First, the Office of Military Affairs will be established to provide services to military students and military expertise to Webster’s administrative and academic units as well as the communities we serve. Second, extended campus locations will be realigned along military/metropolitan lines and will be grouped to create teams of directors working toward common goals.

Office of Military Affairs

To provide military expertise to Webster University and the communities we serve, the Office of Military Affairs will be officially established under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Mike Callan (USAF, Ret.), associate vice president for Military and Government Programs.

The need for leadership in military affairs and the establishment of an Office of Military Affairs were identified as key steps toward becoming an institution of first choice for the military in the strategic planning led by President Beth Stroble and Provost Julian Schuster in 2011-2012.

“Webster has developed and maintained a strong, positive and mutually beneficial relationship with our military branches and service members,” Stroble said. “With General Callan’s leadership of the OMA, we are poised to expand and strengthen connections to better serve our students, alumni, and country.”

“Creating the position of AVP for Military and Government Programs in Academic Affairs last year signaled our commitment to moving toward our goal of becoming first choice for the military,” said Schuster said. “The position, and the new Office of Military Affairs, will provide a hub for serving students, expertise for developing programs, and a resource on military issues for internal and external audiences.”

The Office of Military Affairs (OMA) will serve as a hub for military students and an important resource on military issues internally (for administrative and academic units at Webster) and externally. “Our military students – 4,100 active duty and over 6,500 in total – study across the Webster network, including online and at our international locations,” said Callan. “While their locations and programs vary, they have similar and military-specific needs for services and information. The Office of Military Affairs will enable students to access what they need with one call.”

Military and Metropolitan Campuses

The current extended campus locations will be organized into Military and Metropolitan groupings of campuses. Associate Vice President Mike Callan (Military), Associate Vice President Carol Adams (Metropolitan), Senior Director Karl Sterner and other members of Academic Affairs will provide leadership to focus on serving prospective and current students.

“Webster’s extended domestic campuses serve almost 60% of our 17,600 graduate students and almost 50% of our total student population of 23,000.” Schuster said. “With this realignment, we will be poised to increase attention to strategic issues of growing and solidifying enrollment through expanded programming while strengthening our commitment to academic and operational excellence.”

The new structure will include the development of team leaders for the Military and Metropolitan groupings. These team leaders will assist in providing oversight of enrollment management, personnel, and operations. Team leaders will participate in – and effectively implement and communicate – actions to improve and strengthen offerings.

Associate Vice President Randy Wright will assume responsibility for the leadership of the metropolitan regions in the western states (currently California, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas). He will guide the development and growth of the new San Antonio metropolitan location as well as oversight and planning for the western metropolitan locations.

Additional Developments: Additional announcements related to the reorganization will be forthcoming. They will include more information on the staff and location of the Office of Military Affairs. Other developments include the strengthening of support and services for graduate and extended site students which will be led by Associate Vice President Beth Russell. Watch Webster Today for further developments.

Webster University graduates with Beth Russell, associate vice president for Academic Affairs & Extended Campus Administration and Diane Schultz, director, Webster Fort Bragg.

The 43 Webster graduates at the recent Fort Bragg, N.C. commencement ceremony represented seven of the eight master’s programs offered at Webster’s Fort Bragg campus location.

Overall, 30 institutions of higher education were represented in the  Nov. 1 joint graduation and recognition ceremony.

During the ceremony, blue gown-clad Webster graduates were individually hooded with their master’s honors on stage by a selected special person in each of their lives.

Following a welcome by Lt. Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, commanding general, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, the keynote address was given by Pamela L. Raymer, director, HRC, ACES, Fort Knox, Ky.

Tia Gordon, left, director of administration for Fort Sill’s Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate, and Cris Elliott, museum technician for the Air Defense Artillery Museum, fill a display case with memorabilia relating to Col. William Massello Jr.

Webster University’s campus location at Fort Sill/Tinker Air Force Base (Okla.) partnered with Field Artillery School, the Air Defense Artillery School, and the Wounded Warrior Unit for their Webster Works Worldwide annual service day Oct. 26.

Their partnership drew local media coverage.

The local newspaper, The Lawton Constitution, covered the Webster Works project in an Oct. 27 article, “Shrine constructed to hero of ADA history in Snow Hall at Sill,” while Fort Sill’s newspaper, The Cannoneer, published “Students volunteer day of service” on Nov. 1 (scroll down to the third row of stories and enlarge article.)

Sandra Kunz, senior director, Army Continuing Education Services, remarked, “Our students are extraordinary in many ways. Each year, they divide into three teams with faculty team leads and get to work.”

Lt. Col. Alan Rohlfing, director, Show-Me Heroes; Webster associate vice president for Academic Affairs & Extended Campus Administration Carol Adams; and workshop speaker Frank Alaniz, regional liaison for the Missouri Department of Economic Development

Underscoring Webster’s commitment to serving the military, the University played host Oct. 16 to the Show-Me Heroes Work-Ready Employment Assistance Program (WREAP) career workshop for military veterans. Topics covered included skills translation, skills gap analysis, educational benefits, developing a career job search portfolio, interview techniques, an introduction to social media, and a question-and-answer session with St. Louis-area employers.

