Troops to College: Counseling Student-Veterans for Transfer to the CSU

CSU Troops to College Program The California State University offers many opportunities to help

veterans, active-duty service members, and their families meet their personal and professional goals. With 23 campuses and more than 1,800 degree programs, the CSU is committed to providing:

– Supportive institutional values and administration– Academic support programs and services, such as veteran-

focused advising, mentoring and counseling– Financial support and advice specifically for veterans– Priority admission and registration, and academic credit granted

for military courses and experience– Extensive opportunities in student leadership

Questions we’ll answer today

What is a veteran? What does my local CSU campus do for

veterans? What should I be concerned about when advising

veterans about transfer to a CSU campus? What else should I know?

Veteran

Service Member– Active Duty– Reserve/National Guard components

Who is a veteran?

What percentage of people who enlisted in the U.S. military come

from California?

11 percent.

That’s about 23,000 a year…and thousands more decide to make

California their home after serving at the many military bases in our state

Many of them will attend community colleges with a

goal of transferring to a CSU campus

Why is the CSU a great choice for veterans?

Large number of student veterans Dedicated veteran staff at each campus Many campuses have veteran specific admissions Student veteran groups Veteran support teams Vet friendly atmosphere Scholarship opportunities

CSU Campus Veterans Services

Veterans Services Office

Disabled Student Services

Counseling and Psychological

Services

Enrollment Services

University OutreachCareer

Development Center

Student Financial Services

University Advising Center

Student Health Services

Tutoring Center

Chapter 30 Montgomery GI-Bill -Active Duty

Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation

Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill Chapter 35 Dependent Educational

Assistance Program

Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI-Bill -Reservists Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational

Assistance Program

Cal Vet Fee Waiver

Many student veterans will be using one of the following benefits

The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill

Benefits– 36 months of full-time study– Pays up to 100% of the student veteran’s in-state tuition and fees – Pays a book stipend of up to $500/semester – Pays a monthly housing allowance (based on zip code of school – many

locations in southern California rate about $2200/month)– Monthly tutoring reimbursement up to $100 if recommended by instructor

Maintaining eligibility– Must be a full time student to receive 100% of housing allowance– ALL courses MUST be part of established educational plan

Transferring to a CSU Campus

Minimum CSU requirements– 60 transferrable units – “Golden Four” – Oral Communication, Written Communication, Critical

Thinking, and Math G.E. Certification is great, but it is NOT a transfer requirement! All 23 campuses have unique admissions requirements Most campuses have special admissions programs for veterans

The Bottom Line Determine which campus your student would like to attend, and

connect with the Veterans Services Office at that campus.

Things you should know about veterans

What’s in a Name?

ArmySoldier

Marine CorpsMarine

NavySailor

Air ForceAirman

Coast GuardGuardian

Vets are used to bureaucracy, but sometimes it feels like this.

VA

CCCCSUUC

Chain of Command

10 more things you should know about veterans

Excerpts from “Ten Things You Should Know About Today’s Student Veteran”

by Alison Lighthalhttp://www.nea.org/home/53407.htm

10. Student veterans are a highly diverse group—as diverse as America itself

“Returning military personnel come

from all over, and are a rainbow of

colors, shapes, religions, sexual

orientation, and political views.”

9. Veterans do not see themselves as victims. Ever.

“Victims are people who feel no

control over their lives and perceive

themselves as being at the mercy of

others..”

8. They can feel very alone on campus.

“Typically, student

veterans are also older

and more experienced

than their freshman

peers, which helps

them keep things in

perspective and not

sweat the small stuff.”

7. They are often unaware of their own mild traumatic brain injuries.

“Almost every Marine I’ve ever known, and most of the frontline soldiers

I’ve ever talked to, have experienced a significant explosion. But if it

wasn’t their truck that blew up or their limb lost, they often don’t see it

as their experience.”

More information about PTSD, TBI from the VA:

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/index.asp

7. They are often unaware of their own mild traumatic brain injuries.

6. There are three things you should never say to a student veteran (but they still hear them every day).

“These wars are atrocities and a

waste of human life”,

“I don’t get why you’re having so

much trouble – you volunteered

right?”,

“Did you kill anyone?”

5. Female veterans suffer deeply, and almost always in silence.

“The Veteran Administration estimates

that at least 22 percent of females

are sexually assaulted during their

time in service.”

4. They often want to go back to the war zone.

“Facing death every day made them

feel completely alive, but being

bored makes them feel dead.”

3. Combat trauma is an injury, not a mental illness.

“It is that expectation of recovery

that provides hope. And hope

is the antidote to giving up on

life.”

2. To succeed, veterans need your understanding, compassion and respect.

“Understanding that their actions are not

personal, reaching out to them with

compassion and respect,

accommodating their individual learning

needs, and most importantly, seeing

them as people who chose to serve our

country and who have endured burdens

beyond anything we can imagine, could

make all the difference to that student

veteran.”

1. Student veterans are one of America’s greatest untapped human resources.

“They not only understand the concept of

sacrifice for the greater good, they’ve

lived it.

Ten Things You Should Know About Today’s Student Veteran

by Alison Lighthalhttp://www.nea.org/home/53407.htm

What are your questions?

Online Resources:www.gibill.va.gov - GI Bill information

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/ - National Center for PTSD

http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Toolkit-for-Veteran-Friendly-Institutions.aspx - ACE Toolkit for Veteran Friendly Institutions

http://studentveterans.org/ - Student Veterans of America

http://www.calstate.edu/veterans/ - CSU Troops to College

http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/students/veterans_university/awareness.html - VET NET ALLY program at CSULB