Photo of military exercise.

Spring Seminar: “Serving Those Who Served Us: Understanding Military Culture and Disability Awareness in College”

Student veteran success within higher education is dependent in large part on higher education’s understanding of military culture. Since the gap appears to be at its largest on campuses nation-wide, it is imperative that we make the effort to better inform those who are involved in student success. While military experiences vary widely, all veterans regardless of their experience come back to a culture that views them differently simply because of that service. – Tony Dotson

Join us in person or online for our Spring Seminar series on Friday, April 7, 2017 from 1:00 – 3:00p ET to learn more about “Serving Those Who Served Us: Understanding Military Culture and Disability Awareness in College.” Learn more from experts Tony Dotson, MA, Duke Pettit, II, MRC, CRC, and Matthew Bradford (in photo). The seminar will be held at the Human Development Institute Mineral Industries Building, Conference Room 004 at 120 Graham Avenue, Lexington KY 40506. A link to the live video stream of the seminar will be sent to registrants.

Click here to register for the seminar. For help registering, contact walt.bower@uky.edu.

Presenters:

  • Tony Dotson, MA. Mr. Dotson is the Director of the University of Kentucky’s Veterans Resource Center.
  • Duke Pettit, II. MRC, CRC. Mr. Pettit is a Disability Accommodations Consultant at the University of Kentucky’s Disability Resource Center.
  • Matthew Bradford (in photo) is a student veteran at the University of Kentucky. Mr. Bradford is majoring in Media Arts & Studies and History.

An influx of student veterans are expected to enroll in postsecondary institutions with the education benefits for veterans under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. As a result, there is a need for increasing awareness of military culture with the growing number of student veterans with disabilities returning to college campuses. This seminar will provide an overview of the United States military, with a particular focus on addressing why understanding military culture is important when working with student veterans and military families. The presentation will discuss the facilitating factors and significant barriers for student veterans in transitioning to college life. The seminar will also identify the resources available to meet the needs of student veterans with disabilities in higher education.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Develop an awareness of military culture.
  2. Recognize the differences and commonalities between military and civilian culture.
  3. Identify the facilitators and barriers for student veterans transitioning to higher education.
  4. Identify the resources available for students with disabilities on campus.

Seminar funding is provided by the University of Kentucky Inclusive Excellence Student Program Grant as well as the Chi Sigma Iota-Rho Zeta chapter Statewide/Regional Networking Grant.  

CEU’s are approved in Rehabilitation Counseling in conjunction with the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. CEU’s are approved in Effective Instructional Leadership. CEU’s are approved in Social Work. CEU’s are pending in Psychology.