We want to be ready to serve the unique

needs of student veterans on the UW campus.

• We want to provide services and educational experiences that will welcome veterans to our campus and ensure their success.

• At the UW, we want to be a veteran friendly and a veteran effective campus.

UW VeteransSeattle Campus: Student Veterans and Dependents: 934*

Veterans: 663Dependents: 271

Undergraduate: 666Graduate: 268

Male: 620Female: 314

Receiving Benefits: 794Tacoma Campus: 373Bothell Campus: 132

*Are there more?

What do Veterans Bring with them to Campus?

Unique Experiences http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkWwZ9ZtPEI

Military ValuesStrengths

VA Educational Benefits

Unique Experiences of Student Veterans

• Military Basic Training• War Zone Stressors• Battlemind to Homemind• Issues from War Zone• Common readjustment issues to civilian and

campus life

Military Basic Training

• Self-discipline• Loyalty• Sacrifice• Obedience• Esprit de corps (morale,

comradeship, and purpose)

War Zone Stressors• Environmental

– Sandstorms– Extreme Heat

• Wounds/Injuries• Respiratory Illness• Weight related fractures• Separation from family• Multiple and Extended Deployments• Military sexual trauma• Burden of Killing• Car and roadside bombs

Battlemind to Homemind~combat zone to the home zone~

• Buddies (Cohesion) vs. Withdrawal• Accountability vs. Controlling• Targeted Aggression vs. Inappropriate Aggression• Tactical Awareness vs. Hypervigilance• Lethally Armed vs. Locked and Loaded @ Home• Emotional Control vs. Anger/Detachment• Mission Operational Security vs. Secretiveness• Individual Responsibility vs. Guilt• Non-Defensive (combat) driving vs. Aggressive Driving• Discipline and Ordering vs. Conflict

Issues from War Zone• Physical Injuries– Amputees– Traumatic Brain Injury

• Invisible Wounds– PTSD– Depressive Disorders– Neurotic Disorders– Mild TBI

Issues from War Zone• Alcohol/Drugs• Survivor Guilt• Worry about those left behind• Domestic Violence• Divorce• Suicide• Avoidance of certain jobs, classes, people• Stuck Development

Common Readjustment Issues to Civilian and Campus Life

• Reliving war zone• Difficulty being in crowds or driving on

interstates• Feeling cut-off and alienated from other

people• Desire to isolate• Trouble falling asleep• Feeling anxious, easily startled

• Angry and irritable with loved ones and authority figures

• Loss of interest or sense of enjoyment with life

• Trouble concentrating and paying attention

• Navigating multiple student service offices on campus

• Unique social barriers with student body as a result of age and experience

• Loss of sense of purpose, teamwork and camaraderie experienced while serving; need for cohesive interaction with “true” peers.

Common Reactions From Veterans Starting College…

• Feelings of excitement

• Feeling confused

• Feelings of doubt regarding decisions to attend college

• Feeling overwhelmed

• Feeling alone or lost

• Feelings of indebtedness to spouse, family, & financial debt

Behavior That May Indicate Problems…

• Not retaining course material

• Self-isolating; not connecting with other students

• Not reaching out to faculty or staff and need assistance

• Acting moody or irritable most days

• Drinking or using drugs to excess

• Not getting along with those they care about

• Zoning out during class or while studying

Student Veteran

Transition to Campus

Life

Battlemind to

Homemind

Stressors

Invisible Wounds

Military Basic

Training

Issues from War Zone

Military Values

• Loyalty• Duty• Respect• Selfless Service• Honor• Integrity• Personal Courage

Strengths• Mature• Clear and serious priorities• Confident • Courageous• Cross-cultural knowledge• Determined• Disciplined• Focused

More Strengths• Goal directed• Focused, sense of purpose, goal directed• Inner strength• Persevere • Problem solving skills• Responsible• Sense of purpose

Simple approaches to supporting student veterans

• Be mindful of symbols and signage in your office- is it veteran friendly?

• Try to minimize the bureaucracy • Provide clear and concise information and

instructions• Listen, and be supportive• Make appropriate referrals

• Singling a student veteran out to speak about war related experiences can cause undue anxiety-it is their decision to choose when and what to share

• The adjustment period transition back to civilian life varies from veteran to veteran

• Avoid generalizing about all soldiers. Don’t confuse the war with the warrior. Veterans entered the military for a variety of reasons (patriotism, educational benefits, family traditions, learn job skills, etc.) They served because of a sworn oath.

