I think I'm missing something. How do colleges usually prioritize or actively support personal development?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 10:54:31 -0500

We have SVA chapters that (hopefully) support each other. Colleges have fraternities and sororities. Is that normally enough?

Response by COL Charles Williams made Feb 26 at 2017 12:15 PM

COL Charles Williams — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 12:15:24 -0500

Honestly, in my experience as a student and a parent, all they care about is getting paid... SGT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Feb 26 at 2017 6:21 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 18:21:55 -0500

At my current university (I'm leaving this summer to join a new university), we have a good mix of initiatives. We have "academic advisors" who are more short-term focused (i.e. while you are in college) on ensuring you are taking the right classes at the right time to progress towards graduation. We also have "faculty mentors" who are more long-term focused (i.e. post-college) on helping you use your time at the university wisely. Their goal is to prepare you for the workforce (thinking about career paths, providing career advising, helping find internships, looking for volunteering opportunities, helping find the right professional organizations, etc.). They are also charged with keeping those lines of communication open after you graduate. I will admit those people, particularly the faculty, do vary with their levels of expertise and/or interest. Those resources are for all students. Regarding veterans specifically, we do have a student veterans organization. We also have a university-level task force that focuses on helping integrate student veterans into the university, and then ensuring their success while they are at the university. The task force draws from faculty (from across the campus), admissions, student services, financial aid, alumni, etc., and even gives student veterans a seat at the table. We could do more though.

Response by PO2 Kayla Modschiedler made Feb 27 at 2017 10:20 PM

PO2 Kayla Modschiedler — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 22:20:56 -0500

The university I attend, Otterbein, makes the students get 5 "cards" to develop character and give back to society. These cards are obtained by doing community service and helping others in various ways. Veterans who attend don't have to get the 5 cards because they consider military service as the ultimate community service, which is cool because this school is a liberal arts college that is very liberal. The veterans who go there are kind of helpful but there is no SVA at our actual school it's very casual. Around here its a cultural of don't intrude on someone else's life, which is kind of bad because bad things are happening because of that. One of the big universities here is totally into it just for the money and they really could care less about the students Honestly it's up to you to personally develop yourself and others. One of the biggest things I try and do is stress to some of these college kids is how good they have it. I tell them stories about how bad it can be and of my experiences in the military especially after 9/11. A lot of them have had helicopter parents and freak out over the littlest things. I drive Uber and I actually had a girl nearly have a panic attack because she was going out, she was starting to freak me out. It's really alarming how unmotivated the students at other universities in the area are when it comes to getting involved in their communities and politics and other areas of concern regarding the country.