Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) President Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., on behalf of the Texas Tech University System, will participate in a roundtable discussion advising federal legislators on improving the quality of education for student veterans and veterans’ initiatives as they begin the process of updating the current G.I. bill.
Mitchell will give congressional representatives recommendations that will affect funding, housing
and the transition to civilian life.
“Our purpose as educators is to make the transition from a soldier to a civilian student easier by adapting to their specific needs,” Mitchell said. “By joining the national stage, we can ensure veterans everywhere can receive a quality education in the career they are passionate about. I look forward to meeting our Congress members and discussing ways we can help veterans achieve in higher education.”
Sixty-seven veteran students received their degree from TTUHSC with 22 receiving a master’slevel degree or higher in the 2016-2017 academic year. The inaugural class of the TTUHSC School of Nursing Accelerated Veteran to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (VBSN) students graduated in December 2016, all passing their National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses on their first attempt and all are employed as registered nurses in Texas.
The VBSN program takes earned military health care experience in health care and applies it toward a BSN degree, cutting the time for some veterans to receive their degree to 12 months. The competency-based education model awards college credits based on knowledge and skills, validating prior nursing experience in the military by up to 14 semester credit hours.
A Facebook Live discussion between Mitchell and U.S. Representative for Texas District 19 Jodey Arrington will occur at 11:10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday, June 21.
Visit https://www.facebook.com/JodeyArrington/videos/1932449967032094/ or
https://www.facebook.com/ttuhsc/ to view the discussion.
(News release from TTUHSC)