When Issues Arise, We Can Encourage Student Veterans To…

• Consult the Veterans Center• Share concerns with instructors or advisors• Find mentors with whom they can meet for guidance

& support• Encourage them to get tested for any learning

disorder that may be creating cognitive difficulty• Seek out further assessment for symptoms

UW Resources• Veterans Center• Counseling Center• The Career Center• Health and Wellness• Disability Resources for Students

Local VA Resources

• American Lake and Seattle VA Medical Centers: 800-329-8387 or 206-764-2636

(Includes the Deployment Health Clinic and services geared specifically to women veterans).

http://www.pugetsound.va.gov • Vet Centers: Seattle Vet Center

206-553-2706Everett Vet Center 425-252-9701

• Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs http://dva.wa.gov

The UW Veterans Center• The Veterans Center is a place where veterans

can connect with other veterans and resources specifically developed for them…a place where veterans can find and build their community.

• The Veterans Center provides direct service and referrals to variety of campus and community resources…to help veterans balance their personal and academic lives.

The UW Veterans Center• The Veterans Center is here to support and

enhance the experience of veterans on the UW campus

Veterans CenterDirect Service and Referrals

• Financial aid counseling• VA educational benefits• Academic advising• Admissions counseling• Career counseling and exploration• Disability resources• Health and Wellness• Connections to community resources

Veteran Center statistics2010-11

# of In- person visits: 3,559# of phone calls answered: 3,119# of emails responded to: 6,217

# of students receiving Ch. 33 benefits: 587$ value of Ch. 33 tuition/fee payments: $5.6million

The role of a School Certifying Official

Cindy MetzgerTina Tanaka

• Generally, the first point of contact a veteran has at the UW

• Guides the veteran through applying for their VA educational benefits

• Certifies enrollment and tuition/fees to VA

Advocates on veterans behalf if problems

Maintain student files, tracking grades and academic progress.

Notify the VA when students are not in compliance.

Audited each year by three VA regulating bodies at the state and federal levels.

VA Educational Benefits• POST 9/11 – CH. 33 - Veterans, AD, Reserves and National

Guard with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001. Covers tuition & fees, gives a monthly living allowance and a book stipend. May be transferred to dependents. – Pays “net” resident tuition/fees: report to VA in-state tuition/fees minus any

tuition specific aid/waivers. VA will pay accordingly up to students benefit level.

– Monthly BAH $1400 Must be greater than half time, prorated for less than full time

– Books and Supplies Stipend $41.67 per credit- max $1000 per academic year

http://gibill.va.gov

VA Educational Benefits• MGIB/CH. 30 – Veterans and Active Duty who fulfilled an enlistment

contract. Provides a monthly living allowance.

• RESERVES/CH. 1606 – Reserves and National Guard who are currently drilling are eligible. Provides a monthly living allowance.

• REAP/CH. 1607 – Reserves and National Guard who served at least 90 days active duty and are currently drilling. Provides a monthly living allowance.

• DEA/CH. 35 - Dependents of 100% disabled or deceased veterans. Provides a monthly living allowance.

UW TUITION WAIVERS / REDUCTIONS

Tuition Reduction for Veterans(Undergraduate Students) (50%)

Tuition Reduction for Veterans (Grad/Prof Students) (50%)

Tuition Waiver for Children or Spouse of a Disabled/Deceased/MIA/POW Veteran (Undergraduate Students) (100%)

Maintaining Eligibility for Benefits After 90 credits, student needs to declare a major and be

following a specific course of study.

Restrictions on benefits - benefits aren’t payable for dropped classes, X grades, withdrawals, classes that don’t meet graduation requirements, and >180 credits.

• The VA makes exceptions for extenuating circumstances (forms for various situations signed by academic advisors to explain)

Approved programs• The program of education must be a program

offered at the UW and approved for VA benefits. – All UW degree programs– Certificate Programs– CE Programs– Distance Learning

Course approvalsVeterans Quarterly Course Approval Form

Quarter: _____________ Year: ______ Student #: __________

Degree: __________ Major: ___________ This is to verify that the courses listed on this schedule are applicable to the student’s degree (including electives), with the exception of ___________________________________________.

(Course + #, or n/a)

Any changes to this schedule must be separately approved and re-submitted, or an overpayment of benefits could result.

