thomas c. motl , ph.d. wacrao - 11/8/13
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The Way Home: Challenges facing Student Veterans . Thomas C. Motl , Ph.D. WACRAO - 11/8/13. Making a Promise. GI Bill (1944 Servicemen’s Readjustment Act) The Post 9/11 GI Bill (2008) By 2011, $7.7B had been spent In return for service, Veterans are promised an education. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Thomas C. Motl, Ph.D. WACRAO - 11/8/13
The Way Home: Challenges facing Student
Veterans
Making a Promise GI Bill (1944 Servicemen’s Readjustment
Act) The Post 9/11 GI Bill (2008) By 2011, $7.7B had been spent
In return for service, Veterans are promised an education.
Over-represented in the Armed Services: Minorities Lower Socio-economic status (i.e., poverty) First and Second Generation AmericansU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
(2013).
The U.S. Armed Forces
LoyaltyDuty
RespectSelfless ServiceHonor
IntegrityCourage
Honor CourageCommitm
ent
Integrity First
Service before
SelfExcellence in All We
Do
Honor CourageCommitm
ent
HonorRespect Devotion to Duty
21Million Veterans (1.8 Million under the age of 35)2.4 Million Active Duty or Reservists
NAVY ARMY AIR FORCE
MARINES
COAST GUARD
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2013).
Student Veterans: by the Numbers
The Post 9/11 GI Bill Student Veterans (2013): 660,0001
Entire UW-System: 180,000 students
Average 4-year public University: 700+ Active duty or Veteran students2
1U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2013).
2American Council on Education (2012).
Student Veterans: Non-traditional Student Veteran Demographics:
85% are older than 24 47% have children 27% are female1
Student Veterans are more likely to: Be a first-generation college student Be of minority status Be first- or second-generation immigrant2
Be of low Socio-Economic Status3
1Radford & Wun (2009).2U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2011).
3Seeborg (1997).
Challenges for the Student Veteran
Transition
Psychological problems
Physical Problems
Transitions
?
Civilian
(Teenager)
Military
Military
Civilian
(Veteran)
StructureTeam
Practicality Service
Transitional Challenges Lack of structure
Less accountability, routine
Individualistic culture Instruction and Assessment methods
Familiarity with the learning process Esoteric or abstract concepts Learning to learn (study skills)
Psychological Challenges
Invisible Disabilities Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (30%) Depression Traumatic Brain Injury (20%)
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
P T S D
Re-Experiencing - Thoughts - Memories - Dreams - Flashbacks
Avoiding Reminders - Over-Working - Substance Abuse - Loud Noises/Crowds - Triggers
Poor Mood- Guilt & Self-Blame- Disengaged from Activities- Detached from Others- Few Positive Emotions
Easily Agitated - Jumpy & On-edge - Often Angered - Hypervigilant & Alert - Poor Concentration - Inadequate Sleep
American Psychiatric Association (2013).
Student Veterans on Campus Psychological Problems reported by Student
Veterans 46% experience significant symptoms of PTSD 35% considered the anxiety “severe” 24% experience “severe depression”
Suicide 46% report suicidal ideation 20% have a plan to kill themselves 11% think about suicide “often” or “very often” 8% have made a suicide attempt 4% think it “likely” or “very likely” they will kill
themselvesRudd, Goulding, & Bryan (2011).
Military Sexual Trauma (MST) 25% of Women Veterans report MST 1% of Male Veterans report MST
Less than 1 in 5 assaults are reported1
More than half of individuals who suffer rape develop PTSD. 2
1Department of Defense (2012). 2American Psychiatric Association (2013).
Physical Injury & ChallengeCombat or Training Injuries
Physical Injury & ChallengeTraumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
1 in 5 combat Veterans
Symptoms (can vary): Slowed processing speed Difficulty remembering Problems concentrating Problems with organization Failure to integrate/generalize information PTSD-like emotional problems Headache, light sensitivity, blurred vision
American Psychiatric Association (2013).
Student Veterans Demographically Diverse
Historically underserved populations
Undergoing a stressful transition from military
Greater than 40% suffer from a diagnosable “invisible” disability Posttraumatic Stress Disorder & Traumatic
Brain InjuryTanielian (2008).
Student Veterans
Impact on Student Veterans Decreased sense of belonging Lower GPA Graduation rates below their non-veteran
counterparts
Durdella & Kim (2012).
Built for Success1. Commitment: Top-down initiatives to recruit &
retain
Administration devotes resources to student Veterans Explicitly and overtly prioritizes
Target Veterans during the recruitment process
Resources for Institutions American Council on Education: Toolkit for Veteran Friendly
Institutions Department of Veterans Affairs: VA Campus Toolkit
Built for Success1. Commit: Top-down initiatives to recruit and
retain2. Consolidate: Create a single point of contact
Veterans Office or Liaison Coordinate with area VAs and local services
Veterans Integrating into Academic Leadership (VITAL) Program
The Vet Center
Understands the Post-9/11 GI Bill and associated benefits Most commonly cited stressor among student Veterans was
Financial Aid.Cook & Kim (2009).
Built for Success1. Commit: Top-down initiatives to recruit and retain2. Consolidate: Create a single point of contact3. Clarify: Have a defined policy regarding Veterans
Policies likely to affect Veterans should be considered carefully and be easily accessible (via website)
Can Student Veterans attain credit for in-service training? What if the student is re-deployed or must attend exercises? Are there tuition deferments if Financial Aid is delayed?
Built for Success1. Commit: Top-down initiatives to recruit and
retain2. Consolidate: Create a single point of
contact3. Clarify: Have a defined policy regarding
Veterans4. Consult: Educate and train staff in Veteran
issues
University Counseling Center is equipped for PTSD, MST & military culture
Disability Services has a policy for PTSD/TBI accommodations
Tutoring Services are accessible and trained for TBI
Built for Success1. Commit: Top-down initiatives to recruit and retain2. Consolidate: Create a single point of contact3. Clarify: Have a defined policy regarding Veterans4. Consult: Educate and train staff in Veteran issues5. Connect: Create opportunities for Veterans to
interact
Establish and promote Student Veteran Organizations, such as the Student Veterans of America
Create a space just for Veterans Encourage student Veterans to take leadership roles
Built for Success1. Commit: Top-down initiatives to recruit and retain2. Consolidate: Create a single point of contact3. Clarify: Have a defined policy regarding Veterans4. Consult: Educate and train staff in Veteran issues5. Connect: Create opportunities for Veterans to
interact6. Care: Get faculty and staff personally involved
Explicit messages on syllabi can reinforce the message Increase staff awareness and streamline referral
processes Make time for personal contact
Resources American Counsel on Education
http://www.acenet.edu/higher-education/Pages/Military-Students-and-Veterans.aspx
Department of Veterans Affairs VA Campus Toolkit:
http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/StudentVeteran/ GI Bill: http://www.gibill.va.gov/
Student Veterans of America http://www.studentveterans.org/
National Center for PTSD: http://www.ptsd.va.gov/
Contact:Thomas C. Motl, [email protected]