Missouri National Guard Association

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By Sentinel Staff and Jeff Murphy, UCM In what was an otherwise cold, snowy day some weeks ago, the atmosphere inside the Multipurpose Building of the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg was filled with the warmth of families, friends and members of the campus community as they joined in wishing 300 Missouri National Guard members well on their deployment to Afghanistan. Signifying the university’s commitment to the National Guard beyond this particular ceremony, UCM President Charles Ambrose reminded the men and women in uniform that, while tasks may differ, the university shares a mission of service with the military. “We are part of your hometown team,” he told the 1-135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion. “For your dependents, family members and kids, if there are needs that you have while you are deployed, and we can help meet them, we are here for you. Please let them (family members) know all they have to do is ask.” Since Ambrose became UCM’s 15th president in August 2010, the sentiment Military and Veterans Success Center at UCM. 8 Missouri National Guard Association University of Central Missouri and the Missouri Guard – partners in education he expressed that afternoon has been visible in a number of ways as UCM seeks to become an institution of choice for active duty military members and veterans. Recent initiatives address specific educational needs for the Missouri National Guard while also providing opportunities that are available to individuals who either serve or have retired within all branches of the service. To help make such opportunities possible, Ambrose turned to Lynn Lowder, a seasoned businessman and a highly decorated Marine combat veteran who served in Vietnam. He became the university’s first director of Military and Veteran Services in January 2012. “We want to be able to make a difference in as many lives as we can,” said Lowder, who added that the university appreciates all opportunities to collaborate with the MoNG. One such opportunity is through a Memorandum of Agreement which was entered into between the Guard and UCM in 2012 to establish and continue the operation of a Telecommunications Community Resource Center. This cooperative venture is leading to educational programming and training for residents of surrounding communities, MoNG personnel and Guard personnel nationwide. Services that will result from the agreement include credit and noncredit courses and programs, short-term professional development and training, web streaming, video conferencing and media support functions related to economic development, and production of educational materials. Lowder said one of the university’s goals is to extend its online course offerings so that more military personnel can take classes at their convenience, even while they are deployed. The university wants to help Guard members who want to further their education to advance their current career, as well as those who may be retiring from military service and are looking for a career change. Many of them will be interested in fulfilling general education requirements, but UCM will expand course offerings so that more complete degrees can be achieved online. For example, the university plans to offer an online bachelor’s degree this fall in crisis and disaster management, which Lowder stressed is very consistent with the role MoNG members often play as first responders in a disaster situation. UCM is also pursuing other opportunities to provide new online degrees in criminal justice, general studies and business administration. “This is a great opportunity for the university to work side by side with the National Guard in Missouri and provide relevant educational opportunities,” Lowder said. While the TCRC will open many new educational doors, UCM has demonstrated its commitment to better serving the military through a number of other initiatives. These include the annual Military Appreciation Day, offering aviation courses at Whiteman Air Force Base, establishing a Military Tuition Package that eliminates certain fees not covered by military benefits, and creating a full-service, “best in class” Military and Veterans Success Center. The center opened on Veterans Day 2011 in about 1,500 square feet of space located on the lower level of the Elliott Union. The facility allows the university to assist military and veteran
students to be successful in their education by providing individual and group study areas, computer workstations and dedicated staff. It also allows the university to assist veterans who want to transition from the military into civilian careers. “Our veterans need a place they can come to that is safe and secure and will help them get on with the next phase of their lives,” Lowder said. “We want to show them that UCM offers a wonderful environment where all servicemen and women will feel welcome and appreciated.” Lowder gets strong support from staff members such as Delilah Nichols, who coordinates a wide range of center activities including special programs for service members and regular visits from mental wellness counselors from the Kansas City Vet Center. These individuals work closely with men and women who are having difficulty transitioning to life after combat. “I look at the Military and Veterans Success Center as a mission field – as a healing center,” Nichols said. “Students come in, especially the combat veterans, with these blinders on, and they don’t really want to talk to anybody. But in the center, when they hear other combat veterans talking about their experiences, they start listening. And pretty soon they start talking. And when they see how the other students get help they are more likely to acknowledge they need help, and when they see success stories, they know there is hope.” UCM is also working with spouses and children of veterans to help them develop critical skills they need to support their veterans while managing the challenges encountered after their return home from service. The Kognito Interactive program, “Family of Heroes,” is a confidential, onehour, avatar-based, online simulation program that teaches family members how to identify post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal intent and how to connect the veteran with resources. The program is being implemented by the Military and Veterans Success Center with funding from the Missouri Suicide Prevention Project under a grant provided from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Missouri Partners in Prevention, the Missouri Institute of Mental Health at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Military Appreciation Day at UCM. the Missouri Department of Mental Health are also helping to make it possible. UCM looks forward to its continued collaboration with the Missouri National Guard. Any members who want to learn more about educational services offered at the university specifically for the men and women of the Missouri National Guard are encouraged to contact Lynn Lowder via email at lowder@ucmo.edu, Delilah Nichols at nichols@ucmo.edu or visit the Office of Military and Veteran Services at www.ucmo.edu/vets/. THE SENTINEL • Spring 2013 9
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Missouri National Guard Association

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