San Antonio is proud to be Military City USA, and we have an important responsibility to support our service members and their families. Helping them smoothly transition from military service to civilian life is one of our highest priorities. Ensuring they have what they need to begin a new career or begin their journey toward continuing education is very important. Our city’s higher education institutions are nationally recognized for their support of service women and men who choose to pursue a degree. Navigating the ins and outs of higher education and veteran benefits systems can be confusing and intimidating, especially amidst the current challenges of COVID-19.
As part of our Chamber’s Log-In & Learn web series,
Higher Education Resources for Military Affiliated Students, we were honored to host an event which focused on our Veteran population and their Families, providing them with the tools and resources to help them along their education path to achieve their academic goals. Our panelists included:
- Richard Delgado Jr., Director of Military Affairs at Texas A&M University – San Antonio
- Michael Logan, Associate Director for Veteran and Military Affairs at The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Adriana Leal, Director, Center for Veterans Affairs, at the University of the Incarnate Word
Our Veteran and Military Affairs panelists provided information related to the unique and varied challenges that our military affiliated students experience when continuing their education, post-military service. Identifying the benefits that are available, deciphering the language of higher education, and finding out about different avenues for assistance is vital to ensuring students stay connected, on track and complete their degrees successfully.
Click here to watch the recording of the webinar.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a lot of uncertainty related to school closures, transition to online learning, and extensions of Veterans’ Education benefits. Ongoing communication from the universities and campuses is key to ensuring the students remain motivated and engaged through creative virtual meeting opportunities.
Additionally, external partnerships remain critical to supporting our Veterans who transition from the military to higher education by utilizing internships and employment opportunities while they continue their learning and eventually find a meaningful career outside of the military. As business and community leaders, we cannot underestimate the value of the military in providing a very dedicated, educated, and experienced workforce for our organizations.
For more information on how to support our military affiliated students related to their education and career goals, email Lori Stinson, VP for Military Affairs and Leadership Development, at
lstinson@sachamber.org or Lisa Marie Gomez, VP for Education and Workforce Development at
lmgomez@sachamber.org.
