New England AHEADUniversity of Massachusetts – Boston

November 10, 2009Jorja Waybrant

Assistant Director of AdvisingCoordinator of Disability Services – Dickinson College

PA CARES - Educational Subcommittee

Pennsylvania Americans showingCompassion, Assistance, and Reaching out with Empathy for Service members

www.pacares.org

Collaborative network

Voluntary Task Force - Federal, state, local agencies• Educational subcommittee• TBI Subcommittee• Outreach committee

Variances you need to consider in serving SVWD:• Student veterans• Postsecondary education• Campus services

Collaborative networks that help in serving SVWD:• On-campus• Off-campus

Variances in their demographic classifications by:

• Gender• Marital status• Dependent status• Employment status• Status as a student • Military status• Service affiliation• Stateside/war zone

Other demographics to consider for areas of support

• YRP• Loved ones• Type of program• Type of postsecondary

institution

Male/ FemaleSingle (never married)Married/partneredSeparated/DivorcedWith dependentsWithout dependents (#)ActiveInactiveRetiredDisabledReservesArmyNavyCoast GuardMarinesAir ForceNational Guard

Employed full-timeEmployed part-timeNot employedFull-time studentPart-time studentLiving on-campusLiving off-campusLiving with parentsA parent, living with familyServed OEF/IEFServed stateside

Other demographics• Military dependents YRP• Loved ones

Type of programType of postsecondary inst.

Will vary according to:• Type of program• Size of student population• Delivery of programs and services• Financial aid packages offered

• Two year program• Four year program• Public/ Private • Accredited college/university of

higher education• Trade/Vocational/Technical program• Military program, college, university• Graduate program• Online only program

• Distance learning program• Evening program• Small student population

Less than 2,500• Medium student population

2,500-5,000• Large student population

5,000 – 10,000• Very large student population

More than 10,000

• Who is the VA Certifying Official on campus?

• How are services on campus provided?

• Where are services located on campus?

• Yellow Ribbon Program – amount offered

• Other financial aid• Self-pay

• Do you have a VA rep on campus?• Do you have a DS provider on

campus?• Do you offer support services?

Learning Center Writing Center Learning Specialist Peer tutoring Counseling Services Health Services**

Variances in services • Based on needs • Based on institution/program

• Veterans representative• One-stop veterans assistant• Veterans benefits counselor• Veterans organization• Veterans student listserv• Veterans lounge• Veteran-to-veteran mentors • Veterans services during non-

traditional times• Veterans events (picnics, etc.)• Graduation awards - stole,

sash, patch, pin for graduation

• Veterans job assistance (campus employment, internships, employment)

• Veteran-to-veteran peer tutors• Veteran-to-veteran peer counselors• Veteran only courses

Transitional courses Programs/courses designed to benefit

veterans• Veteran-related information

Campus website Brochures about campus services Brochures about DS

• One-on-one hands on service

• Veteran-to-veteran mentors

• Veteran-related information Campus website Brochures about campus

services Brochures about DS

• Veteran services during non-traditional hours

• Graduation awards – stole, sash, patch, pin for veterans and another one for Yellow Ribbon Program recipients

• Military Services campus group Admissions rep*** VA certifying official on campus DS rep Student Veteran Yellow Ribbon Program recipient Veteran rep (admin, staff, or

faculty) Veteran rep (alumni, parent) Veteran rep (community)

***reports back to DS Advisory Council

• Disseminates information campus wide through the Advisory Council

Also consider• Role of DS provider on campus • What a successful model looks like

Two helpful forms• Goal Setting• Veteran to Veteran Mentoring

Set three long-term goals (Think about how you want to see yourself in 5, 10, 15 years. Consider your educational and employment goals):

       

Goal #1)   Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5  

  List three short-term goals/objectives to help you achieve this long-term goal:

  a) Attend 100% of all classes  

  b) Submit 100% of all assignments in time  

  c) Begin studying 5 days in advance for all exams  

List any barriers (internal or external) that may prevent or make it difficult for you to achieve the above-defined goals:

       

Barrier 1) I need to work  

  List three methods for removing or overcoming this barrier:

  a) Meet with VA rep to learn about all financial resources available to veterans  

  b) Meet with Financial Aid rep on campus to learn about financial resources available  

  c) Obtain employment that allows flexibility to work around class/studying schedule  

Barrier 2) I have a disability  

  List three methods for removing or overcoming this barrier:

  a) Contact the DS Provider on campus to learn about available resources  

  b) Contact a VA rep to see if they can provide guidance to me as a veteran  

  c) Make use of eligible accommodations  

Veteran to Veteran MentoringAbilities, Skills, and Knowledge

(Part 1 of Form)

Mentor Name:_____________________________________________________________________

Contact Information:_______________________________________________________________

Student Name:____________________________________________________________________

Contact Information:_______________________________________________________________

Veterans who have abilities, skills, and knowledge in special areas have offered to mentor other veterans who would like assistance and/or guidance. Please take a moment to look over this sheet and see if there is a particular area that you can assist in, or, if there is a particular area that you would like to receive assistance from another veteran. The information you provide will be placed in a file to be made available to mentors and/or student veterans on campus.

** This form is adapted from Returning Wars’ Wounded, Injured, and Ill: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary Military Strategic and Security Issues) by Nathan D. Ainspan, D.D. and Walter E. Penk.

I am knowledgeable in the following areas and would be willing to mentor another student:  

I would like to learn more about the following:

  Veteran resources on campus  

  Veteran resources off campus  

  Financial aid resources on campus  

  GI Bill and/or Yellow Ribbon Program  

  Work study  

  Employment  

  Internships  

  Tutoring (list course):  

  Student organizations on campus  

  Academic resources on campus  

  Accessing Disability Services on campus  

  Organizing paperwork  

  Time management & organizational skills  

  Studying skills  

  Test-taking strategies  

  Transitioning to college  

  Extracurricular activities  

  Goal setting  

On-campus Disability Services Student Life/Affairs Veteran representatives Faculty Admissions Financial Aid Advising Office Counseling Center Health Center Career Center

Off-campus • Other campuses • Federal, state, and local

community agencies PA CARES www.pacares.org

“Having Education as an outlet when you come home from a combat zone is one of the most grounding and

focusing avenues a veteran has to his [/her] advantage.”

Rick Scavetta, veteran of the Army ReservesChronicles of Higher Education – June 6,

2007

Jorja Waybrant, M.Ed.Assistant Director of Advising, Coordinator of Disability ServicesDickinson CollegeP. O. Box 1773Carlisle, PA 17013Phone: 717-245-1080Email: waybranj@dickinson.edu

j_waybrant@yahoo.com