Transcript Slide 1
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. Over-represented in the Armed Services: Minorities Lower Socio-economic status (i.e., poverty) First and Second Generation Americans U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2013). The U.S. Armed Forces NAVY Honor Courage Commitment ARMY AIR FORCE MARINES COAST GUARD Loyalty Duty Respect Selfless Service Honor Integrity Courage Integrity First Service before Self Excellence in All We Do Honor Courage Commitment Honor Respect Devotion to Duty 21Million Veterans (1.8 Million under the age of 35) 2.4 Million Active Duty or Reservists U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2013). Student Veterans: by the Numbers The Post 9/11 GI Bill Student Entire UW-System: 180,000 students Average 4-year public University: 700+ 1U.S. Veterans (2013): 660,0001 Active duty or Veteran students2 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 Military (Teenager) Structure Team Practicality Civilian (Veteran) ? Service Military 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 Re-Experiencing Avoiding Reminders - Thoughts - Memories - Dreams - Flashbacks - Over-Working - Substance Abuse - Loud Noises/Crowds - Triggers PTSD Poor Mood Easily Agitated - Guilt & Self-Blame - Disengaged from Activities - Detached from Others - Few Positive Emotions - 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 themselves Rudd, 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 & Challenge Combat or Training Injuries Physical Injury & Challenge Traumatic 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 Tanielian (2008). Stress Disorder & Traumatic Brain Injury Student Veterans Impact on Student Veterans Decreased Lower sense of belonging GPA Graduation rates below their non-veteran counterparts Durdella & Kim (2012). Built for Success 1. 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 Success 1. Commit: Top-down initiatives to recruit and retain 2. 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 Success 1. Commit: Top-down initiatives to recruit and retain 2. Consolidate: Create a single point of contact 3. 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 Success 1. 2. 3. 4. Commit: Top-down initiatives to recruit and retain Consolidate: Create a single point of contact Clarify: Have a defined policy regarding Veterans 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 Success 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Commit: Top-down initiatives to recruit and retain Consolidate: Create a single point of contact Clarify: Have a defined policy regarding Veterans Consult: Educate and train staff in Veteran issues 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 Success 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Commit: Top-down initiatives to recruit and retain Consolidate: Create a single point of contact Clarify: Have a defined policy regarding Veterans Consult: Educate and train staff in Veteran issues Connect: Create opportunities for Veterans to interact 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 Fulfilling the Promise 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, Ph.D. [email protected]