2. 2
Introduction: The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is fully committed to providing all of its
(more than four-hundred) Student-Veterans with Veteran-Centric academic and moral support
services that culminate in a transformational educational experience.
In line with this commitment, the 3 Dub Club—“Women Warriors of Whitewater” support group
was created and implemented as part of a comprehensive University action plan for bridging
gaps in how Women-Veterans receive support services on campus.
Problem Statement
Gender-Specific Support Services
Women-Veterans currently account for about twenty percent of the University of Wisconsin
Whitewater’s Student-Veteran population.
However, there is a serious lack of access to informational and educational material regarding
gender-specific support services available to Women-Veterans enrolled at the University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Moreover, at the present time less than fifteen percent of Women-Veterans enrolled at the
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater utilize Veteran-Specific Services such as study/leisure
opportunities at the Student Veterans and Military Service Members Lounge, participation in
campus-related celebrations honoring veterans and military service members or are active
members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Student Veterans Service Organization
(VSO).
Based on the above, it is clear that the unique needs of Women-Veterans on the campus of the
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are unrecognized and overlooked.
As such, this effort to facilitate easy access to gender-specific support services for Women
Veterans attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is urgent.
Goal 1 Objectives
Identify issues of concern to the
Women-Veterans on the University
of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s campus
and develop recommendations to
address these concerns through the
development and implementation of
gender-specific programming and
outreach activities.
Collaborate with key university department staff and
faculty to aggressively pursue the development and
implementation of gender-based programming on campus.
Collaborate with key university department staff and
faculty to create a culture on campus that recognizes and
celebrates the contributions and achievements of Women-
Veterans to the military.
Collaborate with key university department staff and
faculty to provide safe, secure and supportive environment
for Women-Veterans on Campus.
3. 3
Projected Outcomes
Growth in Women-Veterans Population
Over the past three decades women have entered the military in ever-increasing numbers.
Ultimately these women will transition from Service Members to Veterans and from Veterans to
Students.
Consequently, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater can expect to see an increase in
enrollment of Women Student-Veterans accompanied by a greater need for gender-specific
support services.
Present Outcomes
Increased need/use of Support Services by Women Student-Veterans
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is currently experiencing a noticeable increase of
demand for and use of support services by Women Student-Veterans.
In particular, the increase is most noticeable in the elevated number of Women Student-Veterans
utilizing the “re-oriented” Student Veterans and Military Service Members Lounge that
prominently features the new Veterans Resource Information Center.
Goal 2 Objectives
Provide access to an up-to-date
directory of services that are
available to Women-Veterans and
Service Members who are
transitioning from military to
academic life at the University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater in order to
ensure their awareness of array of
equal and effective services being
provided to
Women-Veterans.
Collaborate with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans
Affairs (WDVA) Hospital to develop and maintain an
up-to-date directory and services that are available to
Women-Veterans and Service Members who are
transitioning from military to academic life.
Collaborate with Wisconsin Vet Centers to develop and
maintain an up-to-date directory and services that are
available to Women-Veterans and Service Members who
are transitioning from military to academic life.
Build upon the local community partnerships and
outreach established for other programs, such as
domestic abuse intervention services, to establish support
networks for Women- Veterans in accessing health care,
employment, financial counseling and housing.
4. 4
This increase in use of the Lounge has directly led to more Women Student-Veteran referrals to
both on-campus support services, such as the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) and
community-bas mental health care services of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.
For example, during a recent Veterans’ group study session held at the Student Veterans and
Military Service Members Lounge, the University’s Coordinator of Student Veterans and
Military Services overheard a Student-Veteran expressing her frustration and high level of
anxiety due to her inability to remember simply math equations.
Further discussion between the Coordinator and the Student-Veteran revealed that she may be
suffering from an undiagnosed math disability. The Student-Veteran was referred to the
Wisconsin Department Affairs Medical Center for neuropsychological testing and to the
University’s Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD).
Program Feedback
What People Are Saying:
“I wish this program was around when I was a freshman here at the University. I really could
have used it.”
Jazlyn Goudy,
Student-Veteran (Class of 2015)
“A gender-specific program at the university is a very much needed. I would to love to be
involved with the program and help out in any way that I can.”
