Serving VUB Students at Tri-C

Serving VUB Students at Tri-C Louis A. Busacca, Ph.D. Director Veterans Upward Bound VUB Metro Office 216-987-4938 Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

TRI-C: A Military-Friendly Campus! TRI-C named Military Friendly Campus 2010 by GI-Jobs Magazine A military-friendly and supportive campus is a winning situation for the veterans, active duty students, and the institution. “Veterans enrich the classroom. Soldiers’ experiences in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere give them firsthand insight into the questions that are at the heart of a modern university education” (Byman, 2007) Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

TRI-C Veterans Initiative Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

VETERANS UPWARD BOUND Enrollment Management Pre-collegial transition & PSE Support program for eligible Military Veterans funded by the U.S. Department of Education Derived from Montgomery GI Bill and needs of Vietnam Veterans Opened at Tri-C in 1973 Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

VUB Mission Statement Veterans Upward Bound provides FREE comprehensive support services to eligible veterans interested in pursuing their first college degree. Services help veterans complete preparatory coursework, increase their access to college, develop academic skills, and enroll and persist in a program of postsecondary education. Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

Eligibility Requirements Any veteran with more than 180 days of consecutive active duty, and received an other than dishonorable discharge Low income and/or potential first-generation college student No college degree. Or if enrolled, must be at-risk in developmental coursework Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

Primary Services Academic Enrichment Program Math and English tutoring Academic advising & career counseling Personal counseling Financial aid assistance, college orientation, scholarship and veterans benefits information Referral and coordination with other veteran agencies and organizations Support groups Cultural events and activities Veterans Today Club (metro and east) Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

Academic Enrichment • Workshops • Basic Computer • Stress Management • Study Skills • Career Development • Academic Classroom • Mathematics • Reading, Writing, Grammar • Laboratory Sciences • Individual-Study Plan • Mathematics • Reading, Writing, Grammar Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

VUB Demographics 07-08 Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

Mean Grade Equivalencies for TABE Test Fall, 08 N=17 Spring I, 09 N=10 Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

Veterans have put their lives and education on hold, and in many instances come or return to the table of higher education facing obstacles. In addition, many veterans are members of ethnic minorities who are first-generation college students. Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

Rose Sachs (2008) Writer for Inside Higher Education “Many combat veterans return with mental health needs that can complicate educational achievement. In addition to specific disorders such as traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, combat veterans experience psychosocial disruption as they rapidly transition from the role of warrior to that of student.” Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

The Transition from combat... to college

Skills and strengths that students with military experience bring to campus • Increased knowledge and awareness of the world and other cultures; appreciation of the blessings of living in the USA • Have lived and worked with others from diverse backgrounds • Accustomed to working hard • Experience working in high performing units, practicing teamwork and self-discipline • Form teams easily and know a lot about building trust • Mature for their years and eager to live productive lives • Greater appreciation of life and its possibilities

However, some veterans struggle with psychological and physical disabilities • 15% have post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety disorder • 14% Major Depression • 12% have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) only • Substance abuse/dependence prevalent among PTSD, MDD, TBI • Does not include non-diagnosed or those who did not seek treatment through VAMC

Some Barriers Veterans Face when Entering College • Demonstrate many characteristics of non-traditional students • Older students juggling multiple life roles, delayed college entry, first-generation, lower and middle quartiles of SES • Initial focus is jobs, training, housing • Concerned about institutional understanding of military • Isolation and/or alienation from others on campus Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

ROLE EXIT: Many veterans struggle with a loss of identity and sense of belonging • Their life experiences differ from the traditional college student norm. • They feel older and fundamentally different from their peers. • Cope with increasing autonomy (from structure to independence) • Ambivalence

Many vets will not seek help on their own, for fear of being stigmatized: “It [Iraq] was hot. That’s pretty much all I say… Even if I do tell you, you’re not going to understand.” Miguel Escalera, Navy Corpsman who served in Ramadi

A Challenge for Higher Education • Accommodations for the psychologically and cognitively disabled • Some vets may be too disabled to engage in a career, but not too disabled to be life-long learners • Conversely, many vets will see the primary goal of higher education to be qualified for employment

Other Obstacles Experienced by Student Veterans Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

The GI Bill Meets Today’s Community College Veteran students represent a large cohort of potential enrollees for the institution. There are 450,000 veterans using their G.I. Bill benefits for education, and approximately 40% of them attend community colleges (Alvarez, 2008). Many returning veterans are expected to use the community college as a gateway for reintegration into society. Presented October 13, 2010 by Veterans Upward Bound

Serving VUB Students at Tri-C