Fostering Success for Student Veterans
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 3, 2017) — The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute will host a seminar on student veterans transitioning to college life from 1-3 p.m. Friday, April 7. Folks can join the seminar, “Serving Those Who Served Us: Understanding Military Culture and Disability Awareness in College,” in person or online.
Click here to register. A link to the live video stream of the seminar will be sent to registrants. The seminar will be held in Conference Room 004 at the Human Development Institute Mineral Industries Building,located at 120 Graham Ave.
The seminar will feature Tony Dotson, director of the UK Veterans Resource Center; Duke Pettit, disability accommodations consultant at the UK Disability Resource Center; and Matthew Bradford, UK student veteran majoring in majoring in media arts and studies and history.
"Student veteran success within higher education is dependent in large part on higher education’s understanding of military culture," Dotson said. "Since the gap appears to be at its largest on campuses nationwide, it is imperative that we make the effort to better inform those who are involved in student success. While military experiences vary widely, all veterans regardless of their experience come back to a culture that views them differently simply because of that service."
An influx of student veterans are expected to enroll in postsecondary institutions utilizing the education benefits for veterans under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. As a result, there is a need for increasing awareness of military culture with the growing number of student veterans with disabilities returning to college campuses.
The HDI seminar will provide an overview of the United States military, with a particular focus on addressing why understanding military culture is important when working with student veterans and military families. The presentation will discuss the facilitating factors and significant barriers for student veterans in transitioning to college life. The seminar will also identify the resources available to meet the needs of student veterans with disabilities in higher education.
Funding is provided by the UK Inclusive Excellence Student Program Grant as well as the Chi Sigma Iota-Rho Zeta Chapter Statewide/Regional Networking Grant.
Continuing education units (CEUs) are approved in effective instructional leadership, social work and rehabilitation counseling, in conjunction with the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. CEUs are pending in psychology.