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Veterans' office led by a student

Small: Process of finding a permanent director under way

By Jim Parsons
The Daily Cougar

The UH Veterans' Services Office is under the direction of a student interim coordinator following the unexpected departure of its former director just before Christmas.

William G. Smiley left his position because of family concerns Dec. 23, and senior speech pathology and psychology major Candice L. Caesar -- a retired Army sergeant who began at the VSO as a work-study employee in May 2002 -- took charge Jan. 12.

Caesar said she was faced not only with drawing up a proposal for the Student Fees Advisory Committee, but also with hiring student counselors and trying to make sense of budget questions that lingered from Smiley's tenure -- all while enrolled in 13 hours and trying to graduate in May.

"It's quite overwhelming," Caesar said. "When you're a work-study, you don't know what the program coordinator is supposed to do."

The office helps more than 2,000 veterans with the transition from military service to civilian campus life.

David Small, assistant vice president for student services, said he has received applications for the coordinator's position and hopes to make a permanent hire soon. He said Caesar may become a candidate for the permanent job.

In the meantime, Caesar has to re-work the VSO's SFAC proposal and said she found that the office's budget hasn't been adequate in recent years.

"We don't have enough money," she said. "We're working on a tight budget."

Her revised proposal is due to the committee by noon Friday.
 

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