The document discusses an event called "Connecting Veterans to Careers" that was organized to help connect student veterans to potential employers. It provided an overview of the theoretical framework, grant funding process, and key components of the event, which included Green Zone training for faculty/staff, a student workshop, a panel discussion, and a networking event. The goals were to educate the campus community about veteran experiences and challenges, help veterans prepare for the job search, and allow networking between veterans and employers. Challenges included the veteran population size, marketing, and unexpected funding/timing issues.

1. CONNECTING
VETERANS
TO
CAREERS
Mary
Beth
McGahee
Morgan
McConnell
Michelle
Foulke
Jaime
Phipps
David
Smith

2. Learning Outcomes
• Attendees will learn about some of the challenges associated with planning
Connecting Veterans to Careers
• Attendees will be able to take away information that could assist in creating
a similar event at their institution
• Attendees will be able to understand the importance of providing
employers and student veterans opportunities to network and make
connections
• Attendees will be able to understand the thought process and reasons
behind our decision to host Connecting Veterans to Careers

3. Presentation Overview
• Theoretical Framework
• Grant Process and Guidelines
• Components
– Green Zone Training
– Student Workshop
– Panel Discussion
– Networking Event
• Challenges

4. Theoretical Framework
4 S System
● Situation- Where the person is at the start of the transition, what stressors are
currently in your life that may make this transition easier or harder
● Self- How does one handle transitions typically, are you an optimist, resilient and
able to deal with ambiguity
● Support- The individuals or organizations that help the individual through this
transition
● Strategies- There is no one right strategy for an individual going through a
transition, ideally, a flexible person will utilize several strategies to have a success
transition
Schlossberg, N. K. (2011). the challenge of change: the transition model and its applications. Journal of Employment
Counseling, 48: 159-162. doi: 10.1002/j.2161-1920.2011.tb01102.x

5. Grant Process
• Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Grant
– Required background information to veterans
as well as event details
– What we requested was only half of our
overall expenses
• Food can not be used with grant money
– Requested and received 1,031.25

6. Guidelines for Grant
• Grant funds cannot be transferred to other
budgets
• All purchases and contracts must be
processed through the chief diversity office
• No changes can be made to budget
expenditures without approval
• Must turn in progress reports and/or
evaluations of funded program

7. COMPONENTS OF EVENT

8. Green Zone Training
What is Green Zone Training:
• A training program to provide knowledge about veteran experiences, needs, challenges, and resources
• Designed to be a safe, empowering, and supportive space for student veterans
Who is Green Zone Training Offered to:
• Any student, faculty or staff member can participate
Why is Green Zone Training Necessary:
• To prepare our faculty, staff, and students to better serve and support our student veterans. To do this, our campus
needs:
– An understanding of military experience and how it relates to the transition into higher education
– To be aware of what potential challenges student veterans may face
– To understand the possible needs and accommodations of student veterans
– Knowledge of available on and off-campus resources on
When is Green Zone Training Offered:
• One full training session is offered each semester
• An additional “refresher “course is currently being considered
Where is Green Zone Training Offered:
• Various locations across campus, depending on availability

9. Student Workshop
What learning objectives will the student workshop focus on:
● Identify transferable skills
● Strategies to locate civilian occupations
● Discuss ways to translate experience into civilian terminology on a resume or in correspondence
● Identify issues in career transition
● Resources provided by the Center for Career and Professional Development
Who will facilitate the student workshops:
● Career Services graduate assistant and a Ph.D. student veteran
Why is the student workshop important:
● To prepare and support our student veterans in their career and professional development not only for this
event, but throughout their transition into a civilian career
When is the student workshop offered:
● The workshop will be held immediately before the networking event
Ideas for future support:
● Workshops or resume blitz in the weeks prior to the event to prepare student veterans in advance

10. Panel Discussion
• Student Veteran Concerns
• Panelists
– 1 current Student Veteran
– 2 Employers
– 1 Veteran Employer
• Questions

11. Networking Event
• Location
• Set up
• Purpose

12. Challenges
Expected
• Veteran Population
• Marketing
• First-Time Event
• Venue
Unexpected
• Funding
• Timing

13. Thank you!
Any questions?
Mary Beth McGahee- mmcgahe@clemson.edu
Morgan McConnel- mcclard@clemson.edu
Michelle Foulke- mfoulke@clemson.edu
Jaime Phipps-jmphipp@g.clemson.edu
David Smith- dsmith@clemson.edu