Onward and Upward As we settle into 2020, it seems apropos to address the value of a strong, clear vision for VALOR for the new year. In 2020, VALOR will be finalizing a three year strategic plan which will help the organization take its efforts to the next level. VALOR will remain focused on its important mission - to improve campus climate for student veterans and enhance their success. During the fall semester, the Board’s efforts were focused on furthering three key objectives: 1) Advancing discussion and efforts regarding the establishment of a Veteran Resource Center at NDSU; 2) Continuing efforts to provide input on the implementation of the 8 Keys to Veteran’s Success (signed by President Bresciani on February 12, 2019); and, 3) Reconceptualizing and strengthening our campus efforts through strategic partnerships, more consistent outreach, and more readily available information. Progress was made on all the above objectives and the Board’s work contin- ues into the spring with efforts specifically focused on creating a stronger social media presence, the development of a consistent communication strategy and structure, and more regularly updated web content. This inaugural edition of VALOR’s newsletter is an effort to provide current and relevant information to our VALOR allies, student veterans, members of the campus, and community partners. This newsletter will be published monthly during the academic year (August through May) and will be distributed through email and posted on our media sites and website. We welcome feedback on the newsletter and your ideas for future features. Carol Cwiak, J.D., Ph.D. VALOR Faculty Liaison Lead Story Headline VALOR/February 2020 Business Name Newsletter Date Volume 1, Issue 1 Inside this issue: VCO Update 2 Veteran’s Voice 3 NDSU News 3 Student Veteran Spotlight 4 Call to Action 4 Dates & Deadlines 5 8 Keys to Veterans’ Success 5 February 2020 Board Members Brad Aune Carol Cwiak Chris Hanson Calie Lindseth Corey Malko Jill Motschenbacher Jonathan Ross Craig Schwinden Andrea Smith Jerry South Jim Stoddard Amy Tichy Jeri Vaudrin Nicole Veselka Lonnie Wangen Thomas Webb Mikhail Wicker John Woolsey Did you know… - VALOR Ally training has been restructured using PsychArmor’s free training https://www.ndsu.edu/valor/readings/ - Amy Tichy (VALOR Board Member) wrote a great blog about student veterans https://www.dce.ndsu.nodak.edu/otlweb/blog/student-veterans-and-your-classroom/ - NDSU has a policy on military leave https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/146.pdf - A recent court ruling may allow veterans receiving the GI Bill extra benefits https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2019/09/03/court-ruling-could-give-veterans-an- extra-year-of-gi-bill-benefits/
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Transcript
Onward and Upward
As we settle into 2020, it seems apropos
to address the value of a strong, clear
vision for VALOR for the new year. In
2020, VALOR will be finalizing a three
year strategic plan which will help the
organization take its efforts to the next
level. VALOR will remain focused on its
important mission - to improve campus
climate for student veterans and enhance
their success.
During the fall semester, the Board’s
efforts were focused on furthering three
key objectives: 1) Advancing discussion
and efforts regarding the establishment
of a Veteran Resource Center at NDSU;
2) Continuing efforts to provide input on
the implementation of the 8 Keys to
Veteran’s Success (signed by President
Bresciani on February 12, 2019); and,
3) Reconceptualizing and strengthening
our campus efforts through strategic
partnerships, more consistent outreach,
and more readily available information.
Progress was made on all the above
objectives and the Board’s work contin-
ues into the spring with efforts specifically
focused on creating a stronger social
media presence, the development of a
consistent communication strategy and
structure, and more regularly updated web
content. This inaugural edition of VALOR’s
newsletter is an effort to provide current
and relevant information to our VALOR
allies, student veterans, members of the
campus, and community partners. This
newsletter will be published monthly during
the academic year (August through May)
and will be distributed through email and
posted on our media sites and website. We
welcome feedback on the newsletter and
your ideas for future features.
Carol Cwiak, J.D., Ph.D.
