Mentoring Program
The Veterans Mentoring Program was developed by veterans for veterans to assist all military-affiliated students on their academic journey.
Your Advocate at UWF
A full-time Mentor Coordinator (MeCo) is an advocate for and an assistant to military-affiliated students attending UWF. This support is open to students who are veterans, active duty, and dependents, regardless of whether they are using benefits or not. The MeCo is available to offer guidance to students and connect them with other valuable resources both on and off campus.
Additionally, the MeCo monitors military-affiliated students’ GPA to determine their status as related to maintaining eligibility for UWF and VA education benefits. In the event a student is displaying academic distress and may be in jeopardy of losing benefits eligibility, the MeCo will reach out to the student to offer assistance. If a student would like assistance outside of this, the MeCo would be happy to meet and set that student up with a member of the SWIM team.
The MeCo offers assistance in these and other areas:
- All withdrawals
- Academic Success Support
- Tutoring assistance
- Referral to resources on and off campus
- Coping skills
- Conflict resolution (between you and anyone on campus)
- Mental Health Resources
- Assistance with adjustment to life as a student
- Connecting with community resources
No Credit Grade Policy
For undergraduate FTIC students entering Fall 2022 or later, per UWF REG 3.031, a No Credit (NC) grade will be applied to grades of “D” or “F” in any General Education course taken within one year of their first enrollment date subject to the following parameters:
- The NC grade may be applied a maximum of four (4) times.
- NC grades count in the calculation of excess hours and credits attempted.
- NC grades are not calculated in the student’s GPA.
- Application of the NC grade does not exclude students from Academic Standing for Warning, Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal. Determinations of academic standing under UWF REG 3.008 are based upon the original letter grade (i.e., “D” or “F”) rather than the NC grade.
- NC grades are not applicable to repeated courses.
- NC grades are not applicable in cases where students are found responsible for academic misconduct.
- The Office of the Registrar will automatically apply NC grades at the end of the term. Students who desire to have their original grade reflected on their transcript must appeal to the Office of the Registrar.
For students using VA Benefits: If you receive an NC grade, you could receive a debt from the VA for tuition and fees and for housing funds received on any course that receives the NC grade paid for or to you by the VA.
For Chapters 30, 35 and 1606 will be required to pay back any monthly stipend that was received for the course(s) that resulted in the NC grade.
Chapters 31 and 33, will be responsible to pay back any monthly housing allowance and/or book stipend received to the VA for any course(s) that result in a grade of NC. Students may also be responsible for paying the tuition and fees directly to the university for any course(s) that resulted in a grade of NC.
If you have any questions about how your VA Education Benefits will be affected, please contact the Military and Veterans Resource Center at militaryadvisor@uwf.edu or 850.474.2550.
Meet Your MeCo
Hello, everyone! My name is Michelle McCollum, and I’m your mentor coordinator. I’m excited to be part of all your successes here at UWF. Please feel free to connect with me throughout the semester if you are having any barriers in your personal and or academic life.
I grew up in Pennsylvania and started college when I was 17. I did not have a great GPA in high school, and my SAT scores were on the low side. The only way I could get accepted into school was through the EOP (Educational Opportunity Program). I had to take classes to “prove myself” and attend tutoring as well as meet with a counselor to stay on task. I truly understand the obstacles some students have in going to college. Later, I proved to myself that I could be successful and completed my master’s degree in criminal justice.
In 2003, I joined the U.S. Border Patrol after 9/11. It was here that my passion and support for the military began to grow. I worked side by side with a lot of veterans and the National Guard. It was during this time that I met my husband, who is an Army veteran.
In 2011, my husband’s job as a civilian landed us in Okinawa, Japan. I completely immersed myself with the military culture. I taught for the Criminal Justice Department for Central Texas College on Camp Foster. I also had the opportunity to volunteer with the Red Cross serving military members and their families struggling with substance abuse.
For the past 25 years, I have worn many hats, including being in law enforcement, working in various treatment facilities for mental health and substance abuse, assisting families, mentoring young adults, building relationships and community connections, and teaching. I understand that success looks different to everyone, and sometimes it doesn’t matter how we get there. I just want to let you know that any obstacle you are having along the way, you are not alone, so please connect with me, and together we can come up with a plan. I am looking forward to supporting all of you!