Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
Southern state community college (SSCC)
seeks to assist service members and veterans as they pursue an advanced degree
and/or certificate. In an effort to better serve this population, SSCC has
adopted this policy as required by division (B) of section
3345.421 of the
Revised
Code
. The purpose of this policy is to set forth the
support and assistance SSCC will provide to service members and
veterans.
(A)
Definitions
In alignment with section
3345.42 of the
Revised
Code
, this policy utilizes the definitions for "service
member" and "veteran":
(1)
Service member: "Service member" means a person who is
serving in the armed forces of the United States.
(2)
Veteran:
"Veteran" means any person who has completed service in the armed forces,
including the national guard of any state or a reserve component of the armed
forces, and who has been discharged under honorable conditions from the armed
forces or who has been transferred to the reserve with evidence of satisfactory
service.
(B)
Support and assistance
Southern state community
college:
(1)
Refers service members and veterans to proper local,
state and/or federal agencies in the event SSCC believes that the service
member or veteran is eligible for services.
(2)
Works with the
Ohio board of regents (OBR) to develop a veteran-friendly campus that increases
the opportunity for service members and veterans to succeed
academically.
(3)
Works with other Ohio institutions of higher education
to disseminate and share promising practices for serving service members and
veterans effectively.
(4)
Promotes veteran-friendly campuses by utilizing the
OBR's structure to disseminate and share promising practices statewide for
serving service members and veterans effectively.
(5)
Trains
appropriate faculty and staff to increase awareness of the mindset and unique
needs of service members and veterans returning from combat zones and/or tours
of duty overseas.
(6)
Creates "safe zones" for service members and veterans
through a student service member/veteran club, organization, or association and
campus-wide awareness training.
(7)
Provides a
portion of student orientation (or a separate session) specifically for service
members and veterans.
(8)
Recognizes the service of service members and veterans
at various events such as graduation, community service awards, honors awards,
and an appreciation day.
(9)
Regularly evaluates institutional policies and
procedures that create barriers to service member and veteran
success.
(10)
Empowers those working directly with service members
and veterans to provide services designed to promote educational
achievement.
(11)
Provides training, in partnership with veterans
affairs, in the proper certification methods for certifying officials on each
campus.
(12)
Develops a clear outreach strategy to communicate with
eligible persons about educational and training benefits to encourage the use
of GI bill benefits, as well as services and assistance offered by the
institution.
(13)
Continues to work with the legislature, workforce and
higher education community to identify and develop statewide policies to ensure
the transition to higher education is seamless for all students, including
service members and veterans. (This may include, but is not limited to, issues
such as transfer, credit for prior learning and/or experience, career ladders,
support services, etc.).
(14)
Ensures the campus community is aware of benefits
associated with the new post 9/11 GI bill and actively find ways to connect
returning service members and veterans with the services offered by the
department of veterans affairs.
(C)
Workforce
training and education
SSCC works to provide better access and
success for service members and veterans in postsecondary education and
training while improving transition to civilian work. Services provided
include:
(1)
An online tool for exploring careers, searching
programs in Ohio and providing consumer reporting information on earnings and
employment outcomes for each program. This website should include special
information targeted to service members and veterans regarding shortening the
time to receive a credential or degree through:
(a)
Expanding credit
for prior learning;
(b)
Articulation and transfer agreements;
(c)
Bridge
programs;
(d)
Applied baccalaureate degrees; and
(e)
Online
tools.
(2)
Improving services for service member and veteran job
seekers by promoting seamless workforce development services such as those
provided at Ohio means jobs centers, campus career centers, and through
affiliates.
