Veterans’ Program Plan
December 2015
Section One: Program Overview
1. Background and History………………………………………………………….2
2. Eight Keys to Veterans’ Success………………………………………………2-4
3. Mission and Purpose ……………………….….……..……………………..….. .4
4. Staffing and Service …........................................................................................4-5
4. Whom do we serve? ............................................................................................5-11
5. Collaborations with other departments/offices/institutions …………………...11-17
6. New Directions …………………………………………………….………. ….17
Section Two: Planning and Outcomes
1. Veterans Information Center Learning Outcomes and Assessment…………. 17-18
Section Three: Goals and Recommendations
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1. Program Goals………………………………………………………………...19-20
Background and History
In summer 2009, a task force of Cabrillo staff, faculty, students, community members,
and veterans-related organizations, including representatives from UCSC and the Santa
Cruz Vet Center, was formed to enhance the services available for veteran students. The
task force looked at current services and the prospect of doing new things to help our
veterans make the transition into student life. One of the immediate needs identified by
the veteran task force was to create an office space to serve veteran students. In fall
2010, the Cabrillo College Veterans Information Center (VIC) had its first location in
SAC East building. In summer 2012, the VIC moved into an expanded location in room
915 located in the 900 building. Congressman Sam Farr dedicated the new center. This
new location provided a safe space for our veteran students to create a supportive
community and the needed services to succeed in school.
Eight Keys to Veterans’ Success
Cabrillo College is pleased to participate in the Obama Administration’s ongoing effort
to foster postsecondary educational opportunities and dramatically improve student
success for veterans.
Cabrillo College is one of the more than 300 community colleges and universities across
the country implementing the administration’s “8 Keys to Success” to help veterans on
campus.
The “8 Keys to Success” highlight specific ways that colleges and universities can
support veterans as they pursue their education and employment goals. It aims to aid
veterans in their effort to afford and complete their college degrees, certificates, industryrecognized credentials and licenses in preparation for jobs in high-growth sectors of the
economy.
The “8 Keys to Success” at Cabrillo College include the following:
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2
1. Create a culture of trust and connectedness across the campus community to promote
well-being and success for veterans.
● Over 800 attend the annual Veterans Day events and programs held each fall
semester. Administrators, faculty, staff and students see these events as traditions
that are sponsored by the Veterans Club.
2. Ensure consistent and sustained support from campus leadership.
● Cabrillo College Veterans Task Force with members from the Board of Trustees,
administration, four-year university partners, and Santa Cruz County veterans
related agencies.
3. Implement an early alert system to ensure all veterans receive academic, career, and
financial advice before challenges become overwhelming.
● Weekly academic counseling hours provided to veteran students within the
Veterans Information Center.
● Weekly Certifying Official hours provided to veteran students to assist with
financial aid and Veterans Affairs benefits that support class enrollment.
● Co-located psychological counseling for veteran students struggling with PTSD.
● Semester resume and interview prep workshops provided by Student Employment
in the campus Veterans Information Center.
● Early Alert system to be developed with SSSP funds with the development of a
portal site as well as the use of the Student Retention module. (Spring semester
2015 pilot.)
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6. Utilize a uniform set of data tools to collect and track information on veterans,
including demographics, retention and degree completion.
● The Office of Planning and Research has done an extensive review of access,
success and persistence data for our veteran student population. This was done as
part of our SSSP and Student Equity reports submitted to the State Chancellor’s
Office.
3
4. Coordinate and centralize campus efforts for all veterans, together with the creation of
a designated space (even if limited in size).
● Cabrillo provides a dedicated space for veteran students called the Veterans
Information Center (VIC).
● Within the VIC, the Veterans Club hosts campus events and special programs for
VIC participants.
5. Collaborate with local communities and organizations, including government
agencies, to align and coordinate various services for veterans.
● Within the VIC, the staff plan and provide specialized workshops provided by offcampus veterans-oriented support agencies. Job board, VA benefits, tax
preparation are just some of the highlights.