The WREAP workshop at Webster was the first of its kind in the state of Missouri. Carol Adams, Webster’s associate vice president for Academic Affairs & Extended Campus Administration, worked with Lt. Col. Alan Rohlfing, director, Show-Me Heroes, to bring this event to Webster. Additional workshops are planned at Webster University’s Missouri campus locations in Kansas City, Springfield, Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Force Base.

Frank Alaniz and Lt. Col. Rohlfing discussed the Show-Me Heroes initiatives with a reporter for KMOX 1120 AM radio.

In 2010, Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon launched the Show-Me Heroes initiative to help reconnect Missouri’s veterans and members of the National Guard and Army Reserve with meaningful careers and showcase Missouri employers that have pledged to do so.

“Translating military skills is one of the most difficult components of moving from the military service to the civilian sector,” said Lt. Col. Rohlfing.

“Many veterans struggle with trying to explain how military-specific positions, such as ‘Command Sergeant Major’ or ‘Executive Officer,’ might equate in a civilian work environment. This workshop at Webster University will help veterans translate their military service into terms civilian employers can better understand.”

As of April 2012, the Bureau of Labor Statistics put the post-9/11 veterans unemployment rate at 12.4 percent average, and at 36.1 percent for the 18-24 age group. In addition, a Monster.com survey or more than 900 employers that same month revealed a gap between veterans’ and employers’ views, and a sense that veterans need to do a better job of explaining themselves to more successfully compete with the national job-seeker pool.

Trident Technical College workforce and military director and South Carolina State Representative Joe Daning (MA ’99) with Charleston Metro undergraduate program coordinator Margaret M. Cox.

The 15th annual Bosch Health and Education Fair was held Monday, Sept. 13 at the Charleston Metro & Joint Base campus locations in Charleston, S.C.

Also participating in the health and education fair were Dean Grossman, military coordinator at Joint Base Charleston; Gary Jolly (MA’98) George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology graduate program coordinator and Bette Century Thomas (MA ’03) community relations coordinator.

Fair sponsor the Robert Bosch Corporation is a leading global manufacturer of automotive equipment, power tools, household appliances, automation systems, security systems and packaging technology.

Unit Commander LtC Joshua Moon (left) and Command SGM Jose Villarreal (right) present the “gladius” (Legionnaire sword) to Webster University director Beth Vivaldi, faculty coordinator Hector Aranda and GHWSBT advisor, Julia Smith. The gladius is a symbol of the Legionnaires’ most lethal fighting weapon.

Webster University’s Fort Bliss, Texas, campus location was honored by the 3-43 ADA “Courage and Honor Battalion” unit for outstanding service to the men and women of this unit. The 3-43 ADA was adopted as a community service effort by Webster students, staff and faculty at Fort Bliss two years ago.

3-43 ADA Battalion members and Webster University staff assisted with Operation Santa Ruck, providing toys for 800 underprivileged Fort Bliss and El Paso children. (November 2011)

Labeled “guardians” for the unit, Webster Fort Bliss members have partnered in numerous fundraising events that supported the military community, including the unit’s Toys for Tots campaign, Operation Santa Ruck, construction competition, chili cook- off fundraiser, and donations for childcare services allowing lower-ranked service members affording time to attend the annual military ball.

The 3-43 ADA unit reciprocated by volunteering to provide escorts and crowd control at the most recent Webster University graduation ceremony there in June 2012. Their presence gave an additional “air of class” to an already regal ceremony.

Hines completed his master's in Management and Leadership.

Webster University’s cooperative degree program with the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Senior Service College Fellowship (SSCF) isn’t an easy one, but it’s one that pays dividends for students. The partnership is an example of Webster’s relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense that goes back nearly 40 years, developing high-quality and cost-effective graduate programs at military installations and other locations around the country.

SSCF develops civilian acquisition leaders in preparation for roles as product and project managers, program executive officers, and other key acquisition positions. SSCF also helps prepare participants for positions in the Senior Executive Service (SES). The program is described as intense, but also as something that provides students the time to think and reflect — time not normally available in the government workplace.

The latest Webster University graduate of the program is Ira J. Hines, who enrolled through DAU’s Capital Northeast Region at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md.

By taking additional classes at Webster University and using transfer credit from the SSCF cooperative degree program, Hines graduated from Webster with a master’s in Management and Leadership. Webster University’s National Capital Region salutes Hines for his achievement in this innovative program.

Photo Caption: Sean Coleman, director, Webster University National Capital Region; Ira J. Hines; Major General Nick Justice; and Robert L. Daugherty, dean, DAU Capital and Northeast Region.

Scott AFB Commencement Ceremony Jan. 27, 2012

Congratulations to the graduating class from Webster University’s Scott Air Force Base (Ill.) campus, pictured at their commencement ceremony on Jan. 27, 2012. Nineteen graduates attended the winter commencement ceremony, along with more than 70 family, friends and faculty.  Associate Vice President Carol Adams was the guest speaker for the evening.

Webster University and the U.S. Department of Defense have worked together for nearly 40 years to provide high-quality and cost-effective graduate programs at military installations and other locations around the country.

These graduating class members join a network of distinguished alumni that includes more than 200 active duty and retired generals and admirals, including several at the Pentagon and Joint Chiefs of Staff and thousands of active and retired military personnel.

All told, more than 150,000 Webster alumni form an elite global network of accomplished and connected citizens.

• Elsewhere, Webster University at Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield was featured prominently in the Army article, “Making Good Soldiers Better through Education.”