Presentation for Experiential Learning for

Veterans in Assistive Technologies and

Engineering (ELeVATE) Interns

Matt Hannan (aka Hannibal)

President, Pitt Vets

ELeVATE Alumni (Summer 2012)

June 14th, 2013

ELeVATE Story…from an Insider

Perspective (How, What, When?)

• How did I discover the program?

• What was my project?

• Expectations:

– RESNA paper

– Elevator pitch

– Final presentation

– Poster

• What am I doing now?

– Jaco & iARM ADL evaluation (tons of analysis)

– SPORTACUS!!! (people skills…need a hand as well)

– REVT (see us in action on Monday…free grub)

ELeVATE Story…from an Insider

Perspective (Benefits)

• Benefits

– RESNA…I got paid and get to

present in Seattle

– Networking opportunities

– Exposure to different technologies

– Research experience /

opportunities

– Refined guidance / direction in life

– Opportunity to work with multitude

of people with and without

disabilities (students, potential

clients, faculty, staff, other

veterans)

ELeVATE Toolbox for Success:

• Erum Khan & the math seminars

– Helped get me through Trigonometry &

Physics

• Marcy Jordan & the writing seminars

– Different type of writing style

• Various opportunities and exposure to

refine and/or identify likes & dislikes

– Get exposure and get involved

• Staff and faculty that will continue to

support even after departure

– Letters of Recommendation

– Follow-ups to see how you’re doing and

how they can help

ELeVATE Toolbox for Success

(continued):

• Follow-on opportunities in

research, design, and

development

• HERL/RST team unparalleled

and internationally known &

recognized

• Smart people…take full

advantage of them

• Everyone is here to help one

another

– Only one stupid question

• Set the example…every chance

you get

The Student Veteran Association at the University of

Pittsburgh

Pitt Vets

Agenda

• Background of Pitt Vets

• Mission Statement

• Pitt Vets: Structure

• Normative and Economic Arguments

• Support Structures for Vets in Transition

• What is Pitt Vets Doing to Help?

• Future Goals

• Questions?

Background of Pitt Vets

• 2007 – Formed Student Veteran Association

• 2007-2011 – Group formed but had struggles

• 2011 – Current group formed

• Currently – Pitt Vets is strong and gaining

momentum

– Approximately 120 members and growing

– One among many chapters in America

Student Veterans of America:

Chapter Map

Over 800 Chapters Globally (2

International Chapters

Mission Statement

• Core Purposes: To support our members with the various resources we have exploited on campus and in the community. To ensure our members have continued support during their academic education, and to ensure those members graduate ready to enter the workforce or pursue higher education.

• Fulfilling Needs: Members have needs such as obtaining educational and disability benefits, and transitioning in to academic and civilian life. Our support system helps veterans access benefits and introduces them to peer support networks and resources.

• Operating Philosophy: Pitt Vets is here to help student veterans, ROTC cadets, veteran’s spouses/dependents and veteran alumni. We are run by student veterans and operate as a team.

• Future Aspirations: To maintain a sustainable association.

Pitt Vets: Structure • Bylaws

• Board Positions:

– President: Matt Hannan (USMC)

– Vice President: Sean Rohrer (USA)

– Business Manager: Laura Walter (USA)

– Communications Director: Cody Bertolino (USMC)

– Recruiting/Events Coordinators: Mike Malloy (USA), Megan

Nguyen (USAF)

– Policy Director: Eric Bentley (USMC)

• Membership: Free and available to veterans, spouses of veterans,

dependents, alumni, and ROTC

• Faculty Advisors:

– Professor Jay Sukits

– Dr Rory Cooper

– Dr Ron LaPorte

Importance of Supporting

Veterans

• Warriors often come home with disabilities

– Physical and invisible wounds

• Diversity of thought in civic and liberal education

– Integration of diverse ideas in the University

– Veterans express ideas better when they have support

• Attrition rate of Veterans high in Academia

• Estimated at 80% (unfounded)

• GI Bill benefits run out

• Illness

• Lack of support network

Economic Importance of

Supporting Veterans

• Why Incentivize an Education?

– Lower unemployment

– Educated veterans contribute to society and federal and

state revenues through meaningful work

– Our checks clear the bank!

– An Example:

“By 1956, when it expired, the education-and-training portion of the GI Bill had disbursed $14.5 billion to veterans—but the Veterans Administration estimated the increase in Federal income taxes alone would pay for the cost of the bill several times over.”

Support Structures for Veterans in

Transition

• Recent RAND Study

• New York Times Articles

• Personal Observations

RAND Quote

“Though some participants described relatively smooth transitions from the

military to higher education, most survey and focus group participants reported

encountering substantial transition challenges. Among focus group participants,

the most frequently discussed challenges were meeting academic expectations,

balancing academic and other responsibilities, relating to fellow students, and

coping with service-related disabilities and post-traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD). Some of these challenges, like balancing work and family with

academic expectations, are common to many nontraditional college students

who joined the full-time workforce before pursuing higher education. Others,

like coping with the aftereffects of military service, are particular to student

veterans and current service members.” (Steele, Saucedo, and Cooley)

New York Times Quotes

“An American soldier dies every day and a half, on average, in Iraq or Afghanistan. Veterans kill themselves at a rate of one every 80 minutes. More than 6,500 veteran suicides are logged every year — more than the total number of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq combined since those wars began.” (Kristof)

“The military said Friday that there had been 154 suicides among active-duty troops through Thursday, a rate of nearly one each day this year. The figures were first reported this week by The Associated Press. That number represents an 18 percent increase over the 130 active-duty military suicides for the same period in 2011. There were 123 suicides from January to early June in 2010, and 133 during that period in 2009, the Pentagon said.” (Williams)

What is Pitt Vets Doing to

Help?

• Certified Student Veterans of America

Chapter and student organization here on

campus

• Mastering the University

• Single Point of Contact List / Peer

Mentorship Program

• Pitt Vets: Faculty Advisory Council

• Student Veterans of America: PA State

Conference, National Leadership Institute,

and National Conference, Education and

Employment Conference

• Various panels throughout the University

What is Pitt Vets Doing to

Help? (continued)

• Weekly meetings

• Veterans Day events

• T-Shirts, coins

• A bias for action and continued passion for

Veterans

• Strong relationship with Office of Veterans

Services

• Two members belong to the College of

General Studies Student Council

• Involvement in several Community

Outreach programs

• Veterans bring diversity, understanding,

and life experience to the classroom

Future Goals

• Sustainability of the association

• Improving the Veteran Transition Success

Class

– making it 3 credits

– not online, but instead in a regular

classroom

• Continued growth of the group

• Increased communication methods

– Help from University administrators

• A greater awareness

• Professor Veterans awareness training?

• Veterans Resource Center (Spring 2014?)

Questions?

PITTVETS

@PITTVETS

pittvets@gmail.com

Webpage

http://www.pitt.edu/~sorc/veterans/index.html