Meet the Directors
CliftonStrengths: Context Consistency Belief Empathy Responsibility
CliftonStrengths: Strategic Individualization Adaptability Maximizer Futuristic
Jayetta Rogers
Jayetta Rogers provides leadership, high-priority and collaborative initiatives, programs, partnerships, and special projects for student veterans, while eliminating barriers to graduation and retention to advance the mission of student veteran success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The Veterans Success Center currently provides services to all military affiliated students and their families. One of the main roles of the center is to provide students with the tools and resources they need to be successful and ease the transition from military to civilian life.
Rogers holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.S. in educational psychology, counseling, and research with a concentration in adult education. Both are from UT.
“As a Tennessee native, I have enjoyed working with students at the University of Tennessee for over 20 years. Working with our military students and their families is very rewarding, and our office staff is committed to embodying the true volunteer spirit in serving those who have served.”
Thomas R. Cruise Director of Student Veteran Strategic Initiatives Program Director
Thomas (Tom) Cruise serves as the Program Director of the Veterans Success Center. He oversees various programs and services through the center such as Green Zone Training, VA Work-Study Program, and the Veteran Impact Program.
Cruise is an Air Force veteran, serving 6 years as a crew chief on the F-16. He holds an A.A. in Business from Ashford University, B.S. in Communication, and M.S. in Educational Psychology, both from UT.
“As a former student veteran, I understand the experiences of our veteran population. It is an honor and privilege to serve this community and aid in their success at UT. We were volunteers then, volunteers now, and volunteers forever.”
SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED
VETERANS SUCCESS AT UT
Table of Contents
What is Veterans Success?
Overview
Mission
Veterans Success Center
Community & Camaraderie
What We Offer
Veteran Impact Program
VA Educational Benefits
Other Exclusive Offerings
Engagement
Campus Engagement
Community Engagement
Sponsorship
Endowments
Scholarships
Donors to the VSC
UT’s Commitment to Student Veterans
PERMA and “The Volunteer Experience”
Student Veteran Testimonies
G020 Hodges Library 1015 Volunteer Blvd. Knoxville, TN 37996
WHAT IS VETERANS SUCCESS?
CORE VALUES
leadership integrity
selfless
KEY FUNCTIONS
military
OVERVIEW
The Veterans Success Center (VSC) at UT is committed to serving and supporting student veterans, dependents, National Guard, and military service members to ensure their academic success. Our office currently serves over 1,500 students using VA education benefits. Our staff certifies VA education benefits, develops programs, engages students with resources, promotes camaraderie, and promotes personal growth and lifelong success to our students.
VISION
As a focal point for veterans and militaryaffiliated students, the Veterans Success Center will emphasize innovative support to engage and enhance the academic and social engagement of the student veteran population.
MISSION
The Veterans Success Center will efficiently maximize support for the veteran and military-affiliated population by designing unique, purposeful, and intentional services that ensure academic and holistic transition into higher ed.
VETERANS SUCCESS CENTER
Our staff strives to provide excellent scholar support, and we have created a compassionate environment to allow us to grow UT into the leading benchmark school for veteran programs.
The Veterans Success Center currently has 4 fulltime staff members and hosts several amenities to students such as:
• 2,489 square feet complete with casual space and study area
• TV, microwave, refrigerator, free coffee, free snacks
• Free school supplies and free personal toiletries
• Meeting space for students
• Student computer usage and limited printing
• VSC monthly newsletter
• Dedicated website: veterans.utk.edu
• Peer Learning Assistant (PLA) from the UT Writing Center & Academic Success Center
• Partnership with Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration (CCDAE)
• The Veteran Impact Program
• Streamlined certification process
COMMUNITY &
& CAMARADERIE
WHAT WE OFFER
VETERAN IMPACT PROGRAM
The Veteran Impact Program is a one-semester cohort program for incoming student veterans that will support their transition to UT and maximize their first-year experience on Rocky Top.
