Pierpont Community & Technical College looks to create student veteran organization on campus

Nov. 11—FAIRMONT — Currently, 34 student veterans are enrolled at Pierpont Community and Technical College, according to Kari Woodman, the school's veterans affairs representative.

That figure is lower than it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but remains an important portion of the college's student body, Woodman said.

To ensure student veterans continue to feel welcomed on campus in the years ahead, Woodman said Pierpont is in the early stages of creating a student veteran organization, which would provide a community space for members of the school community who have military backgrounds.

This student group is still very much a "work in progress," and one that will take significant planning, Woodman said. Woodman herself just stepped into her role as veteran affairs representative a few weeks ago, and said she is still familiarizing herself with the position.

Woodman does not have a personal connection to the military, but said she was interested in the role because it offers her an opportunity to support veterans "in accessing the support and resources they deserve."

"Helping students is a true passion of mine," she said. "Being in this position helps me fulfill that."

Woodman said starting a student veteran organization is "a goal for me," and something "on the horizon" the college's military community will be able to look forward to in the years ahead.

First, forming such a group will require school administrators getting to know members of the college's military community better through conversations, and by "letting them know there are resources we can provide," she said.

Through those conversations, the college will be able to "determine the goals and things we want to achieve," she added.

Currently, Pierpont offers a variety of services for student veterans that aim to help them apply to the college, finance their education and pursue job training relevant to their desired career field.

College administrators are available to help Pierpont student veterans determine their eligibility for federal educational funding through the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which varies on an individual basis based on length of active duty service. This funding can cover fees related to tuition, housing and school supplies.

Additionally, Pierpont participates in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement program, which was created through the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.

This program specifically provides education funding to veterans who are pursuing studies at private institutions with high tuition rates or fees, foreign institutions and public institutions to which applicants would apply as a nonresident, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.

In her new position, Woodman said she looks forward to maintaining the college's current student veteran community, and "helping support them and navigate the challenges of higher education."

Likewise, she hopes that in the years ahead a student veteran organization on campus will allow student veterans to "succeed academically and transition from military service to college life," she said.

There is still much work to be done to get such a student group up and running, Woodman added. But in the meantime Woodman and her colleagues at Pierpont are eager to support veteran needs, and work toward student group programming that betters the student veteran experience on campus.

By forming a board of people to plan for the upcoming student group, Woodman hopes she will be able to "collaborate with different departments in our institution and work together," she said.

This way, the college can "figure out how we can promote this and better serve veteran students," Woodman said.

"I am very excited to be the veteran affairs representative here at Pierpont Community & Technical College," she said. "I believe helping those who have defended our country and their family members is more of a calling, and not just a job."

"I am committed to helping them transform their lives through education here at Pierpont," she added.

Reach Jack Walker by email at jwalker@timeswv.com.