2025 SOCHE-OVEC Veterans Workshop

Name: 2025 SOCHE-OVEC Veterans Workshop
Start: 2025-10-10T09:00-4:00
End: 2025-10-10T15:30-4:00

2025fri10oct9:00 am3:30 pm2025 SOCHE-OVEC Veterans WorkshopIN-PERSON EVENT | Registration Coming Soon

Event Details

You are invited to the 2025 SOCHE-OVEC Veterans Workshop, which will be held on Friday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET at Ohio University Dublin Integrated Education Center (6805 Bobcat Way) in Dublin. The theme for our event is “Policy & Persistence: Student Engagement, Belonging & Success.”

We will begin our day by hearing about policy updates from the Ohio Department of Veteran Affairs and legislative efforts at the federal level from Student Veterans of America.

During the morning, you will be able to choose from three concurrent sessions that provide training for new VSC professionals, share information about peer advising panels, and review the current state of internships and work-based learning.

Lunchtime will feature a “Choose Your Own Adventure” approach, with roundtable discussions available covering programming for faculty and staff or for student veterans, as well as SVA chapter programming. You also could elect to spend your lunchtime networking with colleagues.

After lunch, we’ll have more concurrents, with the internships and work-based learning session repeating. You also could choose from sessions on Veteran Readiness & Employment programs or student peers leading the belonging effort.

Plan now to join us for this fantastic time of learning, conversation, and collaboration. We hope to see you there!

Register by Wednesday, Sept. 17, for the best rates! REGISTRATION CLOSES ON WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24.

Registration Coming Soon

When: Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 | 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET

Where: Ohio University Dublin Integrated Education Center (6805 Bobcat Way, Dublin, OH 43016)

Cost:

Staff/Personnel of Institutions & Organizations: $45 if registered by Sept. 17 (price increases to $55 on Sept. 18)

Students: $25 if registered by Sept. 17 (price increases to $35 on Sept. 18)

Student Registration Fee Policy

Registration Cancellation Policy

Questions? Contact Mindy Claggett at SOCHE

Registration for this event will close on Wednesday, Sept. 24, or when the event is full, whichever occurs first.

Pre-registration is required. There will be NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION for this event.

