Creating Successful Transitions:

The Student Veteran Experience

Across the Old Well Advising ConferenceSeptember 25, 2015

Dennis SoberlLara Wind

Melissa Edwards

Academic Advising Program

In this session…• Student Veteran Assistance Coordinator – Overview of veteran student population– Campus training opportunities– Green Zone

• Student Panel

• Discussion and Next Steps

Student Veteran Assistance Coordinator

Amber Mathwig – Dean of Students Office– Primary point of contact for Carolina’s military affiliated

students, including veterans, active duty personnel, reservists, National Guard, spouses, and dependent children to support and assist them as they navigate their UNC Chapel Hill experience (and VA benefits).

– Works with campus and local communities to provide high impact programming and services to ease the transition and promote a positive Carolina Experience.

Why you should consider Green Zone

• Goals of this training are to educate members of the Carolina community about the issues and concerns faced by military affiliated students and to identify individuals who are available to assist this population.

• Remaining training dates for this year:– Thursday, October 1, 1:30-4pm– Wednesday, October 14, 1:30-

4pm

• Advising/department focused GZ can be arranged if interested

Veteran-specific advising concerns

• Academic related– Little consistency in awarding credit from college courses taken

while on Active Duty– No consistent method for awarding credit for military service– Juggling nontraditional student concerns with academics

• VA education benefits– Courses MUST go towards degree plan to be paid by VA– Only pay twice for a course if an “F” or a better grade is needed

for acceptance into a program (the VA will pay for F’s, but not withdraws, with some exceptions!)

– Will not pay for courses that were awarded transfer credit– Concerns about full-time vs. part time enrollment– Length of benefits vs. actual use of benefits

Student Veteran Advising

My questions for your consideration today…

What do we know about any transfer student; and how do we set them up for success?

What considerations do we have with the

military-affiliated community?

Student Panel

Lacy EvansGabriel GuzmanAndrew Reeves

Campus Resources

• Veterans Resource Team• Veteran Faculty/Staff • Green Zone Training• Student Organizations• VA Certifying Official

External Resources and Opportunities to Learn More

• NC Strive Conference• NC4VETS• National Academic Advising Association

(NACADA)• US Department of Veterans Affairs

Discussion

How can we encourage student veterans to connect with campus resources in the early stages?

What action items can we establish to enhance the academic experience for student veterans at UNC?

What high impact opportunities can we provide for these students?