ISU Veterans Sanctuary
Background
• Veterans Sanctuary Program started in July, 2009, as a response to the urgent need for veterans’ services at universities expressed by veterans’ groups throughout the country
• Involved a year of planning by two ISU University Business Officers, Scott Turner and Lynn Roberts
• From 2009-2012, Sanctuary Director worked with student vets, staff, faculty, administrators, and key partners external to the university, to develop Sanctuary into a three-phase model
– Outreach/college preparation (recruitment)
– Student resources and support services (retention) – Workforce preparation
• Multiple national awards for our efforts
– G.I. Jobs Magazine: Military Friendly School list for 2010, 2011 and 2012
– National citations from American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
• Enrollment of student veterans attending ISU on VA benefits has risen 48 percent, from 325 to 480
Purpose
• To develop the Veterans Sanctuary into a national leader of
university-based transition and support services for military
veterans and service members by:
– Providing student vets with access to all campus resources in one office
– Providing guidance from the moment vets contact ISU about applying to school until they graduate
– Fostering a campus environment that is comfortable for student veterans to increase their opportunity for success
– Working with businesses, organizations and leaders in communities throughout Southeast Idaho to develop the Sanctuary and increase opportunities for student veterans
Sanctuary Offices
• First “one-stop” veterans support center at any
college or university in Idaho
– Features a comprehensive array of resources and support
services that help student and non-student veterans
– Located on the third floor of the Pond Student Union
Building on Pocatello Campus
Resources &
Support Services
• Veterans Sanctuary resources and support services include:
– G.I. Bill certifying official to assist with VA educational benefits – Bannock County Veterans Service Officer (on-site through unique
partnership) to assist with VA medical and other benefits
– VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to provide guidance and funding to disabled vets attending ISU
– Outreach to and college preparation for prospective student veterans – Orientation events for new student veterans
– ISU Disability Resource Center to provide accommodations and adaptive technology to student veterans with disabilities
Resources &
Services Continued
– ISU Institute of Rural Health’s Idaho TBI Virtual Program Center for veterans dealing with TBI and their family members
– Registration events to streamline the registration process and provide access to many campus and community resources and services in one location—student vets finished in less than one hour
– Veterans Academic and Technical Advisors to keep student vets on-track with their degree plans and ensure they are taking classes the G.I. Bill will fund
– Student-run Veterans Club to provide peer support and improve the quality of student life and academic success
Resources &
Services Concluded
– Free individual tutoring in any subject through ISU Student Success Center and Veterans Sanctuary math and English tutors
– Individual and group counseling through ISU Counseling and Testing Center, Pocatello Vet Center and Pocatello VA Community Based Outreach Clinic
– Scholarships and Financial Aid
– Free music education through the national Soldier Songs program – Opportunities for outdoor recreation for student veterans
– Workforce preparation, professional attire and employment assistance through Career Closet program
Rural
Outreach Officer
• Kale Bergeson, sophomore studying Human Resources Training and Development at ISU College of Technology
– Gulf War Veteran who served in the Marine Corps – 3.81 GPA
– 2010 recipient of the ISU Sgt. Blake Stephens Scholarship, named after a Pocatello soldier killed in Iraq and funded by community and university fundraising efforts
– 2011 recipient of Marine Corps League Scholarship
– Former President and current Vice President of ISU Armed Forces Veterans’ Club-Pocatello Chapter
• Informs veterans in rural communities about ISU’s support for student veterans, G.I. Bill benefits and ISU College of Technology outreach centers in their hometowns that offer free college prep courses
– Saves time and money by reducing the need for remedial classes once enrolled as ISU students
Native American
Outreach Officer
• Tony Borjas, sophomore studying Human Resources
Training and Development at COT
– Vietnam Veteran who served in the Marine Corps
– Member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, the student-run
ISU Armed Forces Veterans’ Club and the ISU Shoshone
Club
• Works on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation with local
veterans for the Sanctuary
– Provides information about G.I Bill educational benefits
and speaks first-hand of ISU’s commitment to help Native
Veterans achieve a higher education
Veterans Registration Event
• Allison Gonzalez, VA Certifying Official, Office of the Registrar
• Registration Event cuts red tape for student vets
– Veterans academic and technical advising – Register for classes
– Initiate VA benefits
– Meet with VA Voc Rehab counselor – University Housing
– Financial Aid
– Tuition Assistance
– Employment information from ISU Career Center and Idaho Dept of Labor – Veterans’ Club
Sgt. Blake Stephens
Scholarship
• Named after local soldier
killed by a roadside bomb
in Iraq in 2007
• Established by Hooligans
Pub, where Stephens often
played foosball with friends
• Supported by annual foosball tournament and
donations
Advisory Committee
• Laura Vailas, Ph.D., First Lady of ISU
• Retired Brigadier Gen. Alan Gayhart, former
Commander of Idaho Army National Guard
• Retired Marine Col. David Brasuell,
Administrator of Idaho Office of Veterans
Services
• State Senator Diane Bilyeu, D-Pocatello
Events
&
Outdoor Experience
• Pocatello ranked several times by Outdoor Life
Magazine as one of the top five outdoor recreation
spots in nation
• Access to world-class fishing, hunting, hiking, rock
climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, disc
golfing, geocaching, downhill and cross country
skiing, snowshoeing, etc.
• Partnerships with ISU Cooperative Wilderness
Handicapped Outdoor Group (CW HOG) and Outdoor
Adventure Center, ISU Student Recreation Center,
Idaho Fish and Game, Tranquil Valley Horse
Sanctuary and Project Healing Waters
Soldier Songs
• National program which provides free instruments
and music lessons for veterans taught by veterans
• Founded by Tony Rosario, a former Nashville studio
musician
• Goal is for veterans to help each other cope with
combat-related trauma through music
• Veterans Sanctuary one of six chapter sites
AFVC
• Chapters on Pocatello and Idaho Falls campuses
– Luke Cleaver, Pocatello Chapter President
• Senior studying surveying at ISU College of Technology • Iraq War Veteran who served in Army
– Chris Stein, Idaho Falls Chapter President
• Junior studying civil engineering
• Iraq War Veteran who served in Army
• While student-run veterans clubs are key factors in student
veterans’ success, as of 2009 only 32 percent of public
universities and colleges had clubs
(American Council on Education)• Clubs provide peer support and a collective voice
Advocacy
• The Sanctuary spearheaded a successful effort
with state legislators in 2010 to change Idaho
law so that all veterans and their dependents
who meet basic criteria receive in-state tuition
rates
• Staff and student veterans worked with court
officials and community partners to develop
the Sixth Judicial District Veterans Court
Southeast Idaho
Contacts
Veterans Sanctuary Pond Student Union
921 S. 8th Ave., Stop 8095 Pocatello, ID 83209-8095 (208) 282-4245 Casey Santee Director (208) 282-4298 [email protected] VA Certifying Official ISU Office of the Registrar (208) 282-2676
Outreach Officers (208) 282-4245
Career Closet Coordinator (208) 282-4245
Event Coordinator (208) 282-4245
Veterans Academic and Technical Advisors (208) 282-4245
Melissa Hartman
Bannock County Veterans Service Officer (208) 282-4245
Philip A. Clifton
VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (208) 478-9866
