Student Veteran Success Who Are They and How

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) 2 nd 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 Veterans The Journey Home: Finding Connections

Student Veterans 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

CA CC Veterans Services Best Practices: Chancellor’s Office Video for the White House Summit on Community Colleges

Best Practices 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

Saddleback College External Partners Ø Camp Pendleton Ø Laguna Hills VA Satellite Clinic Ø SOC VET Center. Counseling Therapy Ø AMVETS- Service Officer Ø American Legion Post 862 Ø Ø Vets 4 Vets Mil. Speak Veterans Affairs Non-profit Veterans organizations Ø Four Year Universities and Colleges

Best Practices Institutions to Model… • • Mount SAC Saddleback College Santa Ana College Sierra College Cerritos College Butte College Citrus College

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