Designing Library Programs for Student Veterans

1. +
Lessons from the Field:
Designing Library Programs for Student Veterans
Presented by: Caroline Fuchs and Lisa Brigandi
St. John’s University

2. There’s No Such Thing
as a “Typical” Student Veteran…
+
But there are some common themes. Many student
veterans:

are attending college for the first time or have been away from
an academic environment for months or years.

are older, have families, jobs, and/or are not a traditional
college student.

need assistance navigating the transition from the military to
college. For some this is psychological/emotional, but for many
others it is administrative. The VA, enrollment, and orientation
can be confusing and time-consuming.

tend to have more remedial academic needs.

are more curious and academically focused than traditional
students.

3. +
Support Available for All Students
SJU Student Veterans are welcome to take advantage
of these services

Student Support Services for all qualifying students

Qualifying students are low-income, first-generation college
students, and/or have a physical or learning disability

Free library research and technology workshops

Free health and counseling services

All clubs and campus activities are open to all students

4. +
Student Veterans on Campus
Isolation and Community

Student veterans tend to feel “different” from other non-veteran
students on campus

This feeling of difference can lead to the student veteran isolating
him or herself from campus activities. Because they feel like they
have nothing in common or that non-veteran students lack an
understanding of a key part of student veterans’ lives, there is
often a distance between veteran and non-veteran students on
campus.

Student veterans tend to get involved when the group includes
other student veterans.

Feeling included and supported fosters the sense of community on
campus and can connect student veterans with important
resources as well as friendships.

5. +
So how can we specifically reach
student vets?

6. +
Support for Student Vets
What is already in place to assist student veterans at
St. John’s University?

Veterans-only orientation to campus for freshmen & transfer
students

Student Veterans’ Association which hosts weekly meetings



Faculty advisor is also involved
Designated librarian liaison
Student Veteran Websites



http://stjohns.campusguides.com/stjvets
http://www.stjohns.edu/services/financial/veterans
Growing visibility on campus

7. +
How do we know if this is working?
What else do student veterans need?
How are we measuring success?

8. +
SJU Student Veterans Survey
Distributed to Incoming Studentsat August 2013
Veterans’ Orientation
 We
asked basic demographic information:
 Class
(freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or
graduate)
 Major
 Name and email
 Branch of service
 Transfer student

9. +
Comfort in Using the Library
General Questions
Using the library (check all that apply)






I am comfortable using library resources
I am able to find appropriate information on
the libraries' homepage
I am confident doing research
I am comfortable asking for help in the library
None of the above

10. +
Familiarity with Technology
Classroom Basics

Using tools and technology for coursework (check all that
apply)

I am comfortable using Microsoft Word

I am comfortable using Microsoft PowerPoint

I am comfortable using wikis

I am comfortable using blogs

I am comfortable using BlackBoard

I am comfortable exploring new technologies on my own

None of the above

11. +

I know:

how to renew a book in the SJU library

how to contact a librarian for research assistance

how to find reserve material in the library

how to look for books in the library

how to find the libraries’ hours

where to go for help in the library

none of the above

12. +
Workshop Interest
What do veterans want to learn about?

I would be interested in attending free library workshops on:

How to find books in the library

How to find scholarly articles

How to use library resources

How to avoid plagiarism

How to use proper citations (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.)

How to use citation software (RefWorks, Zotero)

Tips on better Google searching

How to use e-books from the library

13. +
On-Campus Services
What is offered but students aren’t aware of?

I would like additional information regarding the following
University services:

Resume writing workshops

LinkedIn workshop

Career counseling

Mental health counseling

VA benefits and financial aid
Information on leadership development sessions
Fitness center information and classes



14. +
Open Response
Comments, Questions, and Feedback

And open ended questions:

In the space provided, please add any additional comments or thoughts
about SJU research and support services.

Please list anything else you feel you need to know about the library.

Please list any other library-related workshop you may be interested in
attending.

15. +
Demographics

Total responses: 41

Freshman: 9

Sophomores: 6
25
20

Juniors: 6
15

Seniors: 0

Graduate Students: 2
5

Transfer Students: 23
0
10
freshman sophomore
junior
senior
graduate
Some students identified themselves only as transfer students,
with no indication to year.
transfer

16. +
Responses:

Majors varied from Administrative Studies to Theology but there
was a heavy concentration of students in the health and
criminal justice fields.

There were 16 student veterans in the Army compared to


1 in the Coast Guard

10 Marines

10 in the Navy


4 in the Air Force
and 2 Reserve members
All students reported being comfortable in at least one area of
using the library (using library resources, finding information on
the library homepage, confidence in doing research, or comfort
in asking for help at the library).

17. +
Technology:

Only one student did not feel comfortable with any of the
technologies listed on Slide 9.
1
31
I am comfortable using Microsoft
Word
40
I am comfortable using Microsoft
PowerPoint
I am comfortable using wikis
I am comfortable using blogs
28
I am comfortable using BlackBoard
35
I am comfortable exploring new
technologies on my own
None of the above
18
22

18. +
Circulation & Research Know-How

Yet, in answering the “I Know How To” questions, the numbers
were surprisingly low
I know how to renew a book in the SJU
library
10
8
I know how to contact a librarian for
research assistance
14
I know how to find reserve material in the
library
20
I know how to look for books in the library
9
I know how to find the libraries' hours
21
I know where to go for help in the library
22
None of the above

19. +
Library Workshops

Many were interested in library workshops on:
How to use e-books from the library
Tips on better Google searching
How to use citation software (RefWorks, Zotero)
How to use proper citations (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.)
How to avoid plagiarism
How to use library resources
How to find scholarly articles
How to find books in the library
None
0
5
10
15
20
25

20. +
University-wide Services

and information on other University services.
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Resume
writing
workshop
LinkedIn
workshop
Career
counseling
Mental health VA benefits Information on Fitness Center
counseling and financial
leadership
information
aid
development and classes
sessions
None

21. +
What’s Next?

We have only surveyed the incoming class of 2013 so
far, surveys are out to the rest of the student veterans on
campus

Once we have surveyed all the student vets on campus, we
can design and implement workshops and tutorials to meet
their needs

This information and more is available on our LibGuide at:
http://stjohns.campusguides.com/libraryservicesforvets

22. +
How to Reach Us

Caroline Fuchs, Associate Professor/Outreach Librarian


http://carolinefuchs.wordpress.com/


fuchsc@stjohns.edu
On Twitter: @cgfuchs
Lisa Brigandi, MLIS Candidate

lisa.brigandi13@stjohns.edu