Veterans Education Cohort Model (Veterans Educated Together Succeed) VETS

The Veterans Education Cohort Model is being proposed by Northeast Wisconsin Technical College as a

strategy for helping those who have served our country to succeed in attainment of an Associate Degree

and fulfillment of their education and career goals. By definition a cohort is a group of people who have

shared a particular experience during a particular time span. The veterans we serve at higher education

institutions have already shared an experience that those not in the military have difficulty relating to.

The cohort model for education has been used for decades in Master’s and Doctoral education

programs. A group of individuals pursuing a common goal, higher education, come together, providing

support and encouragement so that all may succeed.

The proposed Veterans Educated Together Succeed (VETS) model will gather 16 – 20 veterans with

similar educational goals. They will enroll in classes as a cohort and support will include college

assimilation programs, academic advising, mentoring, counseling and tutoring. The program will also

include education for faculty and staff to create awareness of the challenges to the student veteran

population.

This education program seeks to provide a cohort model in which 80% of the curriculum taken is

identical. The remaining coursework will be chosen to create degree opportunities that match the

student’s desires. We believe that this can be accomplished by focusing on a core program like the

Electro-Mechanical Associates Degree. The core classes in this program are transferrable to many other

programs at many colleges. The Solar Energy Technology, Utilities Engineering Technology, Energy

Management Technology, Wind and Manufacturing Engineering programs all contain significant courses

from this program.

The cohort would complete this core of Electro-Mechanical courses together and then specialize in a

program area assimilating with other students in those programs. The ability to complete a majority of

the degree program in an atmosphere that is tailored to their experiences and strengths provides the

most supportive opportunities for success and degree completion.

The graduating students would also have the opportunity to complete an Applied Technical Studies

Bachelors Degree through transfer agreements with the University of Wisconsin Green Bay.

Recruiting / Advising

A coordinator / program coach will work with potential veteran students. The coordinator will help

them examine program / career options and facilitate placement testing as needed. The coordinator will

also work to connect businesses to students and foster the internship and mentoring relationships. The

coordinator will work with the students throughout their education at the college, through their

internships w/ businesses and their first job placement.

An academic advisor will be assigned to the students in the cohort. The academic advisor assigned will

have experience with veterans and/or be a veteran. The academic advisor will work with the

coordinator to schedule the cohort’s classes and any plans for remediation that may be needed.

Orientation / Team Building

The cohort of students will participate in an orientation / team building session a week prior to the start

of school. The advisor and the coordinator will work together to plan the weeks activities. They will

participate in typical orientation activities, exposing them to all of the programs at the college. The

cohort will also do team building exercises meant to develop the camaraderie amongst the cohort. The

college will work with the public safety division of the college to facilitate these activities.

Remediation

As part of the early recruiting efforts testing will take place to determine the students current Math,

Reading and Writing placement. The college has basic education programs and will set up plans for any

remediation needed. It is critical that the students have the basic skills in needed to be successful. The

coordinator will work with potential students to complete remediation prior to the start of the academic

program.

Program Core

Classes will be structured so that cohort can move through at least the first year of the program as a

group. The academic advisor and coordinator will work to ensure that the instructors for the classes

have experience with veteran’s issues. Training will be provided for instructors based on the

recommendations of the coordinator and academic advisor. Tutoring sessions will be provided to

students as required and will take place using the cohort model as well.

Emphasis will be placed on providing additional activities for the cohort including physical activity and

stress management. Financial planning sessions will be provided to help students adjust to their new

economic situation.

The coordinator will work with employers to ensure that the needs of the employers are being met with

the program courses and that students are continually exposed through internships, guest speakers and

field visits.

Internships / Job Placement

The coordinator will work with businesses to provide internships for the cohort students for the summer

between their first and second year. The coordinator will work with the students and the college’s

career center on resumes and interview skills. Businesses will hold mock interviews and provide job

shadowing opportunities for the student veterans. The program coordinator will help students with job

placement upon graduation.

Budget – 1 year, 16 students

Description Detail Cost Total

Coordinator ½ time, includes benefits

$52.500

Academic Advisor ½ time, includes benefits

$40,800

Orientation Activity / fees / food $5,000

Basic Education Remediation –covered by college

Tuition Covered by Federal Govt. programs

Books / Supplies $41.67/credit for federal program

Group Tutoring 20 hours / wk x 17 weeks x 2

$10,000

Computer $1,200/student 19,200

Living Expenses Apartment $595/2 bedroom apt. x 16 x 12 - $57,120

Food / living allowance $425/month x 16 x 9 = $61,200

Total $245,820

Other ideas:

Veterans Energy Center: Power distribution, renewable energy, energy management, veterans

advising…

Staff training – instructing faculty and staff regarding veterans issues and sensitizing them to

what the veteran students have experienced.

Field experiences at businesses as part of the training – may need funds for transportation /

accommodations

Notes:

Wisconsin covers a portion of the veterans tuition, the college picks up the rest. Wisconsin does

not provide any funds for books or supplies.

The Federal, Post 9/11 program, reimburses the college for tuition and $41.67/credit for books