Bill Text: HI SR117 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: University of Hawaii; Veteran Support
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-23 - Referred to PSM/HEA, WAM. [SR117 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2015-SR117-Introduced.html
THE SENATE |
S.R. NO. |
117 |
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE RESOLUTION
Urging the University of Hawaii to establish a veterans resource OFFICE to support veterans.
WHEREAS, there are more than two-thousand four hundred veterans enrolled across the ten campuses of the University of Hawaii System, comprising four per cent of the student body; and
WHEREAS, veterans provide a wealth of leadership, talent, expertise, and experience to classrooms and university campuses; and
WHEREAS, veterans can face unique challenges when integrating back into society, including traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, physical and mental disabilities, risk of suicide, and hypervigilance; and
WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii System does not have a dedicated office to address the educational needs of veterans and to encourage and recruit veterans to earn high quality degrees that will help them find rewarding employment; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, that the University of Hawaii is urged to establish a Veterans Resource Office and a Veterans Resource Center at each campus to support veterans in obtaining high quality degrees and to increase veteran enrollment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each Veterans Resource Center is urged to:
(1) Conduct campus surveys of student veterans to identify the needs, address important issues, and collect suggestions of veterans;
(2) Establish a campus steering committee consisting of student veterans, faculty, and staff to:
(A) Develop programs to establish or strengthen the veteran supportive campus program based on best practices; and
(B) Identify the needs of the student veterans;
(3) Conduct sensitivity and awareness training for faculty and staff on military and veteran culture, including traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, physical and mental disabilities, suicide risks, and hypervigilance;
(4) Conduct student veteran orientation programs, including student veteran guides for the first day of classes;
(5) Establish peer mentoring and peer support programs for student veterans;
(6) Establish an optional veterans-only course taught by a veteran or by a trained volunteer on veteran issues;
(7) Develop and implement outreach strategies to local military bases;
(8) Act as a comprehensive resource and study center for student veterans, their families, and student family members of the armed forces who are currently deployed on active duty;
(9) Collaborate with the community to obtain support from private organizations;
(10) Conduct career and job placement services for student veterans; and
(11) Take other actions to support student veterans; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Veterans Resource Office is urged to offer a Veterans Supportive Campus certification to any campus that has successfully implemented and achieved the goals established by this Resolution; an
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents; the President of the University of Hawaii System; and the Director of the State Office of Veterans' Services.
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OFFERED BY: |
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University of Hawaii; Veteran Support