Veterans Services Specialist

VETERANS SERVICES SPEACILIST

HAROLD WASHINGTON COLLEGE

CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO

City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), the largest community college system in Illinois, is made up of seven colleges and five satellite sites, providing more than 68,000 students each year access to a quality, affordable education.

Harold Washington College is proud to be a member of the Caring Campus network. Caring Campus is a model of professional development that works to implement strong and consistent behavioral commitments for all employees in regard to how they interact with students. As a result of this work, employees become engaged with students on a level that has not occurred before. The core benefit of this work is making a connection with students, many of whom have not had an adult who has cared about them in an educational system.

At each college, Veterans Services Centers serve as a centralized, on-site source of support and access to veterans-specific information and resources, providing a wide range of services to ease the transition of U.S. military veterans into the classroom and help them succeed.

Each Center is staffed by veterans/skilled professionals, equipped to understand the unique challenges returning veterans face when making the transition from active duty military to college life. Veterans Services Centers provide one-on-one services and a welcoming environment where veterans can meet and network with other veterans, relax, or study.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

Reporting to a Dean or assigned administrator, the Veterans Services Specialist applies specialized knowledge in veterans’ benefits, resources, and educational challenges to assist and support veterans, active duty, reserve and national guard service members, and their dependents in understanding their veteran/military education benefits; enrolling at a CCC college;  transitioning to student life and achieving student success.  Veterans Services Specialists also oversee the operation of a Veterans Services Center on campus and facilitates opportunities for integrated engagement into campus life. 

Veterans Services Specialists demonstrate a commitment to helping military affiliated students achieve their academic goals and overcome obstacles to success by providing advocacy and support, and working closely with prospective and current military affiliated students to provide guidance and to connect them with the appropriate academic, financial, social, student support and social services resources.  Performs related duties as required. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Meets one-on-one with new and returning military-affiliated students to provide information and explain the wide range of available campus-based and community services, as well as veteran/military education benefits, to support their enrollment and completion of academic goals.
• Guides prospective and continuing students in applying for and understanding federal and state veteran/military education benefits; explains VA benefit programs such as the Post/911 GI Bill; and  reviews military documents (i.e. certificate of eligibility; DD214) to help assess benefits eligibility.
• Supports and assists military-affiliated students through the admissions process; uses an enrollment checklist to ensure completion of steps, to include: applying for admissions and veteran/military education benefits; review of programs and tuition costs; financial aid; academic advising; early learning credit and placement; student orientation; and referrals to additional VA resources.
• Coordinates work activities with advising, registrar, financial aid, and other offices/departments to connect military-affiliated students with appropriate staff and receive services that lead to and support their successful enrollment and registration in credit or certificate programs.
• Works in close collaboration with the School Certifying Official engaged in maintaining data and certifying VA/military benefits through appropriate systems, and reporting on enrollment status, academic plans, grades, and academic progress for military affiliated students. 
• Implements intervention strategies in coordination with advising and academic support staff to assist military-affiliated students at risk of losing benefits due to unsatisfactory academic performance.
• Practices a holistic approach to help meet the unique needs of military affiliated students and increase student retention and success. Discusses academic and social/personal issues and provides referrals to campus services (i.e. tutoring, wellness) as well as external social services (i.e. housing).
• Monitors activities of on-campus Veterans Services Center; ensures Center provides a welcoming space for military-affiliated students to interact; makes available print and electronic information of interest to students; supervises federal and CCC work-study students working at the Center.
• Advocates for military-affiliated students with appropriate college administrators and external parties.  Mediates and resolves issues between students and instructors.
• Partners with external organizations (federal, state and county agencies, hospitals) to ensure referrals provided to military-affiliated students effectively address external factors impacting their ability to succeed.
• Builds relationships and works with businesses and organizations to provide veterans with connections and opportunities for employment.
• Serves as advisor to campus veteran clubs and associations.
• Develops and implements various educational and social events during the year. 
• Organizes and facilitates various workshops for military-affiliated students.  Coordinates with Director of Transfer Services on workshops for transitioning to four- year institutions.   
• Works with college administrators and district staff in the review of new and revised VA regulations and laws; creates new or revised business processes to address changes in regulations, new programs and other requirements. 
• Monitors budget expenditures; prepares purchase orders for office supplies and expenses relating to the operations of the Veterans Center.
• Administers federal work-study program; supervises and trains students awarded VA hiring contract; verifies and approves timesheets for submission to VA.
• Works collaboratively with district and campus administrators on programming to include outreach and recruitment plans, events planning; graduation; new services; and special projects.
• Attends and participates in district level meetings with District Director and campus level meetings to include leadership meetings.
• Attends and participates in various professional development activities.
• Compiles data and prepares reports for inclusion in required federal and state outcome assessment and annual reports.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Two years of related experience working with veterans or other recruitment outreach program in a professional capacity and a background in guidance, social work, student personnel administration or related field preferred.
• Veterans with honorable discharge will be given preference.
• An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work within a culturally diverse environment.
• Ability to effectively present information and represent City College of Chicago.
• Proven ability to work effectively as a team member
• Must be self-directed
• Ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Salary Range:  $69,545.00 per Local 1600 contract

Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as other factors such as internal equity.

Benefits information is found at Health and Benefits - City Colleges of Chicago

WE OFFER: Excellent health and welfare benefit package and long-term savings and investment programs including 403(b) & 457(b) Investment Plans and a pension plan with the State University Retirement System (SURS) Plan. Generous vacation, holiday, personal and sick days, and tuition reimbursement. For a more detailed overview of benefits, please visit the benefits page of our website.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

The City Colleges of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It complies with all laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in employment practice because of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, marital status, sex, age, national origin, unfavorable discharge from military service or on the basis of a physical or mental disability that is unrelated to the employee's ability to perform the duties of the job applied for.

This job description is developed to provide a general description of the duties and responsibilities of this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive set of the duties and responsibilities, nor all of the necessary qualifications to perform the work.

Previously JF 415 Grade 8 Job Code P445. Reclassified to Local 1600 Grade 8 November 30, 2021

The intent of this job description is to provide a general description of the duties and responsibilities of this position.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive set of the duties and responsibilities, nor all of the necessary qualifications to perform the work.