VALOR Faculty Liaison
Lead Story Headline
VALOR/February 2020
Business Name
Newsletter Date Volume 1, Issue 1
Inside this issue:
VCO Update 2
Veteran’s Voice 3
NDSU News 3
Student Veteran Spotlight
4
Call to Action 4
Dates & Deadlines
5
8 Keys to
Veterans’ Success
5
February 2020
Board Members
Brad Aune
Carol Cwiak
Chris Hanson
Calie Lindseth
Corey Malko
Jill Motschenbacher
Jonathan Ross
Craig Schwinden
Andrea Smith
Jerry South
Jim Stoddard
Amy Tichy
Jeri Vaudrin
Nicole Veselka
Lonnie Wangen
Thomas Webb
Mikhail Wicker
John Woolsey
Did you know…
- VALOR Ally training has been restructured using PsychArmor’s free training
https://www.ndsu.edu/valor/readings/
- Amy Tichy (VALOR Board Member) wrote a great blog about student veterans
Medals: Purple Heart Medal, Prisoner of War Medal;
Iraq Campaign Medal w/2 Campaign Stars
NDSU activities/engagements: President of the Bison
Student Veterans (BSV); Member of Emergency Management
Student Association (EMSA); Student member of VALOR
(Veteran Alliance Organization)
Community activities/engagements: Judge Advocate/ Public
Relations for the #1453 Marine Corps League
College scholarships, awards, etc.: 2019 Deans List
Interesting tidbit: Mikhail was employed as a lumberjack in his first
job after deployment.
A favorite memory at NDSU:
“In 2018, when a fellow student and I where trying to get BSV
started, we had our second meeting with the Congress of Student
Organizations. We had a script written out and markers for who
says what. Sometime after the start of the meeting, I got nervous
and just rambled through all of the talking points. By doing this, I
thought I had messed up our chance of becoming a recognized
organization. My colleague laughed it off and said, “that saved us
some time”. When they came back from deliberations, they were
so impressed and said they had never had a temporary organiza-
tion as organized as we are. I was thinking if they thought that as
organized, they have no idea.”
Mikhail Wicker
CALL TO ACTION:
NDSU Needs a Veteran Resource Center
The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends student veterans have veteran-specific space that offers centralized services (e.g., benefits, tutoring, academic advising, career counseling, peer mentoring, disability support services, etc.); an area to study with computers; an area where student veterans “can spend time, interact with peers, find the answers to their questions, and feel comfortable”; and, a home base for VA work-study students (Toolkit for Veteran Friendly Institutions, 2018). In 2012, 71% of colleges and universities had veteran centers (ACE, From Soldier to Student II, 2012). Research shows that the transition to college is a difficult one for veterans and holistic approaches that minimize stress, isolation, and complexity aid in veteran success, retention, and completion (DiRamio et al., From Combat to Campus: Voices of Student-Veterans, 2008).
In 2017, NDSU received over $3.4 million in tuition and book revenue through certified educa-tional benefits associated with military service. In addition, over $700 thousand in State Tuition Assistance was paid to National Guard students in 2017 to offset their college expenses. Benefit revenue to NDSU has increased since 2017 - it is time for a Veteran Resource Center at NDSU!
March 12 FMWF Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee 11:00 AM, Hjemkomst Center, Moorhead
March 12 DAV Chapter 1 Meeting 7:00–8:00 PM Super Buffet, Fargo
March 25 Free Walk-in Legal Clinic (for low-income veterans)
1:00–4:00 PM, Fargo VA HCS, Room 1C86
March 31 Part-Time & Summer Job Fair, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Ballroom (MU/NDSU)
8 Keys to Veterans’ Success
1. Create a culture of trust and connectedness across the campus community to promote well-being and success for veterans.
2. Ensure consistent and sustained support from campus leadership.
3. Implement an early alert system to ensure all veterans receive academic, career, and financial advice before challenges become overwhelming.
4. Coordinate and centralize campus efforts for all veterans, together with the creation of a designated space for them (even if limited in size).
5. Collaborate with local communities and organizations, including government agencies, to align and coordinate various services for veterans.
6. Utilize a uniform set of data tools to collect and track information on veterans, including demographics, retention, and degree completion.
7. Provide comprehensive professional development for faculty and staff on issues and challenges unique to veterans.
8. Develop systems that ensure sustainability of effective practices for veterans. https://www.ed.gov/veterans- and-military-families/8-keys- success-sites