● Cabrillo needs to pursue more local community involvement, creating connections
and a network of support with Santa Cruz County agencies.
● The Planning and Research Office will come to the Veterans Task Force on a
semester basis to review data. They will also provide updates to the campus
Student Equity committee on a frequent basis.
7. Provide comprehensive professional development for faculty and staff on issues and
challenges unique to veterans.
● A campus-wide professional development opportunity has not been delivered
recently.
● As part of the website development, we will begin to post several help resources
that faculty and staff can access to aid in classroom support systems for veterans.
● A fall 2015 workshop will be planned for Flex Week.
8. Develop systems that ensure sustainability of effective practices for veterans.
● As part of Cabrillo’s Student Equity funding allocation, a 50% permanent Veteran
Program Coordinator will be hired in fiscal year 2015-16. This incumbent will
help the VIC develop programs and services and will be key in collaborating with
other related support services to bring them “under one roof.”
Mission and Purpose
The Veterans Information Center’s mission is to provide:
1. Assistance for veterans transitioning out of active duty and into student life.
2. A safe space for our veteran students to get both the academic support and resources
they need to help them succeed in school.
3. A place where they can gather, socialize and form supportive positive relationships
with other veterans.
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★ Veterans Coordinator: Coordinates support services for veteran’s students with
student support services and liaisons. Chairs the Veterans Task Force monthly
meetings. Advices the veteran’s club and supervises student workers. Oversees
VIC’s office program and activities
★ Veterans Counselor: Provides academic counseling for all veteran students four
hours a week.
★ Cabrillo College Veterans Certifying Official: Helps students access their VA
benefits fifteen hours a week.
★ Outreach staff: Provides outreach and marketing for VIC.
★ Department of Veterans Affairs: employs three student assistants.
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Veterans Information Center Staff
Veterans Informational Center Services
★ Priority registration
★ Academic counseling
★ Personal counseling
★ Accessibility Support Center
★ Computer use
★ Copying/Scanning/printing
★ Study space
★ Information on Veteran related community resources
★ Tutoring
★ Book borrowing programs
★ Calculator use
★ Registration assistance
★ Support accessing VA benefits
★ Leadership opportunities
★ Resume and interviewing workshops/ job readiness coaching
★ Job readiness support
★ Veterans Club
★ Peer mentoring
★ Child Care Vouchers
★ Liaison with four year university partners
Whom do we serve?
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Cabrillo College is proud to offer services and support to our veteran students who have
seen active duty, who are in the reserve, spouses and dependents of veterans who are
deceased. The VIC also welcomes non veteran students.
2.0%
1.5%
1.0%
Veterans as a percentage of Cabrillo
Students
Headcount
145
154
139
141
133
121
0.5%
0.0%
Fall 2012 Spring 2013 Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Spring 2015
Source: California Community College Chancellor's Office Data Mart
http://datamart.cccco.edu/DataMart.aspx
7 of the 271 Veterans participated in EOPS
133 of 271 Received a Financial Aid Award
58 Pell Grants
58 BOG Grants
25 of the 271 Students have used the Accessibility Support Center (formerly DSPS)
6 of 271 are MESA Students
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19 of 271 are ASEM Students
Retention of Veteran Students
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
2012 First-Time Sudent Vets n=29
All 2012 Vets n=128
0%
Fall 2012 Spring 2013 Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Fall 2014
Understanding Our Veterans Students:
The Research & Planning Group for California Community Colleges Reports:
Cabrillo College Student Equity Project: Student Perspectives
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Veterans Focus Group Detailed Report
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As part of its student equity planning process, Cabrillo College has launched an endeavor
to better understand students’ own experience at the institution. To do so, the college
engaged the Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges (RP
Group) to conduct seven focus groups with the following targeted student groups:
Latino/a students, African‐American students, Native American students, current and
former foster youth, veterans, and students in need of accessibility/disability services.
The qualitative information gathered from these focus groups will augment the
quantitative data gathered by the college and will help inform the college’s first round of
equity efforts.
