A presentation to Counselors in the California Community College system Patrick C. O’Rourke, Ed.D.

Agenda  Access to Excellence  Veterans in Higher Education Outlook  Challenges  Admission Codes and Laws  Typical CSU Campus Support  Outreach at the Region Level  Counseling Veterans  “From one Veteran to another”

Veterans Access to Excellence At the system level, eight commitments or key initiatives serve as the themes necessary to move the strategic plan forward: 1.Reduce Existing Achievement Gaps (Major Objective) 2.Plan for Faculty Turnover and Invest in Faculty Excellence  Faculty awareness of student veteran diversity 3.Plan for Staff and Administrative Succession and Professional Growth  Staff awareness of student veteran diversity 4.Improve Public Accountability for Learning Results  Federal and state laws; IPEDS and the Compliance Surveys 5.Expand Student Outreach (Major Objective)

Veterans Access to Excellence At the system level, eight commitments or key initiatives serve as the themes necessary to move the strategic plan forward: 6.Enhance Student Opportunities for "Active Learning"  Veterans understand “Experiential Learning” 7.Enhance Opportunities for Global Awareness  Many student veterans have served overseas and worked with other cultures 8. Act on the CSU's Responsibility to Meet Post Baccalaureate Needs, Including Those of Working Professionals(Major Objective)

Veterans in Higher Education - Outlook  Military Drawdown –40,000 US Army by September 2015 –Possible 70,000 from 2018 to 2023  Closure of For-profit Colleges –Corinthian College System (1200+ veterans)  Veterans Accountability, Access, & Choice Act –In-state tuition for all veterans and dependents –Impact unknown – starts July 2015

Challenges  Admissions rules at 23 campuses –Supplemental applications –Information regarding admission requirements  Applying to impacted campuses and majors –Lack of applications to non-impacted campuses  Who do I contact? –CSU Veterans Affairs office and website  Elective units in the CCC; elective units in the CSU – there is a difference!

 California Education Code, Section 66202b1, places veterans at the highest admissions priority level  California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title V, Sections and , permit lower division transfer of veterans  EO 1040 obviates the need to "count" the exceptional admission of veterans and servicemembers against the allocations of admission quota, which are provided to each campus CSU Codes and Laws affecting Veterans

CSU Veterans Support  Benefit certification and advisement  Priority registration for classes –May or may not occur the first semester  New Student Veterans orientation –Make sure you attend  Student Veterans Group  Veterans social space/Veterans Resource Center  Special Admissions Policies for Veterans

Regional Outreach  CCC Veterans Regional Consortiums –Public, not-for-profit, for-profit, private –Admissions and awareness –Great place to connect and learn about programs

Counseling Veterans 1.Take refresher Math and English prior to taking placement exams at the CCC. 2.Start planning to transfer immediately. 3.Apply to three CSU campuses: two rural, one urban or visa versa. Pick two non-impacted CSU campuses!! 4.Find a major that suits your interests at those campuses. Avoid impacted majors if possible!! 5.Establish contact with the CSU Veterans Affairs offices. 1.What support do they give veterans? 2.Special admissions policy for veterans? 6.Priority registration your first sem ester may or may not occur depending on the campus – manage expectations/GI Bill resources

 Go to Linked-In and find veterans in the CSU.  Track GI Bill benefits; predict depletion date.  File for a disability immediately; use Ebenefits  Get help if you need it – there is NO shame here!  Consider using Voc Rehab (Chapter 31) if you deplete you GI Bill before graduating.  Connect with other veterans on campus. Advice for Student Veterans