Job Description
SUMMARY STATEMENT
The Veterans and Military Advisor is the primary position responsible for recruiting, onboarding, orienting, and retaining Veteran students and military dependents for credit and non-credit programs. The Veterans and Military Advisor is also in charge of managing the VA and military benefits paperwork to ensure benefits information is reported to the appropriate government agencies. It involves day and evening hours and occasional weekend hours as needed.
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
- The Veterans and Military Advisor reports directly to and is responsible to the Director of Student Cohorts, Compliance, and Intervention.
- The Veterans and Military Advisor works most closely with Admissions and Enrollment Management; Advising; Records; Financial Aid; Finance; Disability Support Services; the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); prospective, new and current student veterans; faculty; and the general public.
- This position provides supervision to the Veterans student worker(s).
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Serve as designated School Certifying Official (SCO) for Hagerstown Community College.
- Assist veterans and military dependent students by providing information regarding VA benefits, guiding the process, and taking the lead in filling forms with the VA.
- Liaise with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure accurate data is being provided and to resolve issues. Liaise with Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) in regard to veterans and military dependent benefits.
- Collaborate with the HCC Finance office, Financial Aid office, and other personnel to ensure student account are up to date; manage the de-registration list for Veteran student and military dependents.
- Lead the process of expanding VA benefits eligibility to students enrolled in non-credit programs as reasonable.
- Participate in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) trainings and stay updated on VA regulations as is needed.
- Ensure the back-up School Certifying Official (Career Programs and Cohort Support Advisor) is prepared to assist as needed; coordinate regular reviews and trainings as needed.
Onboard and orient veterans and military dependents regarding their benefits and course enrollment.
- Provide information regarding government benefits unique to each student.
- Oversee data entry in related computer systems and provide reports as needed.
- Provide full course plans and cost information in compliance with the Principles of Excellence agreement.
- Monitor registrations and counsel students appropriately for their type of benefits. Provide proactive outreach to new students who are not actively enrolled.
- Answer current and prospective student questions; monitor the Veterans email inbox.
- Coordinate and facilitate Veterans new student orientations at the beginning of each semester.
- Provide basic academic advising services to veteran and dependent students; refer students to faculty mentors and other support offices on campus as needed.
Provide support and information to current student veterans and military dependents.
- Collaborate with the Veterans Club student leaders to disburse information and plan events; serve as student organization advisor.
- Present training, workshops and provide individual guidance to faculty and staff regarding unique challenges to Veteran students and best practices for support.
- Serve as the point person for Veterans to inquire about campus resources and for help navigating the VA processes.
- Oversee use and maintenance of the Veterans Connection Center (VCC).
- Improve completion rates by meeting with students regarding academic progress and identifying barriers to success.
- Serve on the CARE team to support veterans with non-academic related challenges.
- Represent HCC at regional/statewide affinity groups as related to veteran student; identify best practices for implementation at HCC.
- Recruit, hire, train, and supervise Veterans student worker(s) to assist with office and Veterans Connection Center (VCC) management and to serve as peer mentors.
- Lead Veteran recognition and programmatic events, including but not limited to Veterans Day and Week.
Recruit Veteran students to become students at HCC.
- Generate contacts within the campus and community.
- Work with Admissions to coordinate on campus recruitment programs for Veterans and military dependents.
- Attend on and off campus recruitment activities to meet with prospective Veterans and military dependent students.
- Work with Admissions and Enrollment Management to track prospects through Ellucian Recruit and Colleague.
Requirements
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree in social work, counseling, higher education, or related field preferred. Experience with computer systems, word processing, and business/customer service practices required. Knowledge of VA regulations strongly preferred. Veteran in good standing preferred.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal skills; proficiency in computer applications such as Word and Excel required; ability to work independently and accurately under pressure; and to make decisions in accordance with the established policies and procedures. Valid driver’s license required. Must be able to lift 25 lbs.
TRAINING Upon beginning employment, receive training as the designated School Certifying Official (SCO) through VA.gov. Participate in ongoing trainings as needed and share updated regulations with the back-up SCO in the Career Programs Achievers office.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS For more information on this position and to formally apply, please visit HCC's employment page at
Questions may be directed to the Human Resources Office at 240-500-2585 or email hr@hagerstowncc.edu.
Job Tags
Full time, Afternoon shift,