Wheres Willie Gillis Jr on my campus Data

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Where’s Willie Gillis Jr. on my campus? Data Collection and Collaboration to Locate and

Where’s Willie Gillis Jr. on my campus? Data Collection and Collaboration to Locate and Serve Student Veterans On. Campus Dr. Chris Andrew Cate Vice President of Research Student Veterans of America Consortium of Michigan Veteran Educators 4 th Annual Conference September 27, 2016

Willie Gillis, Jr.

Willie Gillis, Jr.

Easier in 1940’s and 50’s • WWII Student Veterans were the original nontraditional students

Easier in 1940’s and 50’s • WWII Student Veterans were the original nontraditional students • Older • Married (sometimes w/children) • About half of the student population • Developed their own on-campus communities • Used the GI Bill—The only GI Bill

“Go to” Sources of Data

“Go to” Sources of Data

Nostalgia's Time Warp For every $1 spent on the 1944 GI Bill, $7 were

Nostalgia's Time Warp For every $1 spent on the 1944 GI Bill, $7 were returned to the economy 1944 GI Bill Passed 44 Years Later 1988 GI Bill Outcomes

Higher Education Act of 1964 • Passed by Congress and Signed by Lyndon B

Higher Education Act of 1964 • Passed by Congress and Signed by Lyndon B Johnson in 1965 • Title IV: Student Assistance Act • Student Loans • Direct Loan Program • Perkins Loan Program • PLUS Loan Program • Grants • Pell Grant • Work-study • Strengthened the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

Dual System in Higher Education • HEA became a competitor of the GI Bill

Dual System in Higher Education • HEA became a competitor of the GI Bill • Not just for funding • But identifying student veterans • Led to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

NCES / Ed Dept Focus on Traditional Students • The commonly held definition of

NCES / Ed Dept Focus on Traditional Students • The commonly held definition of a traditional undergraduate student is: • One who enrolls in college within five years after graduation from high school • Pursues college studies on a continuous full-time basis at least during the fall and spring semesters • Completes a bachelor’s degree program within six years of first enrollment • Financially dependent on others (i. e. parents) • Do not have children • Consider their college career to be their primary responsibility • Employed only on a part-time basis if at all during the academic year.

Section 4212 • Provides affirmative action provisions for veterans and military service members •

Section 4212 • Provides affirmative action provisions for veterans and military service members • Prohibits job discrimination against: • • Vietnam era veterans Special disabled veterans Recently separated veterans Veterans who served on active duty during a war on in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized • Place veterans in the Federal protected class

From 1974 to 2008: 34 Years Later… • GI Bill revised several times. •

From 1974 to 2008: 34 Years Later… • GI Bill revised several times. • Shift back to a more Reservist military • Increases in funding for Title IV funds • College degree becoming more vital to compete in the workforce

Able to Identify GI Bill Users, But Not Able to Track Them Able to

Able to Identify GI Bill Users, But Not Able to Track Them Able to Identify ALL Student Veterans, But Cannot Track Them Not Able to Identify Student Veterans, and Difficult to Track Them

Operationalize Fuzzy Concepts* • Who are your veterans? • • Fully separated? Deployed or

Operationalize Fuzzy Concepts* • Who are your veterans? • • Fully separated? Deployed or served in combat? Reservist or National Guard? Active Duty? ROTC? • Question reflects who you’re trying to identify • “Are you a veteran? ” • “Are you currently, or have you ever served in the US Military? ” • Why are you asking? Tell them. *Hutchinson, T. E. , & Benedict, L. G. (1970). The Operationalization of Fuzzy Concepts. University of Massachusetts (Xerox), 19.

Data and Information Silos

Data and Information Silos

Big (and Powerful) Data (and Analytics) • Data of a very large size, typically

Big (and Powerful) Data (and Analytics) • Data of a very large size, typically to the extent that its manipulation and management present significant logistical challenges. • The new tools helping us find relevant data and analyze its implications. • The belief that the more data you have the more insights and answers will rise automatically from the pool of ones and zeros. • A new attitude by businesses, non-profits, government agencies, and individuals that combining data from multiple sources could lead to better decisions. 12 Big Data Definitions: What’s Yours? by Gil Press, Forbes Magazine http: //www. forbes. com/sites/gilpress/2014/09/03/12 -big-datadefinitions-whats-yours/#3878 ff 2221 a 9

Data is Precious and Valuable • No one database to rule them all •

Data is Precious and Valuable • No one database to rule them all • Everyone has a part of the data • • Admissions (Application info) Veteran Certifying Official (GI Bill use) Billing (Scholarships and Programs) Registrar (Enrollment status) Non-Traditional Student Office/Club Student Veteran Chapter School / College Offices Institutional Research

No Magic Wand for Sharing Data and Info

No Magic Wand for Sharing Data and Info

Start Small, Build Smartly

Start Small, Build Smartly

Million Records Project Initial Data Release March 24, 2014

Million Records Project Initial Data Release March 24, 2014

Overcoming the Initial Fear of the Findings What if it is good news? What

Overcoming the Initial Fear of the Findings What if it is good news? What if it is bad news? • You can share others about how well we’re doing. • You know what is going well and can expand upon it. • You can improve on what you have. • You can see what the cost/benefit is. • You now know where the bottom is. • You know what areas to target for improvement. • You can bring in resources to help. • You can be proactive, instead of reactive.

Not Knowing is No Longer an Option

Not Knowing is No Longer an Option

A Closing Summary • Where we are today began in 1944 with Willie Gillis,

A Closing Summary • Where we are today began in 1944 with Willie Gillis, Jr. • The path WWII student veterans blazed helped open the door to higher education for the next generation. • An increase in the traditional student population combined with new Federal funding for college and new laws protecting veterans made it difficult to identify and track student veterans. • 34 Years of little change in the trajectories • Veteran in higher education data

A Closing Summary • Now, there’s a renewed interest in student veterans, their experiences,

A Closing Summary • Now, there’s a renewed interest in student veterans, their experiences, and their academic outcomes. • Veteran in higher education data exists in different programs, departments, and silos. • Big Data philosophy, methods, and techniques can help connect the data and make the separate data bases useful and powerful. • It means collaborating and coming together for a common purpose, and a common language. • Because not knowing, maybe worse than being afraid of bad results.

Student Veterans of America Yesterday’s Warriors | Today’s Scholars | Tomorrow’s Leaders

Student Veterans of America Yesterday’s Warriors | Today’s Scholars | Tomorrow’s Leaders