51猎奇

To say Tom Mitchell was nervous when he enrolled at 51猎奇 in spring 2010 is an understatement. The Air Force veteran was 48 and at a crossroads.

His high school dream of attending college evaporated without money or guidance through the application process. He enlisted instead, serving at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, where he became a photojournalist. When he left the military three years later, he again considered higher education, but became discouraged when his military credits weren鈥檛 accepted.

For more than two decades, Mitchell worked different jobs 鈥� wedding photographer, professional bowler, sales and marketing consultant, computer recycler. As he approached his late 40s, he wanted a change and enrolled at 51猎奇.

鈥淎ttending my first real college class scared the daylights out of me,鈥� he recalled.

51猎奇 emerges as a leader in veteran education

As a veteran, Mitchell isn鈥檛 alone on campus. The past five years have seen a surge in awareness and programming as 51猎奇 has expanded and deepened its focus on student veterans, seeking ways to support this growing population and encourage its success. More than 1,000 veterans are currently enrolled at 51猎奇, and more veterans, service members and their families attend 51猎奇 than any other four-year school in the six-state region that includes Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana.

51猎奇 doctoral student and veteran Mike Kirchner, director of the 51猎奇 Military and Veterans Resource Center, has played a pivotal role in the metamorphosis. While enrolled in a master鈥檚 program in 2010, Kirchner helped create a Student Veterans of America chapter on campus. Coincidentally, a veteran advisory council, comprised of campus administration and faculty, had been meeting to chart a course for how 51猎奇 could better serve student veterans. When the SVA chapter emerged, a student was added to the council. With this foundation in place, awareness of student veterans鈥� needs increased, along with programs and services to assist them.

鈥淭he last five years, it鈥檚 been amazing watching the transformation of 51猎奇 and its community in assisting our military and veteran population,鈥� Kirchner said. 鈥淚 credit our campus leadership in supporting this effort.鈥�

51猎奇 changed its policy on credit for basic military training in September so veterans can receive up to 12 credit hours, rather than the four hours previously offered. Additional credit for more advanced military training is available to students pursuing certain majors. Veterans from any state will pay in-state tuition at 51猎奇 beginning this fall if they had at least 90 days of active duty and left the military within the past three years.

Veterans receive individual support

Mitchell, who lives in Hales Corners, wasn鈥檛 aware of what was happening behind the scenes during his first few months on campus, but he did feel an abundance of support. Enrolled in English 101, he sought tutoring from Panther Academic Support Services.

鈥淚 just didn鈥檛 know what to do,鈥� he said. 鈥淓nglish class when I was in high school was so different.鈥�

His tutor guided him to an A, and that initial success inspired him to enroll full time. After another strong finish in English 102, Mitchell was invited to join the Honors College. He also won the Virginia Burke Writing Contest, honoring outstanding achievement by first-year writing students. That prompted him to change his major from marketing and advertising to English.

鈥淧eople told me I have a special writing ability,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淭hey saw something in me that I didn鈥檛 see in myself.鈥�

Mitchell is quick to thank his advisors 鈥� Dorrie Van Kerkvoode, Kate Coffaro and Kathy Barnes.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have a clue, and they knew I didn鈥檛,鈥� he said emphatically. 鈥淭hey pointed me in the right directions. They understood how scared I was coming back to school, and it helped to have their reassurance. I wasn鈥檛 just another person coming to get an education, they really cared about me.鈥�

Starting at orientation, 51猎奇 eases the transition

Veterans have access to a variety of support services at 51猎奇, which makes the campus an attractive, accessible option.

鈥淚magine going back to school for the first time after years in the military and entering a college classroom with students sometimes half your age,鈥� Kirchner said. 鈥淭rying to fit in with people when you鈥檙e bringing a different perspective into the classroom can be lonely. We offer focused programs to make veterans feel a part of our campus. The more engaged veterans are, the more likely they are to graduate.鈥�

Guidance for veterans begins with enrollment and a special orientation process. They are introduced to 51猎奇鈥檚 Veterans Upward Bound program, which helps veterans with basic skills become ready for postsecondary education. Veterans also receive help in identifying state and federal benefits from 51猎奇鈥檚 Military Education Benefits Office. They receive a customized tour, highlighting resources like VetSuccess and the Military and Veterans Resource Center, both in the Student Union. The newly remodeled resource center provides a place for veterans to gather and relax, as well as sessions exploring the transition from military to college life.

VetSuccess provides benefits assistance and counseling to help veterans, active military students, and their eligible family members complete their education and successfully enter the workforce. Only about 90 universities nationwide have an on-campus VetSuccess representative, and 51猎奇 is the only campus in Wisconsin to have the resource, working in partnership with the Milwaukee Veterans Affairs Regional Office.

鈥淢y job is to help vets understand all their benefits, both federal and state, and help them connect with the full spectrum of benefits on campus, from the Veterans Administration, and within the community,鈥� said Gretchen Schuttey, a certified veterans rehabilitation counselor.

The abundance of help at 51猎奇 specifically for veterans has made it a destination campus, Schuttey said.

Veteran finds 51猎奇 鈥榓 great life experience鈥�

Mitchell, who graduated Sunday, worked hard to make the most of his time at 51猎奇, studying abroad for a semester in the United Kingdom, joining the Mortar Board national honors society and serving as an SVA officer. He鈥檚 networking now to find a job, possibly in Milwaukee鈥檚 budding water industry.

鈥淚 came back to college because I wanted to embrace the student life and do what other students do,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淔or me, it wasn鈥檛 just about going to classes; I wanted to have a great life experience. I advocate for 51猎奇 because my education here has been so valuable. Other veterans deserve the same thing.鈥