Veteran services helps students achieve their degree mission
Lorraine Rowe has a big heart, so it’s no surprise she wound up working where heart is needed most.
As San Jacinto College’s North Campus veteran services coordinator, Rowe is on the front lines of welcoming students from the military to college.
“In this position I get to serve those who served for me,” she said.
Each semester, students walk through the veteran center doors at North, South, and Central Campuses to meet with advisors, grab snacks, log on to computers, and mingle with other veterans.
With nearly 900 veteran students currently, San Jac smooths the transition from the military to the classroom. Rowe shares more:
Q: How does veteran services support students from enrollment to graduation?
It’s not just about sending paperwork to let the VA know they’re using their education
benefits at San Jac. We sit and listen.
Q: What challenges do veterans face when transitioning to college?
A: The majority say the biggest challenge is the structure. They are not being told when, where, and how to do things any longer. Everything is left up to them. But that’s where veteran services comes in. As school certifying officials, we advise them and support them.
The veteran center is a safe place. We’re their biggest cheerleaders.
Q: Who qualifies for GI Bill(R) benefits?
A: To be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill(R), you must meet at least one of these requirements:
- You served at least 90 days on active duty (all at once or with breaks in service) on or after Sept. 11, 2001.
- You received a Purple Heart on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service.
- You served for at least 30 continuous days (without a break in service) on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability.
- You’re a dependent child using benefits transferred by a qualifying veteran or service member.
Q: How do you help students use their GI Bill(R) benefits?
A: What’s most difficult is applying to receive the benefit. We assist with navigating the va.gov system. Once they’ve applied, there’s a minimum 30-day wait to receive the certificate of eligibility, which says what they’re eligible for and what percentage of the benefit will cover tuition.
Students often call us while they’re still in the military, but they won’t get a certificate of eligibility until they’re released. We encourage them to start the process as early as possible. We can give them a deferment until they receive the certificate, and then we can apply the benefit to their tuition.
Q: How do you collaborate with other San Jac departments to support students?
A: We host monthly in-person meet-and-greets, which include different departments like mental health, financial aid, etc.
We also have Buddy Check Days every Wednesday. Veteran students can come in for donuts and coffee, and we check in on them: “How are you doing? Is there something we can help you with?” We get to know their struggles and needs.
Q: What San Jac veteran initiatives have helped students stay engaged and on track to graduate?
A: One motivation project we host is “The Ahren Project,” which encourages our veterans and their families to create a vision board. Ahren is one of my veterans who took his life. I wanted to make sure we didn’t lose another one of our veterans on our watch.
In our conference room, our students create a vision board with their life plan. It started in fall 2023 and has spread to other campuses.
Q: What’s next for San Jac’s veteran services?
A: Since fall 2023, we’ve been offering Green Zone training to help San Jac employees learn how to support our veteran students.
We’re also requesting a veteran wall of honor at the Generation Park Campus. The honor walls show who received the veteran scholarship from the prior year. Or anyone, including the public, can pay $250 to honor a veteran. That money goes toward veteran scholarships.
Free Veteran and Military Affiliate Resource Fair
Learn about education benefits, job opportunities, transition assistance organizations, and much more!
- When: Friday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Where: LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy, & Technology (Central Campus, Building C45)
