Basic HTML Version
ECPI University Joins Pledge to Support Veteran Education
A
s the number of service members
transitioning to civilian life continues
to grow, so does the concern that they
effectively utilize the Post 9/11 GI Bill’s
education benefits. In an effort to build
consensus and set standards among
educational institutions, the U.S. De-
partments of Education, Defense, and
Veterans Affairs has asked colleges and
universities to commit to a new set of
standards.
8 Keys to Veterans’ Success
The Department of Education has
launched a program it calls
8 Keys to Vet-
erans’ Success
, a resource of best prac-
tices and strategies institutions can use
to foster a productive education environ-
ment for student veterans. By signing on
to the program, ECPI University publicly
announces its commitment to the prog-
ress of student veterans, pledging that it
will continue to:
1. Create a culture of trust and connect-
edness across the campus communi-
ty to promote well-being and success
for veterans.
2. Ensure consistent and sustained sup-
port from campus leadership.
3. Implement an early alert system to
ensure all veterans receive academic,
career, and financial advice before
challenges become overwhelming.
4. Coordinate and centralize campus
efforts for all veterans, together with
the creation of a designated space for
them (even if limited in size).
5. Collaborate with local communities
and organizations, including govern-
ment agencies, to align and coordi-
nate various services for veterans.
6. Utilize a uniform set of data tools to
collect and track information on veter-
ans, including demographics, reten-
tion, and degree completion.
7. Provide comprehensive professional
development for faculty and staff
on issues and challenges unique to
veterans.
8. Develop systems that ensure sus-
tainability of effective practices for
veterans.
The Principles of Excellence
ECPI University has also become a
signatory to collaborative program that
recognizes it as a
Principles of Excel-
lence
school. As such, it will continue to
follow a set of principles that, while only
recently developed by the government,
ECPI has always followed:
1. Provide students with a personalized
form covering the total cost of an
education program
2. Provide educational plans for all
military and Veteran education benefi-
ciaries
3. Accommodate Service members
and Reservists absent due to service
requirements
4. Designate a point of contact to pro-
vide academic and financial advice
5. Ensure accreditation of all new pro-
grams prior to enrolling students
6. Align institutional refund policies with
those under Title IV, which governs
the administration of federal student
financial aid programs
“Having been ranked #1 for Vets by Mili-
tary Times earlier this year, ECPI Univer-
sity’s commitment to veterans and service
members is already well-known,” says
ECPI Executive Director of Military Educa-
tion Bob Larned. “Signing on with these
programs represents ECPI’s continued
leadership in setting the bar high toward
serving those who have served us.”
T
eaching videos have been an ongo-
ing University library project since
last year. Now, a series of three-minute
videos have been created to answer
frequently-asked questions about library
services and the library website, cover-
ing such topics as a Library overview,
Interlibrary Loans, Online Campus Interli-
brary Loan, and Catalog Basic Search.
A team of ECPI University librarians
chaired by Innsbrook Campus Librarian
Kristina Ryan created the scripts and
accompanying self-test quizzes. The
“voice” of the library videos is librarian
Tony Neuron (Roanoke campus) who
also perfects the videos’ technical sound
and visual quality. His mellow voice and
articulation come from over forty years
in the performing arts. Tony has acted,
directed, and provided technical ser-
vices to many diverse groups such as
the Temple Emanuel Choir in Roanoke;
a children’s theater group, Illusions, in
California; and the Hollins University
Theater Department.
He has dedicated his library career to
providing services that students need to
make their academic careers more suc-
cessful such as providing proofreading
for research papers. Tony has also been
CompTIA certified since 1998, recertify-
ing in 2010, and enjoys assisting stu-
dents with computer problems that make
it difficult for them to do school work
at home. Asked for a favorite quote, he
cites Anne Herbert: “
Practice random
kindness and senseless acts of beauty.
”
You’ll be hearing more from him in the
coming year with more videos on the
way. For more information or to com-
ment on the videos, use the
Ask a Librar-
ian
web form at
http://ecpi.ent.srisi.net
.
LIBRARY CORNER
The Voice behind Library Video Tutorials
By ECPI University Library Director Rebecca Tabakin
Tony Neuron lends his voice to a video