Why were we selected to speak?

1. Student Veteran Success: Who Are They and How Do We Help Them TransitionTo 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 PresidentStudent Panel: David Curry, OIF Veteran Anthony Belot, OIF VeteranBrent Theobald, OEF Veteran

2. Why were we selected to speak?

3. 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!

4. 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

5. Student Veterans The Journey Home: Finding Connections

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. Best Practices Three Pillars to Becoming and Sustaining a Veterans Friendly Institution: • Policy • Space • Support

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Best Practices Additional Suggestions for CA CCs: • Universal Design in Classrooms • Regional Consortium Membership or Creation • SVA- CA • Cohort Programs • Local Agencies and Organizations

15. Saddleback College External Partners • Vets4Vets • MilSpeak • Veterans Affairs • Non-profit Veterans organizations • Four Year Universities and Colleges • Camp Pendleton • Laguna Hills VA Satellite Clinic • SOC VET Center- Counseling Therapy • AMVETS- Service Officer • American Legion Post 862

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

17. 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

18. Questions, Concerns, and Comments