All In: Developing a Community College Veterans Resource Center with Student Veterans

Abstract

Faculty, administration, and student veterans at a small midwestern community college collaborated to develop a Veterans Resource Center, a physical space in which veterans can congregate to build camaraderie and find resources specific to their needs as veterans. A needs analysis was first conducted to prioritize the needs of the student veteran community; then representatives from the college’s Veterans Association emerged as leaders to lead the initiative. This article describes the process of development and shares lessons learned for the benefit of other institutions seeking to develop a Veterans Resource Center.

Keywords:

• Student veterans
• post-military transition
• higher education
• Veterans Resource Center

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Cari Stevenson

Cari Stevenson, PhD, is a Community Psychologist and professor of Psychology at Kankakee Community College in Kankakee, Illinois, where she also serves as a co-advisor for the Veterans Association.

Michael Le Buhn

Michael Le Buhn is a U.S. Army Veteran with a BA in Philosophy and BS in Psychology. He is currently completing coursework at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee.