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

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

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