why were we selected to speak?
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Student Veteran Success:
Who Are They and How Do We Help Them Transition
To College and Civilian Life?
Presenter: Terence Nelson, M.S. M.Ed.Assistant Dean Counseling Service & Special Programs; VETS
Director;Region 8 Veterans Program Directors Consortium President
Student Panel: David Curry, OIF Veteran Anthony Belot, OIF Veteran
Brent Theobald, OEF Veteran
Why were we selected to speak?
Saddleback College VETS Program
Veterans, active military personnel, and dependants
Approx. 1200+ students
VA benefit recipients:
Fall 2008 – 192
Fall 2010 – 445 (132% increase)
2nd Largest Veterans population among
Orange County community colleges!
Saddleback College VETS Program
Recognized for Excellence By:
US Congress
State Legislature
State Senate
Orange County Board of Supervisors
CA Community College Chancellor’s Office
AMVETS
American Legion Post 862
Student Profile:• Individuals and Independent• Re-entry (22-35 yrs)• Commonly Married, Parents, and/or
Working• Focused• “Out Group” Mentality• Branch Differences• Not All Have Disabilities or Have
Seen Combat• Uneasy with Bureaucracy• Ability to Assess Others Quickly
Student Veterans
Common Barriers:• Financial
• Basic Skills
• Family Obligations
• Lack of Connection to Higher Education and Institution
• Lost in Flood of Services
• Predatory Institutions and Organizations
• Disabilities– TBI– PTSD– Depression
Student Veterans
Why the CA Community Colleges are Stop #1:• Current State of Economy• Impact of Post 911 GI Bill• Admissions Policy• Diversity of Programs• The System’s Focus on Student Support Systems
Student Veterans
Best Practices:
Chancellor’s Office Video for the
White House Summit on
Community Colleges
CA CC Veterans Services
Three Pillars to Becoming and Sustaining a
Veterans Friendly Institution:
1.Policy
2.Space
3.Support
Best Practices
#1. “Veterans Friendly” Policies:
• Priority Registration (Runner Bill is Bare Minimum)• Data Collection and Tracking• Military Withdrawal • Streamlined Matriculation Process• Credit for Prior Learning- Check SOC Membership• Disability Aware Instructors• “Stand by Your Word”• Allowing Legitimate Outside Support on Campus
Best Practices
#2. Space on Campus:
Veterans Resource Centers (VRC)• Community Building Space• Veterans Specific Counseling• VA Work Study• SVA-CA Veterans Club• “Boots to Books” Course• Outside Organizations• Scholarships/Housing Board• Women’s Group• …and Much More
Best Practices
#3. Outreach, Retention,
and Recognition of Success• Early Orientation to System and Processes• Use of VA Work Study for Outreach: Vet-to-Vet Support• Relationship with Existing Services: DSPS, EOPS, Financial Aid, etc.
• Cohorts- Cleveland State, Wounded Warriors, Sierra College, etc.• Mentorship Programs• Link with Tutorial Services• Events: Veterans Day / End of Year / Wall of Heroes
Best Practices
Additional Suggestions for CA CCs:
• Universal Design in Classrooms• Regional Consortium Membership or Creation• SVA- CA• Cohort Programs• Local Agencies and Organizations
Best Practices
Saddleback College External Partners
Camp Pendleton Laguna Hills VA
Satellite Clinic SOC VET Center-
Counseling Therapy AMVETS- Service
Officer American Legion Post
862
Vets4Vets MilSpeak Veterans Affairs Non-profit Veterans
organizations Four Year
Universities and Colleges
Institutions to Model…• Mount SAC• Saddleback College• Santa Ana College • Sierra College• Cerritos College• Butte College• Citrus College
Best Practices
Student Veteran Panel
David Curry, OIF Veteran, UC Irvine Student, Saddleback College Graduate
Anthony Belot, OIF Veterans, Chapman University Student, Saddleback College Graduate
Brent Theobald, OEF Veteran, Vanguard University and Golden West College Graduate
Questions, Concerns, and
Comments