MILITARY LEARNERS Meeting the needs of veterans & military learners Presenters: Teresa McElroy, MA Rhonda Briggs, Ed.D WITCC

WIT IS A MILITARY FRIENDLY  WITCC started working on become a Military Friendly School school year  As of Military Friendly Schools in Iowa.  WIT created group to collect data and complete questionnaire/checklist  Already had many of the requirements to be designated Military Friendly  Challenge to add some supports for military learners

MILITARY FRIENDLY ® SCHOOLS METHODOLOGY & SURVEY  Government Approvals 5%  Academic Credibility 20%  Support on Campus 15%  Admissions & Orientation 15%  Graduation & Retention Rates 10%  Military Student Body Composition 10%  Career Outcomes 10%  Tuition Assistance 5%  Flexibility 5%  Military Spouse Policies 5%

WIT - MILITARY FRIENDLY  Point of contact for military learners – Jason Palsma  Designated Military Learner Quiet Study Room – L203  Military Club  Events to recognize military on campus  Yearly Veteran’s Day Celebration  Free lunch, invite public, speaker, video recognizing military learners and employees at college  Full time onboard counselor/therapist  Free of charge to all students

WITCC EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

AVG AMOUNT OF BENEFIT/ASSISTANCE AWARDED THROUGHOUT COLLEGE

RETENTION RATES FIRST-TIME DEGREE/CERTIFICATE EDUCATION BENEFIT USER Military and Veteran StudentsNon-Military Students

REWARDS OF HAVING MILITARY STUDENTS ON CAMPUS  Maturity in the classroom  Great ability to follow instructions  Financial aid from military and GI Bill  Goal oriented students  Proven problem solvers  Leadership

CHALLENGES MILITARY STUDENTS ON CAMPUS  PTSD  Unique issues in the classroom  Faculty and staff not always aware of military learner’s challenges and needs

INFORMATION & WEBSITES WITCC Page on the Military Friendly Page community-college/

PRESENTERS  Teresa McElroy, LISW  Rhonda Briggs, Ed.D. Education and Psychology

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS