Female Student Veteran College Experience-Qualitative Research Analysis
GZ Program Overview PPT
1. 1
An initiative to support student veterans, military & their families
Program adopted from the UNC-Chapel Hill Green Zone Training
For more information or to schedule a Green Zone training, contact:
Nicole Jones, MSW
Military & Family Transitions Coordinator
jonesn@unm.edu or 505.277.1536
Updated June 2014
2. Today’s Agenda
•Welcome & Introduction
•Terminology: Commonly Used Terms
•Facts & Data: UNM Student Veteran Population
•Veterans Resource Center (VRC) Overview
•Introduction to the Green Zone Training Program: What it is, why it
matters and how it
benefits you
•How to schedule a Green Zone Training for your department/office
•Questions
3. Terminology
Commonly Used Terms
Military Servicemember
◦ Generic term which encompasses Active Duty,
National Guard, and Reserves personnel
Veteran
◦ Any individual who served in the U.S. military
Dependents (AKA—Military Family Member)
◦ Child or Spouse of a Military Servicemember
4. Facts & Data
Veteran Enrollment, Fall 2014
UNM has over 1340 identified veteran &
military students enrolled for Fall, 2014
Note: This number only includes veterans
who utilize GI Education Benefits and
therefore are under the VETCODE
5. Facts & Data
Enrollment & Chapter Benefits
In Fall of 2013, 939 students used
military education benefits:
• 38% were female
• Average age was 26 years, and 48% were veterans or
active duty
• 62% were male
• Average age was 30 years, and 84% were veterans or
active duty
6. Facts & Data
Top 8 Majors, Fall 2013
◦ Business Administration
◦ Psychology
◦ Criminology
◦ Engineering
◦ Biology
◦ Nursing
◦ Liberal Arts
◦ Political Science
7. Facts & Data
Cohort Analysis: Graduation & Retention
Of the 164 students in the Fall 2009 cohort,
◦ 29.3% have graduated
◦ 23.2% have dropped
◦ 47.6% are still attending
◦ In total, a 76.8% retention rate
9. VRC Mission
The Veterans Resource Center is dedicated to
providing the highest quality, comprehensive
support to student veterans & their families, in an
atmosphere that demonstrates commitment,
respect, and academic excellence.
12. SERVICE OVERVIEW
GI Benefits Certification
• Student benefits education and processing assistance
• Certification of benefits for tuition and basic housing allowance
VetSucess on Campus (VSOC)
• Assists student with successful
transition to college life, degree
completion and career
acquisition
Academic Success Program
• Student outreach, scholarship
education, recruitment and
guidance, veteran specific
orientation, and advocacy
Military & Family Transitional Support
Program
• Conducts basic assessment of individual
and/or family needs and provides resource
education and referrals to campus and
community service providers
• Vet-2-Vet Peer Mentoring Program
Community Education & Training
• Workshop delivery
• Green Zone Training Program
www.http://vrc.unm.edu
13. Introduction to Green Zone
Does anyone here know what the Green
Zone signifies in the military?
14. Background & Origin
The Green Zone Training Program was originally created and launched by
the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Modeled after the Safe Zone
Program, Green Zone volunteers receive training specific to issues
potentially facing the student veteran community.
(UNC Office of the Dean of Students, 2014)
15. The
Green Zone
Goal
Prepare university faculty and staff to better understand the
experience of veterans, military service members
and their families at UNM
Empower faculty and staff to provide support and information
about resources available to student veteran community
To develop a Veteran Liaison Network at UNM
16. Green Zone Curriculum
Terminology
Demographics
Identity, diversity & culture
The military experience
Transitions to campus
Disabilities on a college campus
VRC services
Educational benefits
Being an ally
Scenarios & Discussion
17. Learning Objectives
By the end of this training participants will be able too…
Use the correct terminology related to veterans and active-duty military.
Describe the demographics and diversity of UNM veteran and military students.
Identify and explain VRC services for veteran and military students.
Identify the types of military educational benefits and how schedule changes can
incur a student debt.
Summarize the unique strengths of veteran and military students.
Discuss the military experience, including the emotional cycle of deployment, the
challenges of transitions from and back to civilian life, and the experience of
military family members.
Explain how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury
(TBI) can affect the student’s experience, and suggest services for support.
Determine what to say and what not to say to veterans to be most supportive.
Identify the support veteran and military students want from staff and faculty.
Appraise what to do in difficult scenarios when working with veterans and military
students.