Looking Forward
Total returned Post 9-11 in counties around Santa Cruz
State
County
returned from military
California Santa Cruz
802
California Santa Clara
5,227
California Monterey
2,348
California San Benito
274
California San Mateo
2,131
Total returned
10,782
Military Bases near Cabrillo College
Average Members Who Will Leave Military – 2015-17
Base City Total 2015
2015
2017
2017
2017
C.
ISC Alameda
Guard
Alameda
1
1.63%
1
1
Army
Camp Parks
Dublin
2,219 5.16%
115
5.59%
124
239
Army
Presidio of
Monterey
Monterey 6,004 1.63%
98
1.63%
98
196
Totals
213
223
436
44 1.63%
8,267
213 Active Duty Service Members will leave base near Cabrillo in 2015
436 Active Duty Service Members will leave base near Cabrillo in 2017
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Branch Base
8
%
%
total
leaving
leaving
leaving
leaving
leaving
Present Financial Impact of Student Vets on This Campus
Semester Total vets Chap 33 Max Fed reimbursement Total tuition
fall 09
127
40
$216
$27,432
spring 10
178
86
$216
$38,448
% drawn 2.94%
$65,880
fall 10
181
98
$216
$39,096
spring 11
224
134
$216
$48,384
% drawn 3.70%
$87,480
fall 11
202
118
$216
$43,632
spring 12
208
128
$216
$44,928
% drawn 3.44%
$88,560
fall 12
194
116
$216
$41,904
spring 13
194
118
$216
$41,904
$83,808
fall 13
177
112
$216
$38,232
spring 14
179
113
$216
$38,664
$76,896
9
% drawn 2.96%
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% drawn 3.21%
Potential Financial Impact of Student Vets on This Campus
An average of an 18% increase every year, total tuition impact for the next four years
$660,000
Total vets Chap 33
Max Fed
reimbursement
Total tuition
fall 14
239
151
$216
$51,613
spring 15
222
153
$216
$48,000
% drawn
3.67%
$99,613
fall 15
323
204
$216
$69,678
spring 16
300
206
$216
$64,800
% drawn
4.96%
$134,478
fall 16
435
276
$216
$94,065
spring 17
405
278
$216
$87,481
% drawn
6.70%
$181,546
fall 18
588
372
$216
$126,988
spring 19
547
375
$216
$118,099
% drawn
9.04%
10
$245,087
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Semester
The Human Impact of a VIC
•
•
•
Preventing substance abuse, suicide and homelessness with our OEF/OIF veterans.
▪ PTSD, major depression, feeling disconnected
•
No “daily mission”
VIC can bring student vets and the VA together
•
Campus can help local VA find more OEF/OIF veterans
•
Previous generations of veterans can go to VIC
•
Vietnam vets identify with OEF/OIF vets
VIC can help families of student vets
▪ How many generations can be impacted?
Collaborations with other Departments/Offices
Cabrillo College Veterans Task Force: Formed to enhance the services available to
veteran students. Task force membership includes: Cabrillo’s staff, faculty,
administration, board of trustees, students, community members, representatives
veterans-related organizations, four-year university partners, and Santa Cruz County
veterans related agencies.
Student Health Services: Provides our veteran students with health counseling and
education by offering workshops and providing informative handouts. We are also
collaborating to implement an extension of their peer mentoring program to bring it into
VIC.
Planning and Research Office [PRO]: Supports us with reviewing and providing data ,
reports, conducting research studies to gather information that helps us identify the needs
and improve our services to veterans students.
Math Learning Center: Offers math tutoring for veterans at the VIC.
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Learning Skills Provides accommodations and support services needed to be successful
in the classroom for veteran students with learning disabilities and/or PTSD. The
learning skills staff visits our Cabrillo’s Veteran’s Information Center to outreach,
advertise and meet with our veterans students as needed.
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Accessibility Support Center (ASC): Provides the needed support for our veteran
students with disabilities.
Tutoring Center: Offers peer tutoring services for Veterans Students as needed and
requested.
