Troops to College: Counseling Student- Veterans for Transfer to the CSU
Dec 17, 2015
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?
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
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.
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
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
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