Peer Resources
Peer Resources
Transcript
Veterans are more likely to turn to and to open up to other veterans, because of the shared experience of service and common understanding of military life and culture. As a result connecting student veterans with other veterans will help foster the sense of belonging that is crucial for a truly inclusive campus.
Although student veterans should have full access to all resources on campus, even if those resources aren't specifically designated for veterans. It is nonetheless important to provide peer veteran to veteran support as well. A veteran center or lounge can be a key resource if the campus is able to provide one. Such a space provides opportunities for student veterans to relax, decompress, and meet other student veterans on campus.
Veteran centers provide information about veteran resources on campus and in the community. They often furnish lockers for commuting student veterans to use while they're on campus. And they sometimes have a computer or printer for quick use between classes. The school's certifying official, director of student veterans services, or other staff whose roles provide support to student veterans can hold office hours in the center.
In addition, a veteran center is a natural space for student veterans to meet and to study together. Social events centered around the veteran identity can also be hosted in a space such as this. Structured opportunities for student veterans to gather and interact can prove valuable in facilitating peer support and a sense of belonging on campus.
Identifying student organizations on campus that center around the veteran identity is a good place to start. Building programs that pair student veterans with veteran mentors is another way to connect student veterans with each other and with the campus.
Campuses that already have peer mentorship programs in place can expand such initiatives to include veteran-to-veteran peer mentorship. Alternatively, modeling such a program on the battle buddies program offered by the US Army can be an effective way to create support in a format with which some veterans may already be familiar.
Student veterans who are older than traditionally aged students or who have families may find that they relate well to faculty and staff that are a similar age or who have similar life circumstances.
Identifying faculty and staff who are themselves veterans or who are willing to self-identify and offer support to student veterans on campus can be an excellent way to provide on-campus support and disseminate valuable information about veterans services in the community, child care, schools, and other issues that require engagement beyond the campus.
Although student veterans should have full access to all resources on campus, even if those resources aren't specifically designated for veterans. It is nonetheless important to provide peer veteran to veteran support as well. A veteran center or lounge can be a key resource if the campus is able to provide one. Such a space provides opportunities for student veterans to relax, decompress, and meet other student veterans on campus.
Veteran centers provide information about veteran resources on campus and in the community. They often furnish lockers for commuting student veterans to use while they're on campus. And they sometimes have a computer or printer for quick use between classes. The school's certifying official, director of student veterans services, or other staff whose roles provide support to student veterans can hold office hours in the center.
In addition, a veteran center is a natural space for student veterans to meet and to study together. Social events centered around the veteran identity can also be hosted in a space such as this. Structured opportunities for student veterans to gather and interact can prove valuable in facilitating peer support and a sense of belonging on campus.
Identifying student organizations on campus that center around the veteran identity is a good place to start. Building programs that pair student veterans with veteran mentors is another way to connect student veterans with each other and with the campus.
Campuses that already have peer mentorship programs in place can expand such initiatives to include veteran-to-veteran peer mentorship. Alternatively, modeling such a program on the battle buddies program offered by the US Army can be an effective way to create support in a format with which some veterans may already be familiar.
Student veterans who are older than traditionally aged students or who have families may find that they relate well to faculty and staff that are a similar age or who have similar life circumstances.
Identifying faculty and staff who are themselves veterans or who are willing to self-identify and offer support to student veterans on campus can be an excellent way to provide on-campus support and disseminate valuable information about veterans services in the community, child care, schools, and other issues that require engagement beyond the campus.