College Tips for Success
Like most concepts, ConAP is as good as one decides to make the program. Successful ConAP schools are institutions that have formed lasting partnerships with Future Soldiers and similarly, have shown a genuine interest in the academic well being of veterans. While not inclusive, the following are suggestions for working with Army recruiters to make ConAP a success:
- Invite recruiters to an orientation at your college. Discuss the
college and its facilities, academic programs, tuition and fees,
admissions
requirements, application process, transfer policies, credit
for military courses, and financial aid. Review ConAP procedures
and ask recruiters
to increase the number of ConAP referrals to your college.
- Discuss how education benefits for veterans are activated. Include
a tour of the campus. You want your local recruiters to be able to
discuss your college at a kitchen table with mothers and fathers and
sons and daughters.
- Provide an opportunity for recruiters to meet with college counselors
and discuss their progress toward a degree. Seek to enroll recruiters
as students. Not only will you get another student, you will get a
recruiter who will be more likely to refer his or her enlistees to
your college.
- Agree to speak at recruiter functions such as luncheons and volunteer
to talk about the college at recruiter training sessions.
- Volunteer to host Future Soldier functions at the college. Arrange
for a student who is a veteran to talk with Future Soldiers.
- Ask recruiters for an introduction to points of contact at local Army
Reserve Centers. Ask to place a literature rack at the center. On drill
weekends, volunteer to speak with Soldiers interested in college.
- Think of recruiters as extensions of your own recruiting force and
treat them as such. The more recruiters know about your college, the
more likely recruiters are to refer Future Soldiers to you, as well
as veterans, high school students, other soldiers, and others they
meet.
- Call your recruiter if you are not receiving College Referral and
Intent to Enroll forms or you are otherwise not satisfied with ConAP.
Discuss and resolve concerns and problems.
- Once you receive a ConAP form, acknowledge the form quickly and send
an email or letter to the Future Soldier interested in your school.
Pass along information about your college and what it takes to become
a student.
- Bottom line--Work with recruiters, and help them build a partnership with the college. Let them know you want the program to work. Tell them how they can best communicate with students who are leaving college early. Advise them of the best locations for their literature. Discuss with them how you would like to work together.