Kristin Linsley,
Student-Veteran (Class of 2015)
Key Efforts
Richard Harris, Coordinator of Student Veterans and Military Services will (CSVMS):
Make contact at least once per month via face-to-face, by phone or e-mail with
program coordinators of VA Hospitals in Madison and Milwaukee that have Women
Veterans Health Programs which provide an array of services to Women Veterans to
discuss on-going strategies to better serve the Women-Veterans population at the
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Make contact at least once per month via face-to-face, by phone or e-mail with
program coordinators of Vet Centers in Madison and Milwaukee that provide an array
of services to Women-Veterans & their family members to discuss on-going
strategies to better serve the Women-Veterans population at the University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater.
5. 5
Engage in the distribution of educational and awareness material for Women-
Veterans Services via prominent display at the designated Veterans Resource
Information Center located in the University’s Veterans & Service Members Lounge
and other areas on campus;
Include Women-Veterans education and awareness in the University’s Veterans
Orientation Program sessions;
Partner with key university department directors to hold staff/faculty information
workshops on issues concerning Women-Veterans; and
Collaborate with various university student organizations to hold student information
workshops on issues concerning Women-Veterans.
Program Documentation
Richard Harris, Coordinator of Student Veterans and Military Services (CSVMS) will:
Document the number of Women-Veterans requesting and receiving education and
awareness of service provider material;
Document the number of Women-Veterans referrals made to both campus and
community-based resources;
Document the number of student and staff/faculty information workshops conducted on
issues concerning Women-Veterans;
Document the number of the University’s Veterans Orientation Program sessions that
include Women-Veterans education and awareness;
Document results of Women Veterans Satisfaction of Program Services Surveys; and
Document CSVMS participation in trainings/conferences/seminars/workshops that focus
on services provided specifically to Women-Veterans and Military Service Members.
Key Collaborations/Partnerships:
Community-Based Resources
Dr. James Lickel
VITAL Program Manager
Madison VA Medical Center
6. 6
Libby Muller
Women Veterans Program Coordinator
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
Jill Feldman, PhD, LCSW
Women Veterans Program Manager
Milwaukee VA Medical Center
Sandra Schumacher, PhD, CNM, WHNP, BC, RN
Women Programs Manager
Madison VA Medical Center
Arpita Ghosh, PhD,
Advanced Fellow in Women’s Health at the Madison VA
Jerri Jefferson
Program Support Assistant
Milwaukee Vet Center
Jennifer Sluga
Counselor
Madison Vet Center
Campus-Based Resources
Andrew Browning, Case Manage
University Care Team
3 Dub Club—Women Warriors of Whitewater developed and implemented by:
Richard Harris, BSW
Coordinator of Student Veterans & Military Services
HarrisR05@uww.edu
Cell # 608-718-6120
Office # 262-472-5236c
11. 11
Referral Tracking Form
* The Coordinator of Student-Veterans and Military Service Members assigns random seven digit numbers to Student-Veterans for
confidentiality reasons.
Student- Veteran Date Issues/Concern Referral? Referred To:
#8253890 09/27/15 Student-Veteran indicates that she is a victim of
Military Sexual Trauma and is in counseling at the
Madison VA Medical Center. Student-Veteran also
indicates that she struggles with depression, which has
at times adversely impacted her academic
performance. Student-Veteran commutes to UW-
Whitewater from Milwaukee and requested
information about gender-specific services in the
Milwaukee area.
Yes Dr. James Lickel, VITAL
Program Manager
Jerri Jefferson, Program Support
Assistant Milwaukee Vet Center
#6742398 10/14/15 Student-Veteran indicates that she may have an
undiagnosed math disability that is adversely
impacting her academic performance.
Yes Dr. James Lickel, VITAL
Program Manager
UW-Whitewater Center for
Students with Disabilities
#7439214 10/24/15 Student-Veteran indicates that she suffers from severe
depression and several physical ailments. Student-
Veteran also indicates that she is concerned about her
G.I. Bill benefits running-out before she completes her
degree.
Yes Dr. James Lickel, VITAL
Program Manager
Jan Nordin, UW-Whitewater
Veterans Benefits Certification
Coordinator
Maggie Pray, Department of
Veterans Affairs Vocational
Rehabilitation Counselor