Volunteer to be a member of the UNM Veteran Liaison Network.
18. Who is a Green Zone Ally?
Someone who is…
◦ aware about the issues and concerns faced by student
veterans, servicemembers & families
◦ available to assist the military student
◦ able to make the best possible referral for problem
resolution
They are not…
◦ expected to be experts on the experience of student
veterans
◦ expected to “solve” our students’ problems
19. Veteran Liaison Network
The Veteran Liaison Network (VLN) is a program
designed to strengthen veteran specific support efforts
through the identification of dedicated points of contact
or liaisons in each department at UNM.
Liaisons are…
◦ Volunteers
◦ Green Zone trained
◦ Included in the VLN resource guide
◦ Willing to engage in continuing student veteran
related education and/or participate in the Veteran
Taskforce
21. Student Voices:
What students want campus staff and faculty to know
“We are having normal reactions to an abnormal experience.”
“No two veterans are alike.”
“Each of us has had different experiences.”
“Do Not assume that you know my politics or beliefs just because I was in the military.”
“I may or may not be ready to talk about my experiences.”
“Trust can be an issue for me.”
“Being friendly and listening can go a long way toward building trust.”
“Do Not be afraid of me.”
“We are accustomed to being successful and may be too proud to ask for help.”
(Pfeffer, 2010)
22. Transition Strengths
Veterans bring a unique perspective:
◦ Military training
◦ Life experience
◦ Established identity
◦ A more worldly view
Skills taught in the military:
◦ Leadership
◦ Motivation
◦ Time Management
◦ Work Ethic
23. Transition Difficulties
Translating their military skills into a new profession
Military skills & training may not translate into college
credits
Universities may have difficulty deciphering transfer credits
for those who have attended multiple institutions
Accessing disability resources for accommodations
Understanding the GI Bill
Difference in demographics and life experiences from other
students
24. VETERANS FACE A 4-FOLD TRANSITION
Returning to
civilian life
For some,
having seen
combat duty
Becoming a
college student
Some are living
with visible &
invisible
disabilities
Adapted from Trina Zahller, 3-Fold Transition Model
26. HOW TO SCHEDULE A GREEN ZONE TRAINING
Contact Nicole Jones, MSW
Military & Family Transition Coordinator, Public Ally
Email: jonesn@unm.edu
Phone: 505.277-1536 or 505.277.3181
Or Sign Up Today!
28. References
Office of the Dean of Students (2014). Green Zone Training .
Retrieved October 10, 2014 from University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill , Web site:
https://deanofstudents.unc.edu/student-support/veterans-resources/green-zone-training
Veterans Resource Center (n.d. ). Meet The Staff . Retrieved
October 10, 2014 from University of New Mexico , Web site: http://vrc.unm.edu/facultystaff/meet-the-staff.html
Veterans Resource Center (n.d. ). Mission & Goals . Retrieved
October 10, 2014 from University of New Mexico , Web site: http://vrc.unm.edu/index.html
Virginia Commonwealth University, USS RAMS (n.d.). University
Support Services for Returning and Active Military Students.
Retrieved October 12, 2014 from Virginia Commonwealth University ,
Aurora Foundation Web site: aurora4vets.org/s/Green-Zone-training.ppt
Editor's Notes
Do we have any advisors from these departments present today?
Services Overview:
VA Certifying Officials:
Certifies benefits for tuition payment and basic housing allowance
Education on the differences, eligibility and restrictions of GI chapter benefits
Walk students through the process so they know how to check on their benefits
A location recognized by veterans as a safe place
Through Green Zone we want to create a safe space for the veteran community @ UNM
Prepare university faculty and staff to better understand the experience of veterans, service members and their families at UNM
Our Responsibility and duty to our students, to UNM staff and faculty, and to the community:
1. Share the strength and unique contribution of our students
2. Improve campus services
3. Take responsibility for campus culture
Identify veterans and military as a culture
Address microaggressions and preconceptions
4. Today’s student-veterans face a three-fold transitional challenge:
Becoming a college student,
Returning to civilian life,
For some, dealing with having seen combat duty.
"This reaction is analogous to that seen in any marginalized group such as ethnic or racial groups, LGBTQ. The concern that mere membership in the group may be pathologized; ex. all African-Americans require remediation. To the contrary. It is not helpful, damaging even, to be color-blind, to ignore how membership in different groups shapes Worldview, choices, needs, etc..."
How many of you have worked with veterans, military servicemembers or military family members?
