Q&A
Funding and resources for student veterans in NYC colleges
1:30:46
ยท
6 min
Council Member Robert Holden and VAB members discuss the recommendations for providing funding and resources for student veterans in NYC colleges, particularly focusing on CUNY schools.
- VAB called for providing funding and resources for student veterans and for DVS to work with student veteran representatives
- There's a stronger presence of student veterans at private universities compared to CUNY schools
- A significant barrier for student veterans at CUNY is the lack of reduced-cost housing, unlike private universities
- The discussion highlights the need for better support systems for student veterans in CUNY schools
Robert Holden
1:30:46
So in in in I'm gonna go with a few questions here.
1:30:48
And then in 23 your 23 annual report, you, you also call for providing funding and resources for student veterans, and for DVS to work with student veteran represent representatives to attract and recruit veterans to New York City Colleges.
1:31:10
You know, what has there any any movement on that or any practical steps or
Mercedes Elias
1:31:15
There hasn't been at the CUNY level.
1:31:16
What we've seen is strong presence of student veterans at the private universities such as Fordham, Columbia, NYU.
1:31:24
We think there's a lot more focused effort in those military veteran departments.
1:31:29
And CUNY, just the structure of how it's set up in each of the veteran offices, and one of the board members here can expand upon it.
1:31:38
Did he did he walk out?
1:31:39
Yes.
1:31:39
Oh, Josh.
1:31:40
1 of our board members can expand upon it because we did discuss this earlier.
1:31:44
If you wanna talk about the way that the CUNY, veterans offices are set up separately to the private universities.
Josh Sooklal
1:31:54
Alright, chair.
1:31:55
Joshua Sukal, current student, CUNY.
1:31:58
John Jay, staff member for Hope for the Warriors.
1:32:02
I'd like to say this.
1:32:04
Throughout my endeavor in the CUNY realm, I've seen a lot of uncertainty, mainly on the main office of the CUNY Office of Veterans Affairs.
1:32:15
I have no idea what they do, but I'll tell you one thing.
1:32:20
The constituents at BMCC, John Jay, Kingsborough, Queens College, those military directors, they work, and they work very well.
1:32:31
I can honestly say the school system and the school going veteran is probably it's probably the worst thing you wanna do after you get out of the service and go to school and try to make it.
1:32:45
But these military directors, specifically those ones I mentioned, they advocate.
1:32:52
They help.
1:32:52
They support.
1:32:54
They do more than I can do in a day.
1:32:55
And I try to work with every single one of them.
1:32:59
So,
Robert Holden
1:32:59
But are there are there, colleges in CUNY that are not stepping up?
1:33:04
That they're not their offices are non existent, let's say.
Josh Sooklal
1:33:07
None non existent.
Robert Holden
1:33:08
You can say.
1:33:08
They're if you what I would like to if you can communicate with my office, which unit because I'm from CUNY.
1:33:15
I I taught for over 40 years in CUNY at New York City College of Technology.
1:33:21
I'd like to know what they're doing and then what are some of the other units based on your experience, like, what a what schools, what campuses are doing their job and what what, what, you know, what, colleges are not doing.
1:33:36
Anything or very little for veterans.
Josh Sooklal
1:33:37
I can definitely get you that.
Robert Holden
1:33:38
So that's why, you know, if you could, we'll talk after, the hearing but, that's important to me and and certainly important to the the endeavor here.
1:33:48
But we need we need something, you know, like your recommendations and this is going back to 23.
1:33:54
This is not last year.
1:33:55
So if we're not getting answers from 23, then what do you guys what do we hope to accomplish here?
1:34:01
So we need, you know, we need some of these addressed, and CUNY is one of them.
1:34:07
CUNY is one of them that I could actually talk to the chancellor about, and, and try to get some answers for you.
Mercedes Elias
1:34:16
And I think, just to add on that, one of the significant barriers to student veterans coming specifically to CUNY schools is that CUNY does not have housing at a reduced amount similar to the private universities.
1:34:28
Private universities do offer that reduced, rent for students.
1:34:32
The CUNY schools do not.
1:34:33
So it's very difficult for them to afford being able to live here, going to school full time on just the GI bill when their rents take over half of the GI bill cost.
1:34:42
So that is something significant that, you know, we would need to work with different departments to help try to address, but that is a significant barrier to student veterans coming to, New York City.
Robert Holden
1:34:55
All also, I don't know why the clock was on.
1:34:58
We don't need the clock.
1:35:01
The, you know, in your 2023 annual report, you recommended that the mayor's administration and the city council provide DVS with funding to assess, evaluate and document the impact of DVS programs?
1:35:17
Because you're an independent body.
1:35:19
I'd I'd like that information.
1:35:21
That helps us.
1:35:22
That helps this committee.
1:35:25
So from your perspective, what key performance indicators or data points should be, you know, should be actually prioritized?
Mercedes Elias
1:35:35
You know, going back to my statement, the biggest issue that's come up repeatedly in the public sessions is the actual follow through of the complaints or any of the inquisitions filed.
1:35:46
Because there's tracking of what kind of inquisition, where it comes from, what the subject is, and if it was referred.
1:35:52
But then that's where the cases for the veterans falls off and there's no follow-up.
1:35:58
There's no feedback loop back to the veteran saying, this is what we took care of.
1:36:02
Did your issue get resolved?
1:36:04
There always seems to be excuses like, oh, well, there's HIPAA.
1:36:06
We can't find out about it.
1:36:08
Oh, that's out of our purview.
1:36:09
You don't need to get into the specifics if a condition was treated appropriately.
1:36:14
Did did it get treated?
1:36:15
Yes or no?
1:36:15
There doesn't need to be any specifics.
1:36:17
Yeah.
1:36:17
Was the case closed out?
1:36:19
And that is the biggest gap in information right now.
Robert Holden
1:36:22
Welcome to government.
Mercedes Elias
1:36:23
Yes.
Robert Holden
1:36:26
Let let's talk about, city employment.
1:36:29
So, again, in your, referring to the annual report from 2023, you suggested creating a citywide veteran employment program.
1:36:35
Great idea.
1:36:37
And making veterans a protected class for hiring preferences, which is that's something we could do in legislation, I think.
1:36:46
So, and we have some.
1:36:49
We have some that this committee will hear, some bills.
1:36:52
But how do you see VAB working with DVS and the city council to advance these goals?
1:36:59
Like, from your 23 report, what are the biggest I mean, I know what the biggest barriers are.
1:37:06
It's always about follow through, bureaucracy and government, getting these programs through.
1:37:13
But like, I would I would ask you, what can we do to work together, with your with VAB, with DVS and, and certainly the city council to actually get some employment programs and get priorities for veterans?
1:37:31
Like, where what what areas of of employment do you see us being the most effective?