Gavilan’s new center helps military vets make transition back to civilian life
Published in the Nov. 26 – Dec. 9, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Kent Child
Kent Child
Veterans of military service are a growing group of students on the Gavilan College campus, enriching the college community with their experiences and perspective. In California more than 30,000 students took advantage of veterans’ educational benefits last year.
As our nation’s military veterans make the transition from service in the Armed Forces to college and civilian life, they often face challenges different from those of other students. According to Gavilan College President Steve Kinsella, himself a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, “With the discipline, esprit de corps and commitment to our nation as core values that these young men and women have instilled within them, it is now time to focus on a new mission. That new mission or objective is to successfully integrate into the civilian world that is now unfamiliar to many veterans. Our veterans have unique experiences and skills that can be enhanced through a quality college education. They are entering a new phase in their lives and, while challenging, opportunities are once again boundless for this group of students. We support them as they have supported us.”
Earlier this month, Gavilan College celebrated a milestone in support for student veterans: the grand opening of the Veterans’ Resource Center to provide one-stop access to resources and services for student veterans. The VRC is staffed by student veterans whose goal is to help other veterans successfully navigate the academic setting. The VRC is a place for veterans to connect with one another, learn about available campus services, and to provide a welcome and familiar environment for incoming veteran students.
The VRC provides access to:
• Financial aid information
• VA benefits and certification help
• Veteran mentors and academic tutoring
• Readjustment counseling
• Scholarship information
• Peer-to-peer student support
• Veterans club information
• Disability rating assistance
The VRC has been supported by grants from community groups including Gilroy Rotary, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Carmel Doll and Toy Club,and the American Legion. The grand opening celebration, featuring keynote speaker General Peter J. Gravet (ret.), Secretary of the California Department of Veterans’ Affairs, was sponsored by the Gavilan College Associated Student Body, the Gavilan College Faculty Association, and the Patriot Guard Riders.
Gavilan College also has a Student Veterans Club dedicated to helping veterans find fellowship, understanding, direction and support services during their academic career.
As one of the colleges recognized for adherence to Presidential Executive Order 13607: Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Veterans, Gavilan College has implemented the “8 Keys to Success for Veterans.” (http://www.whitehouse.gov.log/2013/08/13/8-keys-success-supporting-veterans-military-and-military-families-campus) These principles ensure that Gavilan is providing meaningful information to service members, veterans, spouses, and other family members about the financial cost and quality of education, to assist prospective students in making choices about how to use their Federal educational benefits.
Kent Child is the president of the board of trustees for Gavilan Community College. He wrote this for Morgan Hill Life.
