News & Events
Grant-Funded ‘Project W.I.N.’ to Promote Academic Success of Veteran Students
New York City College of Technology (City Tech) in Downtown Brooklyn has launched a new grant-funded initiative designed to promote the academic success of veteran students in recognition of their rapid growth and unique needs. Called “Project W.I.N.,” the initiative is a collaboration among the College’s Committee for Veteran Student Community Outreach, Empowerment and Success, the Office of Student Affairs and the Student Veterans Club in conjunction with a City University of New York-wide program to expand and improve services for veterans.
At present, there are approximately 1,094,000 veterans residing in New York State, including 56,000 between the ages of 18 and 34, according to U.S. government figures. Another several thousand New Yorkers are currently serving in the U.S. military, and for many the educational benefits available to them following completion of active duty was a motivating factor behind enlistment. Six thousand veterans recently returned to the New York area from active duty, and many are currently looking for local colleges and universities that offer degree programs in career fields that interest them.
“Veteran students bring to campus a variety of both special needs and special aptitudes,” says Paul Schwartz, a counselor with City Tech’s Counseling Services Center, coordinator of the Project W.I.N. team, and faculty advisor to the Student Veterans Club. “On the one hand, the training and experience veterans have received during their military service have equipped them with organizational, teamwork, stress management and task orientation skills and attributes and a sense of community and camaraderie that are often exceptional, enabling these men and women to contribute in very effective ways to both the College and larger communities. On the other hand, concerns over growing anti-war sentiment resulting from the U.S. military involvement in Iraq have made some veteran students anxious concerning how the general school population will receive them. Among other objectives, Project W.I.N. is designed to enable them to put their special skills to good use and to allay their concerns about openly identifying themselves as veterans.”
In addition to other objectives, Project W.I.N. aims to provide a comprehensive program of special services and communications opportunities for veteran students that promote their academic success and build bonds within the City Tech community, opening and strengthening their connections with both the larger College population and each other. High on the list of services is facilitating easier access to and more efficient use of the Veterans Affairs website to apply for benefits under the G.I. Bill and speed up the certification process, establishing a special online counseling service support group, and creating special events and seminars that involve the entire College community and further foster opportunities for bonding between veteran students and the general student population. In development is a special lesson plan to be utilized in a veteran-focused section of the “Introduction to College Life” freshman orientation class as well as a family of informational publications especially for veteran students.
“Moreover,” Schwartz adds, “the Project W.I.N. team will implement an ambitious recruitment outreach program to let potential veteran students know that City Tech not only offers them an excellent education in 21st century technologies and other career fields, but also a wide range of special services and related activities that respond to their special needs as former service personnel and enable them to put their special skills and knowledge to work in the service of both school and community. Above all else, we want them to know that they’ll be welcomed at City Tech.”
11/07/06
