Serving Those Who Serve Program Update Elizabeth O’Herrin Associate Director American Council on...

Serving Those Who Serve Program Update

Elizabeth O’HerrinAssociate Director

American Council on EducationElizabeth_oherrin@ace.nche.edu

202-939-9702www.acenet.edu/STWS

Who is ACE?• Higher education association:

› Formed in 1918› 1,800 college & university presidents and chancellors,

other higher education associations› Represent 2 & 4 year schools, public and private, for-

profit and non-profit• What do we do?

› Advocate on behalf of our membership› Initiatives related to college access & success

What does the Serving Those Who Serve project include?

•ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans Award Grants

•TodaysGIBill.org

•Success for Veterans Jam

•Other: research publications, GI Bill implementation meetings, the Severely Injured: Fulfilling Their Dreams project

www.acenet.edu/STWS

ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans Award Grants Update

ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans Award Grants Update

• Breakdown:–248 applicants from all sectors–20 grantees• 9 public four-year institutions• 8 community colleges• 2 private four-year institutions• 1 consortium

ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans Award Grants Update

• Process› Selection committee narrowed the applicants to

30 semi-finalists› Panel of judges selected the final 20 grantees› Weighted scoring:

› 40% program design› 20% program evaluation› 20% program dissemination› 20% program sustainability

ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans Award Grants Update

• Example programs and services:

• curriculum-driven college assimilation programs;• distance learning preparation modules;• faculty training programs;• face-to-face and online student veteran orientation programs; • peer support and peer mentoring programs (to include student veteran organization

development, formal student mentoring programs and faculty/student mentorships);• one-stop resource centers, dedicated support teams, work-study placement, and

employment support;• programs to increase institutional awareness of the “veteran experience:” student

veteran panels, film screenings, discussions, theatrical performances;• development of community-based collaborations; • partnerships with employer consortiums and workforce training curriculum.

ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans Award Grants Update

•Example programs:› Fresno City College› NJASCU & Ramapo College› UCSC

ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans Award Grants Update

• Fresno City College: “Veterans PowerPathway”› 10 week certification program for utility line worker

positions› Curriculum driven by employer input and support (PG&E)› Prepares individuals for pre-employment tests (math,

reading, spatial reasoning)› Provides “wrap around” support services; onsite case

manager› Create employer consortium to drive interest and further

the program

ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans Award Grants Update

• Ramapo College & New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU): Operation College Promise› 9 colleges and universities› Monthly meetings and phone conferences› Workshops for faculty and staff

› 8 more over coming 18 months

› Outreach to local National Guard Units

University of California, Santa Cruz

• Corinne Miller, Director, Services for Transfer and Re-Entry Students

ACE/Walmart Success for Veterans Award Grants Update

• Next steps:› Site visits› Increase visibility and begin dissemination

› 2010 and 2011 ACE Annual Meeting representation

› Create toolkits and collaboration materials

www.TodaysGIBill.org

TodaysGIBill.org

Success for Veterans “Jam”

• Hosted by ACE & IBM (May 3-6)• 72 hour around-the-clock brainstorming event• Intended to distill actionable ideas and solutions via

“crowdsourcing”› In addition to uncovering existing gaps and needs

• Will provide training opportunities within Jam forum to foster discussions› GI Bill, ACE credit recommendations, PTSD & TBI

Elizabeth O’Herrin

Associate Director

American Council on Education

Elizabeth_OHerrin@ace.nche.edu

(202) 939-9702

www.acenet.edu/STWS

Questions?