This document discusses student veterans at Metropolitan Community College (MCC) in Missouri. It provides statistics on the veteran population in Missouri as well as the number of student veterans at MCC campuses. It also summarizes the demographics of student veterans at Penn Valley campus and discusses some of the challenges student veterans face in navigating the college process from pre-enrollment to graduation. Finally, it offers suggestions for assisting student veterans and providing a veteran-friendly experience as well as highlights some veteran resources.

1. Successful Interactions
with Student Veterans
Melissa Johnson-Tribout & Stephanie Sevedge

2. Veterans in Missouri
 567,388 total Missouri military community population
 9.3% of Missouri’s total population
 1.651 billion paid in compensation and pension benefits
to veterans in Missouri
 49,587 Veteran-owned businesses in Missouri
 14,332 student veterans with VA education benefits going
into Missouri-based higher education institutions
 $55,026,605 in VA education benefits going to Missouri-
based higher education institutions

3. Student Veterans at MCC
 2015
 2016
Penn Valley = 83
All Campuses = 456
Penn Valley = 105
All Campuses = 439
Penn Valley Student Veteran Association Officers

4. Snapshot of Student Veterans

5. Penn Valley Student Veterans
27 = Associate of Arts
13 = Paramedic
12 = Professional Nursing
9 = Paramedic
5 = Radiologic Technology
3 = Computer Information Systems
3 = Computer Science
2 = Health Information Technology
2 = Industrial Technologies
1 = Physical Therapist Assistant
1 = Surgical Technology
1 = Coding Specialist
1 = Dental Assisting
1 = Welding
5 = Undecided

6. Navigating the college process
 Pre-enrollment:
 Transitioning to civilian life
 Lack of knowledge of educational benefits, and how to
apply them
 Navigating Financial Aid
 Disclosing Veteran status on application
 Navigating multiple steps/staff to get to enrollment
 Testing
 Choosing a degree program
 Veterans Upward Bound

7.  Enrollment:
 Housing
 Lack of available information on applying benefits
 Concern over being stigmatized
 Enrollment center layout/ wait times
 Navigating multiple steps/staff to get to enrollment
 Lack of communication
 Selecting classes

8.  Starting College
 Expectations vs Reality
 Non-traditional student, many have young families
 Navigating new disabilities (physical, cognitive,
emotional)
 Fear of being singled out or stigmatized
 Lack of campus connection
 Resistant to asking for help
 Frustrated by the behaviors of others
 Feeling inadequate

9.  Getting to Graduation
Time management
Managing school, work, family responsibilities
Access to resources/ removing the stigma
Finding a way to give back and connect
Preparing to transition to a University setting or
career
Access to employment services
Concerns over losing the structure of college

10. How to Assist in Overcoming Obstacles
 Do not “sugar-coat”
 Only refer to trusted, tried and true resources
 Introduce to new professionals face-to-face (with a
handshake)
 Know how to access on-campus veteran resources and SVA
leadership on campus (access to additional resources)
 Follow up and follow through

11. How to Provide a Veteran Friendly
Experience
 Set up your space accordingly
 Maintain eye contact
 Handshake with eye contact at opening and closing of
conversations
 Acknowledge unavoidable distractions
 Provide a stable point of contact that does not rotate in
your office
 Follow up and follow through

12. Unique Needs of Student Veterans
 Need class schedules to be flexible enough to allow for
family, work, training & potential deployment(s).
 Veterans may not be aware of the extent of any identified
or unidentified disabilities.
 They are learning and navigating a new system.
 A Veterans time is not “their own.” There are many
demands placed upon them and they typically detest
wasting time.
 Encourage communication and demonstrate flexibility.

13. Veteran Resources
 United Way 2-1-1
 Hotline provides resources for everyday needs
 Available 24/7
 FREE!
 Full-time veterans navigator
 Full-time healthcare advocate
 Veterans Crisis Line
 Confidential Help for Veterans and Their Families
 Crisis intervention and suicide prevention
 Available 24/7 online (VeteransCrisisLine.net)
 Available 24/7 via phone (1-800-273-8255 press 1)
 Available 24/7 via text (838255)
 Military.com
 Provides basic information on GI Bill and other benefits
 Useful for translating benefits into “laymen's terms”
 Gibill.va.gov
 Resources for all things GIBill
 Provides direct links for application and forms
 Provides up-to-date information on changes and payment information for benefits
 Provides links to other VA related services

14. References Last, F. M. (Year, Month Date Published). Article title.
Retrieved from URL
 Cahn, D. (2011, March 23). Colleges struggle with turning veterans into graduates. Retrieved
from http://pilotonline.com/news/military/colleges-struggle-with-turning-veterans-into-
graduates/article_7e3d5093-2683-5406-abe5-dab0762ee157.html
 Lighthall, A. (ND). Ten Things You Should Know About Today’s Student Veteran. Retrieved
from http://www.nea.org/home/53407.htm
 MCC AC Research and Assessment. (2016, May 24). Veterans (Military) Bi-weekly Report.
Kansas City, MO: Metropolitan Community College.
 Missouri Behavioral Health Alliance. (2016). Missouri’s Military Community; A look at Service
Members, Veterans, & their Families. Jefferson City, Missouri: Missouri Behavioral Health
Alliance.
 O’Connor, P. (2011, November 20). Vets returning to college face unique challenges.
Retrieved from http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/vets-returning-to-college-face-
unique-challenges/article_ae59e54c-6fd7-5238-a22a-d4112bd663cc.html
 Student Veterans of America. (2016). Research Brief SVA Spotlight: Commonalities and
Intersections within the Student Veteran Population. Washington, DC: Student Veterans of
America.