UW-Madison enhances services for student-veterans

The University of Wisconsin–Madison values student-veterans as a vital component of its campus community. Their life experiences and sacrifices contribute to the university’s educational environment and its commitment to diversity.

In anticipation of a growing enrollment of veterans returning from active duty and taking advantage of educational benefits, the university is enhancing its services to its military community, including student-veterans, Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) students and reservists.

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Bechtol, who had directed the university’s Army ROTC program since 2004, has been appointed to the new position of assistant dean for veterans and ombuds services, according to Dean of Students Lori Berquam.

Bechtol began in his new role on Sept. 15. UW–Madison has an estimated 500 student-veterans on campus, along with another 210 ROTC cadets.

“We know that on 24-48 hours of notice, a student could be called up and forced to navigate difficult issues related to suspending his or her life on campus,” says Berquam, who held listening sessions with members of the university’s military community last spring. “Similarly, upon that student’s return from service, there are numerous benefits available. This position is designed to approach veterans’ services in a more holistic manner from years past.”

Despite lingering stereotypes from the 1960s and 1970s, UW–Madison has been an extremely supportive environment for its military community, Bechtol says.

“For UW to create this position is an important step forward, realizing that the military community is a special population group that needs some additional assistance,” he adds.

Bechtol, who also served as a professor and military science department chair, will be the key point of contact for deployed military service members to lessen the impact of rapid deployment, separation, re-entry and relocation.

In addition, he will coordinate orientation and successful transition of student-veterans in conjunction with the Center for First-Year Experience, act as a resource on benefits and employment opportunities, and advocate for student-veterans to resolve issues once usual procedures have been exhausted.

The position will also coordinate closely with two other campus units responsible for supporting student-veterans.

The Office of the Registrar conveys information about educational benefits available to student-veterans, certification of enrollment for those educational benefits and information about changes in legislative regulations that affect veterans.

Vets for Vets has existed for 37 years as a student organization that provides resources and support for student-veterans.

With his ROTC experiences at UW–Madison as well as other campuses, 21 years active duty and three years in the National Guard, Bechtol is uniquely suited to assist students in his new role. He will serve as a part of the Student Advocacy and Judicial Affairs (SAJA) unit of the Offices of the Dean of Students. Although his primary area of focus will be the military, he will be available to serve all students as part of SAJA.

His salary will be $59,000.

For more information on resources for student-veterans, visit this site.