Student Employment: Offers weekly assistance with job search, resumes and interview
preparation for our veteran students at the VIC.
Financial Aid: Offers workshops to help veterans students apply for financial aid and
scholarships information.
Marketing and Outreach: Cabrillo College Veterans’ Marketing & Outreach
Objective: Promote the Veterans’ Service Center and Cabrillo resources/priority
enrollment services for veterans both within Cabrillo and throughout the Santa Cruz
County community.
Opportunities to promote Veterans’ Information Center on campus:
• Articles in Cabrillo Seahawk Student eNews and Faculty/Staff eNews about
Veterans
Information Center and veterans’ services
• Cabrillo Job Fair-April
• New signage on campus
• College & Career Night - workshops specific to veterans
• Article (and/or advertisement) in Cabrillo Voice (student newspaper)
Opportunities to promote Veterans’ Information Center off campus:
• Quarterly events at Veterans Center – Santa Cruz
• College Awareness Week (October 2015)
• Veterans’ Court
• Veterans’ Transition Center in Monterey
Media outreach:
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Online:
Web link for veterans’ services (completed)
• Social Media marketing/messaging around veterans’ services & Veterans’
Information Center on Cabrillo’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (especially
effective for events-based marketing)
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Print collateral:
• Veterans Fact Sheet/Brochure – features Veterans’ Information Center
• 7 Steps for Student Success – highlights veterans’ priority enrollment
• Directional signage on campus
• Updating campus map to include Veterans’ Information Center
• Provide Cabrillo veterans’ brochure to area agencies promoting Cabrillo veterans
services
• May is Veterans Awareness Month
• Issue press release in late April to highlight Veterans’ Awareness month and
bring awareness to Cabrillo Veterans’ Services and Veterans’ Information Center
• Possible Open House at Veterans’ Information Center with invitations to Santa
Cruz County Community (budget permitting)
• Public Service Announcements to run on television, radio and community
calendars about Veterans’ Information Center (and possible open house)
Key messages:
Cabrillo welcomes our veterans
Cabrillo College offers a wide array of veterans’ services, including the following:
• Priority registration
• Veterans’ Information Center on Campus
• Beginning Fall 2015, out-of-state veterans pay in-state student fees
• Dedicated academic counselors for veterans
• Certified, official Veterans Club on campus
Cabrillo College Foundation: Provides support with fundraising for our Veterans center.
Student Senate: Provides support with funding for activities such as Veterans Day BBQ
and to maintain and buy equipment and supplies for the center operations.
Math Department: Provides math books for veterans students for their basic skills math
classes.
Collaboration with other Institutions/Resources
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Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building
Veteran Service Day
846 Front Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Hours: Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Services:
•VA Medical Outreach: VA Physicians are on staff to assist vets with their
healthcare needs.
•VA Harm Reduction: Substance abuse group 10:30 am to Noon
Brenda Taylor-Harris (650) 444-7093
•VRSI Outreach: Vocational Rehabilitation service for homeless veterans
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Santa Cruz County Veteran Specific Resources
•Paget Center screenings: Emergency 90-day housing for homeless vets
•21st Century Vet services for all vets. Not-for-profit 501(c) 3
•Veteran Advocate services will assist any veteran for any need
•VSO assistance with claims representation
•Continental breakfast, lunchtime meal service, and food pantry
21st Century Vet
Bill Manich/John Ramirez
842 Front Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 421-0153/ (831) 359-9924
vetadvocatesc@gmail.com
doxns@earthlink.net / bmanich@earthlink.net
Assisting all our Veterans
Santa Cruz County Veteran Advocate
Dean Kaufman
842 Front Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 420-7348 cell
scveteranadvocate@gmail.com
*Assist any veteran for any need*
VSO (Veteran Service Office)
Local Veterans Center - provides readjustment counseling and outreach services to all
veterans who served in any combat zone. Services are also available for their family
members for military related issues.