Registration Coming Soon

Event Program

Time	Session	Location
8:15 a.m.	Event check-in and networking time	IEC Lobby and Auditorium
9:15 a.m.	Welcome and Opening Comments – Cassie Barlow, SOCHE President • Conference Hosts: Seth Gordon, Wright State University, and Terry St. Peter, Ohio University	Auditorium
9:30 a.m.	Policy Update and Keynote *Samantha Erickson, Ohio Department of Veteran Affairs* Samantha Erickson is the Deputy Director of the State Approving Agency for the Ohio Department of Veterans Affairs. A self-described policy addict, Ms. Erickson will provide a look at the VA’s current policy initiatives and changes and how they may influence current colleges and universities across the state of Ohio.	Auditorium
10:15 a.m.	*Break*
10:30 a.m.	Federal Legislative Efforts *Faisal Sulman, Legal Fellow, Student Veterans of America*	Auditorium
11:00 a.m.	*Break and transition to morning concurrent sessions*
11:15 a.m.	Morning Concurrent Session #1 • VSC 101: Possibilities, Pitfalls, and Progress [morning only] Figuring out how to attract and engage military-connected students is a common lament and challenge in running a veteran and military affairs office. In this session, we will share some of the basics on how to utilize VA student workers, design programming to meet the needs of your population, and share lessons learned from other veteran service providers. *Presenters:* Seth Gordon, Wright State University; Brian Caudill, Shawnee State University; and Chris Macklin, Cincinnati State Technical & Community College	Classroom 212
11:15 a.m.	Morning Concurrent Session #2 • MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON [morning only] *Panelists:* TBD *Facilitator:* Eric Buetikofer, University of Toledo	Classroom 213
11:15 a.m.	Morning Concurrent Session #3 • Internships as an Extended Interview *[repeats in afternoon]* This session will review the current state of internships and work-based learning. The popularity of internships for college students continues to increase. The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that the percentage of college seniors participating in internships is the highest it has been in the last six years, with over two-thirds of students engaged in internships. These numbers exceed pre-pandemic levels. The reason why these numbers are growing is because of employer demand and a competitive talent environment. Employers are actively utilizing interns to build their talent pipelines, assess hires, and gain access to diverse candidates. *Presenter:* Cassie Barlow, SOCHE *Facilitator:* Terry St. Peter, Ohio University	Classroom 214
12:00 p.m.	*Break and transition to lunchtime roundtables. Pick up your lunch on the second floor and take it to your chosen session!*	2nd floor hallway
12:30 p.m.	CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE LUNCHTIME
12:30 p.m.	Lunchtime Roundtable: Programming for Faculty & Staff Join a facilitated discussion on creating faculty and staff programming to support student veterans. Explore existing efforts, share challenges and lessons learned, and leave with resources to help launch or strengthen initiatives on your campus. *Facilitators:* Seth Gordon, Wright State University, and Terry St. Peter, Ohio University	Classroom 212
12:30 p.m.	Lunchtime Roundtable: Programming for Student Veterans Hear from several institutions as they share examples of programming designed to support student veterans on their campuses. After brief presentations, we’ll have open discussion and Q&A to exchange ideas and explore new opportunities. *Facilitator:* Eric Buetikofer, University of Toledo *Panelists:* TBD	Classroom 213
12:30 p.m.	Lunchtime Roundtable: SVA Chapter Programming Participate in an open discussion with a representative from Student Veterans of America. Learn what programming they provide to students and hear information about their national conference and regional summits. *Facilitators:* Brian Caudill, Shawnee State University, and Faisal Sulman, Student Veterans of America	Classroom 214
12:30 p.m.	Networking Over Lunch – Meet other colleagues and make connections!	Auditorium
1:15 p.m.	*Break and transition to afternoon concurrent sessions*
1:30 p.m.	Afternoon Concurrent Session #1 • Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Program *[afternoon only]* Veteran Readiness and Education is a generous benefit for student veterans who qualify. In this session, vocational rehab counselor Kam Turner and VSOC for VRE Jill Cochran will provide brief updates about the program before opening the session to questions and answers. *Presenters:* Kam Turner and Jill Cochran, University of Cincinnati *Facilitator:* Brian Caudill, Shawnee State University	Classroom 212
1:30 p.m.	Afternoon Concurrent Session #2 • Peers Leading the Belonging Effort [afternoon only] This session will review student-led initiatives designed to enhance the academic and social experience of student veterans at Wright State University and Ohio University. These programs focus on peer-to-peer engagement/support, resource accessibility/alignment, and enhancing communication and feedback with student veterans. Wright State University’s program is known as VETI (Veteran Empowerment and Transition Initiative), and the Ohio University program is SERVE (Support, Empower, Reward Veterans Education). Both programs are based on an innovative program piloted and proven effective by Texas A&M University called VALOR. *Panelists:* TBD *Facilitators:* Seth Gordon, Wright State University, and Terry St. Peter, Ohio University	Classroom 213
1:30 p.m.	Afternoon Concurrent Sessions #3 • Internships as an Extended Interview [repeat from morning] This session will review the current state of internships and work-based learning. The popularity of internships for college students continues to increase. The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that the percentage of college seniors participating in internships is the highest it has been in the last six years, with over two-thirds of students engaged in internships. These numbers exceed pre-pandemic levels. The reason why these numbers are growing is because of employer demand and a competitive talent environment. Employers are actively utilizing interns to build their talent pipelines, assess hires, and gain access to diverse candidates. *Presenter:* Cassie Barlow, SOCHE *Facilitator:* Eric Buetikofer, University of Toledo	Classroom 214
2:15 p.m.	*Break and transition back to Auditorium*
2:30 p.m.	Student Panel: Military Community Advocates are Coming In this session, we will engage current Military Community Advocates from multiple campuses about their experiences representing their offices; what kind of projects they have done; and how they have managed expectations of their office partners and themselves. *Moderator:* Janet Steinbacher, Ohio State University *Panelists:* TBD	Auditorium
3:15 p.m.	Closing Remarks	Auditorium