NOT VALID UNLESS AFFIXED TO STUDENT’S SCHEDULE

______________________________________________________Advisor signature Advisor name (please print)

______________________________________________________Date Advisor Phone

______________________________________________________Student signature

Course Approval• Needed Quarterly• Affirms to the VA that the classes they are taking

fulfill graduation requirements toward their intended degree.

• The course approval stickers need to be affixed to the schedule to be valid. Note any courses that aren’t applicable.

• Time- Sensitive - cannot certify enrollment and tuition and fees until signed and returned to the veterans center

Credit Evaluations• Affirms to the VA what a student’s major is

and how many credits are needed to earn their degree.

• Required at the time a student declares a major, or at the time a student changes the major.

Additional Forms

• “Extension of Date of Graduation” form – If a student exceeds the usual number of credits required for a program, e.g. 180 credits, this form asserts to the VA that they really do need the extra credits to graduate.

• Double major paperwork – the VA generally will pay for extra credits required for a major/minor, or second major, but it needs to be documented in their VA file. This paperwork shows how many credits are needed beyond the number of credits for the first degree.

Additional Forms•Non-matriculated form – if a student is not yet matriculated, they need to have this form signed to affirm that they need to take certain courses as prerequisites, or at least that the course are applicable toward their intended degree. It’s good for two quarters.

• Parent School Letter – If the student wants to take classes at another school for a quarter, or take classes concurrently at another school, they need this signed. It tells the VA that the classes at the other school will still apply toward their intended degree at the UW.

•Course Repeat form – The VA won’t pay for classes retaken just to improve your grade. But if you need to have a minimum GPA in your core study area, minimum GPA for those classes, etc., students need this form signed to assert that.

 

The Future of the Veterans Center• Ultimate Goal:–Create a comprehensive facility that will

provide all key services to our returning veterans in one place where they can come for assistance with the transition to college through enhanced counseling services.

The future of the Veterans Center–The enhanced Veterans Center will:• Expand the services that deal with financial issues

for veterans• Add inclusive counseling dealing with admissions,

career services, academic advising, mental health issues, focused veteran disability services, and integration into the UW community.• Focus on the wellness, mental health, and

academic success of the student veteran from a holistic perspective.

The future of the Veteran Center

– Provide consultation and educational programming for faculty and staff with information on the needs of student veterans.

– The concept requires employees who will staff the center, as well as a number of counseling specialists who will hold office hours in the center and bring their special expertise to their home department.

The future of the Veterans Center– Include a student mentor component that

employs current student veterans as mentors to newly admitted student veterans.

– With upgraded space, will provide a place for student veterans to gather, socialize, and support each other.

2011-12 Priorities

• Peer to Peer Mentoring• Identify Space for “community building”• Improve Communication • Partner with other units to provide

workshops/seminars specific to veterans– Counseling Center (Winter and Spring 2012)– The Career Center (Winter and Spring 2012)

HUMV• The official mission of the Husky United

Military Veterans organization at the UW shall be to foster unity, pride and community within its members and surrounding community through educational, cultural, and social advancement.

uw.veterans@gmail.com

One more population of students to consider…

• Spouses and dependents of Military personnel – Spouses and children of active duty and currently

deployed personnel may be faced with many of the issues common to veterans while pursuing higher education

• Transfer of Eligibility for VA educational benefits (chapter 33) – brings dependents to campus that have grown up in

a military family and exposed to many of the issues mentioned

Collaboration & Flexibility• Not about a process that serves all• Not just a transactional approach to supporting

student veterans; it is about building relationships with student veterans

• Flexibility w/ process and policies... tuition late fees, registration holds, housing payments, etc.

• Advancement, marketing, SFS, housing, registration, admissions, career services, advising, counseling center, health & wellness

• This is about Serving Student Veterans Together.

Next Steps• Go back to your unit and think about ways to

better support the needs of our student veterans.– Is there someone in your unit that is a veteran?

And, willing to be a point of contact for students?• Build relationships with student veterans– Listen, be helpful, friendly, and promote their

academic success.

Honoring those who servedCampus Memorialshttp://www.washington.edu/discover/visit/valor

The Veterans Center

Tim WoldCindy Metzger

Tina TanakaLuke Brist

520 Schmitz Hall206 543 6122

veteran@uw.edu veteran.uw.edu