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Watsonville Office:
215 East Beach Street
Watsonville, CA 95076
Office (831) 454-4761
vets@santacruzcounty.us
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Santa Cruz Office:
842 Front Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 458-7110
http://www.cacvso.org
vets@santacruzcounty.us
By appointment only for both locations
VA: 41st Ave Vet Center and Clinic
Vet Center: Readjustment counseling services for combat veterans and MST victims
1350 41st Ave.
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 464-4575
VA Healthcare- Capitola Clinic
1350 41st Avenue, Suite 102
Capitola, CA 95010-3906
(831) 464-5519
VA HUD-VASH Program
Permanent Supportive Housing for Homeless vets
Housing Resource Group at Capitola Vet Center on 41st Ave
Every Wednesday from 1pm – 2pm
Lead Social Worker
Shannon Healer
(650) 269-5945
VA Harm Reduction Group
Brenda Taylor-Harris (Counselor)
Meets at VMB 846 Front Street every Wednesday 10:30am to Noon
(650) 444-7093
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VRSI (Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists Inc.)
Employment services for homeless veterans
Meeting with veterans at VMB 846 Front Street every Wednesday 9am to noon
(831) 393-4080
info@vrspecialists.com
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Paget Center
90-Day Emergency Housing Program for Homeless vets
Eligibility screenings Wednesday at VMB 846 Front Street
Contact: intake coordinator (831) 227-8097
UCSC Stars Veteran Resource Center
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
EDD (Employment Development Department)
2045 - 40th Avenue Suite B
Capitola, CA 95010
Vet Rep: Allan Hankh
(831) 464-6279
*Employment services*
VRC Veterans Resource Center
1658 Soquel Drive
Santa Cruz, CA 95065
(831) 477-7515
*SSVF Grant – provides deposit and rent assistance to homeless veterans*
VA Palo Alto Health Care System - provides medical, housing or counseling services for
veterans.
Four Year University Partners
★ San Jose State University
Maggie Morales-Program Director for Military and Veteran Students
408-924-6299 or email: maggie.morales@sjsu.edu
★ University of California, Santa Cruz
UCSC Stars Veteran Resource Center
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Vets Center at the Kresge Piazetta
(831) 459-1520
vets@ucsc.edu
Certifying Official- Gloria Lozano
(831) 459-2709
gloria@ucsc.edu
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Giselle Young
CSUMB Veteran Services Coordinator
Office of the Registrar
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★ Monterey Bay State University
831/582-3608 Direct Line
831/582-3085 Main Office
831/582-3087 fax
Other Resources
Veterans Resource Center of America is a community based veteran’s service agency
with a 40 year history of providing veteran programs.
Veterans Services of Santa Cruz County - is a State and County funded agency,
established in 1946 to assist veterans, military retirees, and their families in obtaining
benefits earned by military service.
Veterans Online Application for Benefits - Claims for Veterans Pension Benefits,
Education benefits, Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment benefits, and Burial
benefits can still be submitted online through VONAPP.
Troops to College - The California State University offer unlimited opportunities to help
veterans, active-duty service members and their families meet their personal and
professional goal
Turbo Tap - The official transition website for Active Duty and Guard/Reserve. Persons
Department of Veterans Affairs- is responsible for administering programs of veterans’
benefits for veterans, their families, and survivors.
New Directions
It is a very exciting time with all the integrated resources and support services that will
flourish from both the Student Equity Plan and Cabrillo College’s commitment to the
White House’s efforts to implement “8 Keys to Veterans Success.” The Veterans
Information Center will further enhance their services in the coming year with a
permanent full time Veteran Coordinator increased, outreach efforts and equity funding
to increase support services needed for veteran students to succeed in school.
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The Veterans Information Center of Cabrillo College has identified learning outcomes to
promote success for our veterans students. The assessment of those outcomes enables the
college to understand effectiveness of our services and programs and an opportunity to
continue to improve our delivery of teaching and learning services for veteran students.
