The conference, which draws participants and presenters from across the country, is designed to help universities become more veteran-friendly. Sponsors are UofL’s Division of Student Affairs, Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges and the ACPA – College Student Educators International.
There is a need for this type of event, said Tom Jackson, UofL’s vice president for student affairs. There are a lot of schools still struggling with how to supply services to veterans.
Conference sessions will provide information on addressing the needs of women veterans, demystifying posttraumatic stress disorder, maximizing credit for military service, creating a first-year experience program for veterans, trends in the recruitment of veterans, how to enhance veteran student groups and issues related to veterans with disabilities. There also will be a session to provide an update on the GI Bill and one that gives an overview of the Wal-Mart grant.
Session presenters are from Arkansas State University, Cleveland State University, Indiana University and the University of Louisville and from the American Council on Education, One Freedom and Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges.
This symposium will be beneficial for staff throughout an institution, including those in academic advising, admissions, counseling and student health, disability resources, financial aid, residence life, registration and student affairs, Jackson said.
UofL played host to the first veterans symposium in February 2009. That conference focused on showing participants best practices of three schools considered to excel in veterans services.
People really enjoyed it the first year, Jackson said. Many of them hoped we would do this again.
Registration for the two-day conference is $189 per person and will continue through the week of the event.