The University Registrar has taken leadership of the effort to serve veteran students at the university. Key administrators and Graduate Research Assistant and veteran student Herb Piercy attended the inaugural session of the Veteran’s Academy. Governor Haslam approved the establishment of the event as part of a plan for improving access and success in higher education for veterans.
Assistant Registrar Kathy Abbott and campus Certifying Official Jayetta Rogers were impressed with the content provided and the expertise represented at the one-day session and left with new ideas and tools to bring back to the campus resource team devoted to veteran services. “It was a great opportunity to evaluate our progress against national best practices and develop priorities moving forward” said Abbott.
Brian Gard, who serves on the Governor’s Task Force, saidd “While veterans are similar to other students in many ways, there are some unique issues that we need to address as an institution to ensure this student population is set up for success.” Mike Krause, Executive Director of the Drive for 55, emphasized that veteran students are an important group in the states effort to increase graduation rates in Tennessee.
From left: Brian Gard, Kathy Abbott, Herb Piercy, Jayetta Rogers