Chancellor’s Office Support for Veterans Resource Centers

Spring
2017
Resolution Number
07.05
 
Contact
Assigned to
President
Category
Consultation with the Chancellor's Office
Status
Assigned
Proposer Contact
Cleavon Smith, Berkeley City College

Whereas, Throughout the 113 California community colleges, there are over 70,000 veterans[1] and no federal or state funding to support these veterans as they move from military life to community college life;

Whereas, Veterans Resource Centers (VRCs) are active on 50 California community colleges, but these VRCs are not provided adequate funding or staffing, are usually comprised of one small room with no support services, and are inadequate to assist our veteran populations to succeed in the community college environment when returning from the stress of war;

Whereas, Fully-resourced and comprehensive VRCs, where services are located in a one stop location, could and do contribute to student success by providing academic, wellness, and collaborative support to the large influx of Post 9/11 veteran students in a holistic fashion with established objectives and activities designed to increase the capacity of the institution to more comprehensively serve veteran students in their endeavor to succeed academically; and

Whereas, Some services VRCs provide are similar to other success centers (individualized counseling and support, academic progress monitoring, tutoring services, textbook services and loans, etc.), other services differ and are designed to address specific needs of veterans, such as mental health services for veterans with PTSD unique to serving in the military, specialized transition services (i.e., Calfresh, VA healthcare enrollment, GI bill), and outreach to veterans;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Chancellor’s Office to seek sustained funding for Veterans Resource Centers; and

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges communicate to the Board of Governors, Chancellor’s Office, CEOs, local senates, and the legislature the need to provide funds to meet the unique needs of veterans to support their success in California community colleges. 

MSC


[1] Chancellor’s Office Data Mart