VETCOMS Veterans Come to School TBR SERS Grant
Goals and Outcomes Increase enrolled veterans to 200 Increase awareness of veteran resources Improve marketing strategies that target veterans Improve community relations and involvement Improve customer service Improve peer-to-peer relationships between veteran students Increase veteran retention rates Provide Green Zone training to faculty and staff Increase engagement of student veterans PICTURE: Men on Campus – Speed Increase usage of services available to veteran students Date Lunch & Learn.
Goals and Outcomes The College continued: Work to maintain its Tennessee Vets’ Campus • Designation. Its listing a Principles of Excellence college on • the VA.gov web page. Maintained the Eight Keys to Success • designation by the US Department of Education. Complied with the DOD MOU. • Monthly contact with identified student • veterans. Hosting a veteran focused booth at all • student activities during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Goals and Outcomes The College continued: • Sponsored events with participation from all four constituencies: • Students Veterans • Faculty • Staff • Community
Goals and Outcomes VETCOMS grant continued the extensive work that began during two previous veterans focused grants. One from TBR and one from THEC. PICTURE: Announcing the designation of a VETS Friendly Campus with all community partners present. Retired military leadership. • Central High School NROTC. • Local recruitment officials. • Employees with military service. • VA Services leadership. • American Legion Post 170. • Student Veterans. • College staff, faculty, and administration. • County elected leadership. •
What we did… Established a student led veterans organization. Created a master list of veteran students using several college reports and outreach. Created marketing materials focused on veteran students (including a resource packet and admissions checklist). Created a website with comprehensive information on financial aid, veteran benefits, and transition information for veteran students. Implemented a committee of faculty and staff that helped in the implementation of the grant. Hosted formal and informal gatherings for veteran students in conjunction with other offices. Established a veterans study room at the two largest campuses. Continued to provide a support network to veteran students.
What we did… PICTURES: VETCOMS Grant Implementation • team. End of Semester Lunch with State • Senator Hensley, Representative Curcio, Columbia Mayor Dickey, Columbia Fire Chief.
What we did… PICTURES: End of Semester luncheon. Speaker from the City Of Columbia’s Fire Department. Students were given awards.
How did it go? Successes Veteran Student Organization is thriving and has amazing faculty advisor support. Identifying veteran students has become easier through college reports and self- identification via email/phone/survey (199 on 6/29/18). Potential and current veteran students have given positive reviews on both the webpages and the veteran study rooms. $500 per semester veteran student scholarship was established via the Ladies Auxiliary-Unit 19 of Columbia.
How did it go? PICTURE: Veterans Success Coach at the Lewisburg Campus Meet and Greet interacting with several student veterans.
How did it go? PICTURE: Student veterans working in the designated study area.
How did it go? Challenges Personnel turnover. Identifying veteran students. Program planning across 5 campuses / need to implement more technology connections for peer to peer support. Tutors available for all students in our tutoring center but student veterans communicated a need for separate tutors. Mentors needed with military backgrounds. Difficulty in establishing student veteran engagement outside the classroom due to academic, family, and work schedules.
Suggestions for other institutions Offer ‘GREEN ZONE’ training each semester. Strategic and intentional partnership with local military agencies. Host a dialogue session each semester with all constituencies to hear the voices of the student veterans.
Columbia State contacts… Adam Robertson, Director, Department of Student Engagement & Services arobertson17@columbiastate.edu 931.540.2583 Dr. Christa S. Martin, Assistant to the President, Office of Access & Diversity cmartin@columbiastate.edu 931.540.2644
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