A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Johnson C. Smith University Wednesday for a new resource center for veterans.
The university had a similar center in the past but it was only one room. The new center encompasses an entire floor in JCSU’s Robert L. Albright building, where an array of services will be offered, and veterans will have designated study spaces. They will also be able to hold events and gatherings in the center’s multipurpose room, complete with a kitchen.
About 60 veterans are enrolled at the university. Dr. Cheryl Harris Curtis, JCSU’s director of veterans and military affairs, tells WFAE’s Gwendolyn Glenn that the center’s main purpose is to provide veterans with the resources they need to be successful.
Dr. Cheryl Harris Curtis: It's an opportunity — because if you know anything about veterans — one of the best practices to help with retention and supporting veterans and higher education is having a dedicated space. In that dedicated space, we also have myself as the director and we have a veteran services coordinator. And because this is U.S. Veterans Administration-related, we have four paid interns.
We’re really saying to veterans that you are welcome here at Johnson C. Smith University. We support you, and we want to provide that personal touch so we can individualize the support we give to them. But also understanding that veterans, they want to be together, and they need the support of one another — just looking across and seeing someone like myself who did that thing I did.
Gwendolyn Glenn: Do you connect them with outside services resources?
Curtis: Absolutely. My first charge when I started a job with the university was to connect students to the resources that they need to be successful on campus or off campus. So, yes, we work with community partners. And if you can help a veteran, we welcome you to come help the veterans. We owe them that, at the very least.
Glenn: Is this only available for veterans who are students at Johnson C. Smith?
Curtis: It's a veteran hub that's specifically for veterans. But we welcome students that we have, such as adult students, that they may say, ‘OK, I want to support veterans,’ or ‘That space is conducive to me’ as a non-traditional student, so I also would like to use the space.
Glenn: What about veterans who are not students at Johnson C. Smith? Can they use this center as well?
Curtis: Yes, because we are planning programming to support veterans in our community. JCSU is the anchor for the historic West End, and there are a lot of veterans who live in this community. We are partnering with the vet center to maybe provide some programming so [they] can understand how to use HUD vouchers. And for veterans who don’t want to get a four-year degree, we will help them with certificate programs that we offer.
Glenn: Will you provide counseling?
Curtis: We actually have an actual counselor from the Veterans Administration. She will be on-site appointment for group counseling, individual counseling and help with veterans’ benefits. We're excited about her being on-site.
Glenn: And, as the director, I'm sure you have probably interacted with many veterans. Describe what kinds of veterans you expect to use this center.
Curtis: There is no one type. Some saw combat and some never saw combat, and they are from very young to very old.
Glenn: In talking with them, what are some of the biggest issues that you are hearing that they have transitioning from the military to higher education at a college campus?
Curtis: I think the issue that they talk about most is the lack of understanding. One of the things that we are working to have — the programming that we're going to have in the hub — is something called Green Zone training. So, what we will do with the Green Zone training is, the veterans are going to work with us to make sure there's a training for faculty and staff. So that — one, we gotta help those veterans navigate higher ed, but also help higher ed better support those veterans. Because as you know, service is really succinct in terms of the steps they understand — and some veterans say 'higher ed is kind of loosey-goosey and I don't understand'. One veteran said it makes me uncomfortable when the highest-ranking person in the classroom is the professor [who] stands in front of the class and people don't put their cellphones down.
We do have some veterans who are still local military-connected. They are still serving. Like, we just got one of the students who was called up to the National Guard to help with what's going on in the western mountains (after Helene). We have to understand that that's not her choosing to not come to class. So how do we as an institution make sure that while she's taking care of the needs of our community, how do we make sure that she's not thinking about, ‘Am I failing that class? And what is the timeline that they're going to give me to make up the work?’
Glenn: So what do you do?
Curtis: I speak with professors personally, to make sure we come up with a program of study for the student.
Glenn: For someone who would say why is this important, and especially now, what would you say?
Curtis: Veterans are still needing those supports. They have so much to contribute. And it is not enough to say 'thanks for your service' because veterans are saying they don't want to hear that. [If] you're not doing anything, then don't tell me thanks for your service. Years ago, I had a veteran come to me and he said, what can you do beyond what sounds like a pamphlet? He said everybody sounds like a pamphlet. And I really took that to heart. And so, I want to make sure that everything that this veteran services department does, and our center does, goes beyond the pamphlet.
We are truly thanking you for your service, and we're gonna walk with you lock step to make sure you have everything that you need. So that when you start at Johnson C. Smith University, you finish at Johnson C. Smith University the way that you need to finish.
