Sinclair Community College has been taking care of veterans for over 90 years, according to Mary Strong, coordinator of veteran affairs.
The main purpose of the veteran’s assistance office is to help veterans activate their educational benefits for their military service.
The exact process depends on each individual’s situation, but in general veterans must file thorough documentation of their academic pursuits, according to Strong.
Almost all veterans must file paperwork which includes a report of what classes they are taking, how many credit hours they are planning to enroll in each quarter,and if their classes are held in the traditional classroom setting on campus or through distance learning, in order to receive their benefits.
The veteran assistance office helps veterans through this process, as well as helping them with getting started at Sinclair.
“When someone comes in [to the veterans assistance office] we give them a very detailed briefing on the process they will have to go through in order to activate their benefits. We also give them a detailed overview of how the school system works here at Sinclair, so that they feel very informed about how things work,” Strong said.
The veteran’s assistance office can also help veterans beyond their coursework.
“Say someone has just been recently relocated here, if they come into us [the veterans office] and say ‘I feel like I need some counseling’ then we can help them make those referrals,” Strong said.
The veteran’s assistance office does not require an appointment for students who need assistance and is committed to providing an environment that puts people at ease, according to Strong.
“If someone walks in that maybe hasn’t been in a school system for a while and they see long lines and a hard-nosed staff, they may feel intimidated. So we are committed to making this a comfortable place for people to be. We are a very warm and inviting group and we try to make sure that everyone feels at ease when they’re here,” Strong said.
Students who use the veteran’s assistance office are also committed to making sure that military personnel feel that they have someone to relate to.
According to Strong, some students who have served in the military volunteer their time in the office to ensure that new individuals coming in have someone they can connect with.
“It is such a pleasure working with this group of students because they’re so selfless,” Strong said.
According to Strong, ultimately students who are veterans wish to be treated as any other student.
“Most students wish to just be treated the same way as their peers but they may still have military commitments. Sometimes [military commitments] cause them to miss some class time. In this case their teachers can help by simply being aware of what the student is dealing with and being flexible with them,” Strong said.
The veteran’s assistance office is located in Building 10 Room 324. For more information contact (937)512-2586.