October 19, 2009

Colleges, universities focus on education of veterans, student service members

Operation Diploma's first conference, called Launching Transformation, aims to empower and motivate higher education administrators to improve the policies and programs that serve student service members, veterans and their families. The conference, scheduled for Nov. 2 and 3 in Indianapolis, is underwritten by Lilly Endowment Inc., which also gave a $5.8 million grant to launch Operation Diploma in 2008.

Launching Transformation will enable college administrators to develop collaborative, beneficial relationships and help transform Indiana into a veteran-friendly state by bringing together experts from organizations such as the American Council on Education, the Veterans Administration and the Military Family Research Institute, said Stacie F. Hitt, director of Operation Diploma.

The deadline to register for the conference is Friday (Oct. 23). More information is available under the "Upcoming Events" tab at https://www.mfri.purdue.edu/

"This is an opportunity for colleges and university administrators to learn from the experts and each other," Hitt said. "Institutions that are doing an outstanding job at serving these students will share their successes. We'll feature moderated discussions with experts about resources available through the Veterans' Administration and other such organizations. And attendees will receive information on how Operation Diploma can help them develop supportive programs, services and grant awards that serve the student service members and veterans on their campuses."

More than 7,500 Indiana veterans used GI Bill education benefits in 2008, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The new GI bill, which went into effect Aug.1, expanded and updated educational benefits for millions of student service members, veterans and their families and is expected to attract them to campuses across the state and nation.

This anticipated influx makes it even more imperative to address the growing needs of this student demographic, Hitt said. 

Launching Transformation's keynote speaker will be Jim Selbe, assistant vice president of the American Council on Education. Selbe oversees the council's Center for Lifelong Learning, including military and corporate programs.

The council helped craft a report, released in July, which was based on a survey of more than 700 campuses across the nation. The report offered a glimpse into the programs, services and policies currently in place to help student service members and veterans.

Sixty percent of institutions reported their long-term strategic plans included the creation of veteran-friendly programs and services. More than half reported they are engaged in recruiting military service members and veterans to their campuses. Most said they want to make veteran-friendly changes within the next five years. The top priorities identified included providing professional development for faculty and staff on dealing with issues facing service members and veterans, as well as exploring funding sources to help pay for campus programs.

This year Operation Diploma awarded grants of up to $15,000 to 21 institutions of higher education in Indiana for the development of support programs and services for student service members and veterans. In 2010 Operation Diploma will award more than $1 million in higher education grants ranging from $15,000 up to $100,000. Launching Transformation also will include a session on these funding opportunities.

Media contact: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: Samantha Lucy, director of communications for the Military Family Research Institute, 765-496-6027, slucy@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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