CT State Rep. Supports Higher Education & Employment Advancement Proposal

From State Rep. Pam Staneski: State Rep. Pam Staneski (Milford & Orange) supported a proposal in the Higher Education and Employment Advancement committee which looks to better facilitate communication between Operation Academic Support for Incoming Service Members (OASIS) centers at various state colleges and universities in Connecticut so that staff from these centers can share best practices and other ideas about how they can best serve veterans who are students.

Many of Connecticut’s public education institutions have Operation Academic Support for Incoming Service members (OASIS) centers—space where “battle buddies become study buddies.” The centers, backed by state agencies, provide materials and workshops to access the benefits they’ve earned as well as work-study and job training and placement information. Created under terms of former Gov. M. Jodi Rell and former Veterans’ Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz, the program here in Connecticut has been hailed as a nationwide model for supporting those who served our country.

“The trademarks of military service are education and specialized training, and these OASIS centers are important places that will help veterans succeed in school and in their chosen career path—goals that, ultimately, will benefit their communities and our state. The more communication we can foster the better we can serve the needs of the veteran population,” said Rep. Staneski.

The bill, SB-919, An Act Concerning Veterans Services at State Colleges and Universities requires the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education and the UConn Board of Trustees to establish an Operation Academic Support for Incoming Service (OASIS) members center at each state university, regional community-technical college, and UConn campus.

The OASIS center is responsible for developing and offering programming and services focused on providing outreach and assistance to students enrolled at such institution.

The bill requires the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education and the UConn Board of Trustees to jointly adopt a plan for collaborating with each other and any veterans' service organization. The plan must include an annual conference for OASIS center staff to:

• Share best practices for, and identify challenges in, serving students who are veterans
• Discuss efforts to improve communication and coordination of service to such students
• Develop and update enhanced behavioral intervention training for staff who work directly with such students

Image Courtesy Of CT State Reps