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Veterans Information Center Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Assessment
Institutional Effectiveness
New veteran students will be able to
describe at least 3 resources by
participating in our welcome workshop
Post program evaluation
8 Keys to Success #3,5,6
Veterans Mission #2
HOM #13, 16
College Strategic Planning #1, 5
Student Success & Support Program
Plan #1, 5
Returning veteran students will create a
resource plan that will identify
resources they need and explain how
they will help them succeed in school
8 Keys to Success #3,6
Veterans Mission #2
Resource plan due on the
Meets Student Equity Plan Goal
fourth week of school. One
HOM #5, 7, 10, 15, 16
page worksheet submitted to College Strategic Planning #1, 5
vets coordinator.
Student Success & Support Program
Plan #1, 5
Veteran students will access their
identified resources to support their
academic success
Mid semester progress
report
8 Keys to Success #3,5,6
Veterans Mission #2
Meets Student Equity Plan Goal
HOM #1, 6, 8
College Strategic Planning #1, 5
Student Success & Support Program
Plan #1, 5
Student Services Learning Outcomes Assessment
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The Veterans Information Center learning outcomes will be assess and reported spring
2016.
Program Goals
1. The Veteran Information Center Remodel: The goal is to improve the center’s
welcoming atmosphere to be more professional, effectively arranged, cleaner, and nicer.
This will be our first step toward “inculturating” services of excellence for our veteran
students, including the physical environment where services are rendered. It is part of
the service delivery and plays a big role in attracting students and retaining them. There
will be fundraising efforts with community businesses and organizations to get money
needed to remodel Cabrillo’s VIC. It is our goal to paint, rearrange the use of space, and
buy new furniture, picnic tables, and more computers to improve the facility
environment. We want to ensure that we provide a nice welcoming place where veteran
students can gather, socialize, and form supportive positive relationships with other
veterans. The environment we provide to our veteran students will directly impact the
use of the resources we provide at the VIC and their academic success. Our goal is to
remodel the VIC summer 2016.
2. Annual Program Budget: We need an annual program budget to maintain the
office basic operations. We currently lack the budget to buy basic office supplies to keep
veterans office operational. We need about $10,000 to ensure basic supplies such as
paper and toner, for new needed equipment, pay for the copier maintenance contract, and
to have a small fund for positive incentives for our veteran students throughout the
semester with gift cards, food and coffee. We hope we can have a budget allocated for
the VIC by fall 2016. We also hope to become a college sustainable program and service.
3. Veteran Peers Program: Our veteran students are interested in extending
Cabrillo’s PEERS program to target veteran students. The implementation approach is
to offer peer mentoring from veterans to veterans during “my storytelling days.” In story
days, peer educators will tell their personal story with challenges they overcame and
faced as veteran students. Once the story telling concludes peer educators will extend
the invitation to check in with them with statements like “If you are currently facing the
same challenge as I did, we are here to support you! Come talk to us.” We are planning
to launch this program fall 2016 in collaboration with Student Health Services program.
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22 veteran students took the Veterans Service Needs Survey. The survey results revealed
that our veteran students want to have more support services offered and available at
their center, with the exception of mental health services. In light of this it is our goal to
make as many services available at the VIC. In fall 2015, we have had employment
services, math tutoring, resume and interview workshops, calculator use, academic
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4. Increase Services at the Veteran Information Center (VIC): In Spring 2015,
counseling, and certifying official offer their services on a weekly basis at the VIC. We
can also have the tutoring center and learning skills come to offer their services to VIC
on a needed basis. It is our goal to continue to offer as many services as possible at the
Veterans Information Center.
5. Faculty and Staff Professional Development: It is our goal to continue to hold
webinars, activities and workshops through the year to educate and create awareness for
our faculty and staff on issues and challenges unique to veterans. We would continue to
hold flex workshops and webinars to train our staff and students and coordinate veteran
activities to create awareness.
6. Veteran Mentoring Program: We will like to extend Cabrillo mentoring
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20
program to our veteran center. We will like to recruit veteran staff, teachers, or
professionals to mentor our veteran students to achieve their academic and professional
goals.