Former Chief Petty Officer Paula Jansen said one of her most prominent memories of college was the lack of sleep. Jansen’s days were busy balancing family, school and work. Her nights were extended by essays or interrupted by blasting alarms. The alarms were a reminder that she needed clean clothes for the next day of class.
Her story was familiar to student veterans of Southwestern College. As a daughter of a veteran, Director of Financial Aid and Veterans Services Patti Larkin said she remembers how educational opportunities made her father’s college journey easier.
Military Times recently recognized SWC as one of the best colleges for veterans. The college was one of 208 schools in the country, and one of 33 community colleges, to receive the recognition. SWC provides services to more than 1,100 veterans and military dependents. Larkin works along with coordinators and tutors to offer services to student veterans, including peer-to-peer tutoring.
Peer-to-peer tutoring connects tutors and students on a deeper level with the goal being better communication.
Student veteran and tutor Anthony Lince said sessions become more personalized due to a deep connection the tutor and the student share as members of the military.
“It’s specifically made for veterans and all the tutors are veterans themselves,” Lince said.
Lince is a writing tutor, but help is provided for all subjects. He said veterans get a one-hour, one-on-one session with a tutor who guides them through their assignments.
Veterans Resource Center Coordinator Jonathan White said a key to the success of the service is the peer-to-peer sessions. “It makes a seamless connection,” White said.
He added that the success of the service would not be possible without the support of the Academic Success Center and their tutors. Larkin agreed and said the tutoring service is just one of the many services offered by the Veterans Resource Center on campus.
“It provides a sense of community for veterans,” Lince said.
The center’s purpose is to provide both resources for students and create an environment where veterans feel welcome. Lince said the center offers free printing, various materials at a reduced price and books students can check out based on an honor system.
White said the center also includes a computer lab where students can study and do homework. It has meeting space as well where students can stop by and relax.
“It’s a combination of a meeting place, a study place and resources,” White said.
Larkin said the recent national recognition is proof of the staff’s dedication towards the Student Veteran Success Center.
“I think it is a testament to the work that everybody is doing our veteran’s service staff,” she said.
Another event, held on April 11, 2019, was the Sisters in Arms organized by the Student Veteran Organization and SWC to honor and celebrate women in the military.
They recognized the courage of Jansen and four other women who decided to serve the nation and complete a higher education. Each of them shared their journey and addressed how hard it can be to balance a life as a veteran woman and a college student.
Larkin said the center is now working on getting a counselor for veterans who would assist students with specific problems and concerns.
Larkin said the staff is looking forward to move to a new location that will have a larger computer lab and a conference space for students to meet with counselors and attend workshops.
White said SWC staff listens to veterans to meet their needs and improve the offered services.
“We are going that extra mile to make sure we are doing everything we can for them,” White said.