BENEFITS
• Backpack, VIP polo, & other swag exclusive to VIP members
• Access to career prep and campus partnerships
• Strengths-based academic coaching
• Engagement with a financial wellness coach
• Exclusive access to veterans’ scholarships
• Financial incentive upon completion of semester & first year at UT
• Opportunity to become a VIP peer mentor after program completion
3.39 GPA
$71,000
114 STUDENTS 96% average from 3 VIP cohorts in program as of Spring ‘24 in financial impact as of Spring ‘24 retention rate
The program has been useful at providing easier access to resources. “ ” - VIP student
VA EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
The Veterans Success Center provides certification of VA education benefits and administers reimbursement payments for those students using the TN Strong Act.
BENEFITS PROCESS
• Electronic certification of VA education benefits
• Fee deferment for tuition and priority registration for students using education benefits and TN Strong Act
• Access to Veterans Academic Coach
• Financial workshops
FALL 2023
651
VETERANS impacted by VA educational benefits
881 Dependents/Spouses +
(1,532 total individuals)
SPRING 2024
627
VETERANS impacted by VA educational benefits
860 Dependents/Spouses +
(1,487 total individuals)
“ “
I am grateful to our student veterans for their service to our country and their contributions to our Volunteer community. Their unique experiences and valuable perspectives enrich our campus both in the classroom and out. I am so proud to call them all Volunteers.
- Donde Plowman, Chancellor
OTHER EXCLUSIVE OFFERINGS
• Yellow Ribbon Funding
• Peer mentorship opportunities
• Veterans Success Workshop series “Boot Print to Footprint”
• Graduation Cord and Medallion
• Purple Heart Parking (this is provided to students, faculty, & staff if awarded a Purple Heart)
• Out-of-state tuition waiver for military service members and their qualified dependents
• Out-of-state tuition waiver for all military service members and ROTC cadets regardless of residency
• Out-of-state tuition waiver for dependents who are using benefits and living in TN at the time of enrollment in classes at UT
ENGAGEMENT
“The more events I go to with veterans the more I feel connected.” - VIP member FA ‘22
CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT
• UT Athletic Events
• HABIT Therapy Dog Program
• Veteran Appreciation Events
• Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The Veterans Success Center and Volunteer Puppy Partners, an official UT student organization, work in partnership with SMSD (Smoky Mountain Service Dogs) to help raise service dogs for wounded veterans with disabilities and promote awareness. Scan the QR code to learn more about being a puppy raiser.
• Academic Success Center
• Undergraduate Honors
• Veterans Upward Bound
SPONSORSHIP
ENDOWMENTS
• Pilot Company Endowment
• Chancellors Endowment
• Bacon Family Endowment
SCHOLARSHIPS
• Shope Family Scholarship
• Earl W. Fortner East Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard Scholarship
• Bacon Family
• The Boyd Foundation
• James H Taylor Memorial Scholarship
• James H Taylor Endowment
• Alan & Wendy Wilson
• Giltner Family Endowment
• Volunteer Veteran VSC Award
• Veterans Emergency Fund
• The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Fund
• John and Debbie Grubb
• Jamie Flasphaler Memorial Scholarship
Scan to learn more about scholarships, grants, and other funding
DONORS TO THE VSC
The Veterans Success Center would like to acknowledge special thanks to the following donors for their generous support:
• Dr. Mark D. Aierstok
• Christopher and Sara Christi
• Enterprise Holdings Foundation
• Dr. Reid R. Gerhardt
• Wayne and Jane Mackey
• MacGregor and Lisa McClellan
• Daniel and Rebecca Selgelid
• Joan Sullivan
UT’S COMMITMENT TO STUDENT VETERANS
PERMA AND THE VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Central to UT’s Strategic Vision, the Volunteer Experience is a comprehensive, university-wide approach to promoting student well-being and career readiness in all aspects of a scholar’s experience. It is both a culture and culminating experience designed to help students thrive. This initiative includes three interrelated strategic investments:
• Targeted academic initiatives
• Deep student engagement
• Transformational student experiences
The VSC, along with the Division of Student Success, will focus all programmatic efforts around the PERMA model framework.
“
The availability of tutoring services coupled with the knowledge of other veterans is extremely helpful.
I joined the VIP program in order to establish a new sense of belonging and community within UTK. As a transplant from Washington, moving here was a bit daunting. Through the VSC, I found a safe space and community in which I am able to ask questions and complete schoolwork.
[The VSC] has helped me transition from active duty to being a college student better than I would’ve been able to do alone.
