SVRC Director Jon Segars tapped as chair of the National Council on Military Transition to Education (CMTE)

Dr. Jon Segars, University of Georgia’s Director of the Student Veterans Resource Center (SVRC) was named chair-elect for the National Council on Military Transition to Education (CMTE) in June 2022 to serve on its executive committee for this academic year. At the upcoming CMTE conference this March, Segars will assume the chairmanship to serve a one-year term.  

What started in 2018 as the Veterans in Higher Education Collaborative (VHEC), CMTE has grown into a team of more than 70 leaders representing some of the top universities and colleges dedicated to improving the transition for all service members and veterans. This council provides recommendations to the U.S. Department of Defense, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Veterans Affairs on policies and best practices related to military service members and veterans transitioning to higher education. From its inception, University of Georgia has been part of the CMTE effort along with other pioneers in education like Columbia University, Florida State, the University of California, and others. With Segars on the council, SVRC Assistant Director Mandy Levi continues to serve as part of the CMTE Successful Practices Committee.

Each military service administers a DoD Transition Assistance Program (TAP). However, not all armed service programs are the same. According to Segars, “Military-connected students arrive at the University of Georgia with a mix of experiences and understanding about their upcoming higher education journey. Members of CMTE hope to collectively use our experiences at universities across the nation to improve and better unify TAP—making every incoming student veteran as successful at college as they can be.”

CMTE consists of representatives from all types of institutions, including public, private, two-year, for-profit, and underserved populations. Segars says, “It is a great mix of the best talent in higher education. I am honored to be part of this team and will continue to bring CMTE best practices back to UGA to share with our partners. We are especially thankful for those within the DOD, DOL, and the VA who participate with CMTE and remain committed to better serving our transitioning service members.”