Module 2: Referrals
NATE: By the 2007/2008 school year, veterans and service members made up four percent of undergraduate students around the country; and, with the educational benefits available through the Post 9-11 G.I. Bill, that number is only getting bigger every year.
ALICIA: But, while more veterans are entering college you might not notice it, looking at a typical classroom.
NATE: A lot of us don’t advertise the fact that we’re veterans. Maybe we don’t want to be labeled or stereotyped. We don’t want to be treated differently. So we keep it to ourselves.
ALICIA: But every now and then we have to reach out to faculty and staff for help. Imagine you work in a department office. One day you’re sitting at your desk and in comes this student, Lena. She says…
LENA: Excuse me. I don't know who to talk to but I'm in the Army Reserves. I just found out that I'm being redeployed in a couple of weeks. And I don't know what to do about my classes.
Example of the Conversation
STAFF MEMBER: They can just call you in the middle of a semester like that?
STUDENT: Apparently.
STAFF MEMBER: I can see why you'd be stressed. Look, I'm not the person who can help you, but I'll connect you with someone who can, okay?
STUDENT: Thanks.
STAFF MEMBER: Did you talk to your professors?
STUDENT: I emailed them last night but I haven't heard back yet. One of my T.A.s said that he thinks I’ll have to drop the class. But we just finished midterms.
And my tuition's paid through the G.I. Bill, and they don't pay if you withdraw from your classes. I mean, I've put a lot of work into this semester. And now I don't even know if the G.I. Bill is going to still pay for the semester.
NATE: This sounds like a complicated issue.
ALICIA: While she could talk to her professors and try to work something out with each of them, it would be better if there was one office where she could find answers to all her questions
NATE: Including her question about G.I. Bill benefits.
ALICIA: Some schools have a veteran liaison, who’s familiar with veteran issues like these.
NATE: And every school has a certifying official who handles G.I. Bill paperwork. This is usually someone in the Registrar’s Office.
STAFF MEMBER: Have you spoken to our veteran liaison?
STUDENT: No. Who's that?
STAFF MEMBER: I'll look up her name. She coordinates all our veteran services. She's actually the one to go to whenever you have a question related to your service.
(The Staff Member calls the veteran liaison, and she asks the Staff Member to send the student over.)
STAFF MEMBER: Okay, so I spoke to Linda Gray, our veteran liaison. She said she's free right now if you want to go over.
STUDENT: Okay.
STAFF MEMBER: This is her contact information.
STUDENT: Alright, thank you!
Post-Conversation
ALICIA: When a student veteran comes to you, sometimes you can help and sometimes you can’t. We understand that. But it means a lot to us when you just listen, care, and try to help.
NATE: When you treat us like adults, and respect what we’re dealing with.
ALICIA: And when you know where we can go to get answers.
If your school has a veteran services office or a veteran liaison, that’s the perfect place to refer most veteran-related issues.
If your school doesn’t have something like that, there are also other good referral options.
If a student has questions about G.I. Bill educational benefits, refer her to your school’s certifying official. All universities have a certifying official, who handles G.I. Bill paperwork. This is usually someone in the registrar’s office.
NATE: If a student needs academic accommodations due to a service-related injury, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, refer them to the disability services office.
ALICIA: And, if a student veteran is having a hard time emotionally—if they have anxiety, depression, or transitional stress—you can refer them to the counseling center, to a local V.A. hospital or Vet Center, or even to a student veteran club, where they can meet others who may be going through something similar.