VIDEO: Veterans Service Center supports military coming to college
Despite being closed during the pandemic, the center continues to give support to the military affiliates on campus
City College will host an on-campus Veterans Day remembrance for the first time since 2019 (pictured). San Diego City College on Flickr
November 8, 2021
Transitioning to student life from the military can be a challenging experience.
Whether you’re a veteran, member of the military or a dependent, the San Diego City College Veteran Service Center provides resources and benefits to make that adjustment smoother.
“(Military affiliates) are issued what are called, post 9/11, the VA educational benefit,” said Dora Meza, Acting Student Services Supervisor at the center. “This allows a service member to get training for their next career path. Some of them do vocational training if that’s what they like. Some of them prefer to do an advanced degree depending on what their career path is.”
On the City College campus, 15 percent of students in fall 2021 identified as affiliated with the military, according to San Diego Community College District data.
Through campus Student Services and the Veterans Services Center, the college supplies educational benefits as well as activities to build a community with all the veterans across campus.
That includes a Virtual Boots to Suits Career Workshop, a Zoom event focused on veterans transitioning to civilian or federal positions. It will be held on Wednesday, November 10 at 1:30 p.m. To access the Zoom link, RSVP here.
City College is also hosting a formal Veterans Day Program on November 10 at 11:30 a.m., which will take place outside the A building and stream on City’s YouTube channel.
Center staff members and volunteers help veterans navigate through their benefits and career goals. Some of these benefits cover the cost of tuition.
“The VA allows them the opportunity to go to school without worrying about who’s going to pay for the goods or who’s going to pay for tuition because it’s covered through their educational benefits,” Meza said.
Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Veterans Service Center has been physically closed. Despite the circumstances, the center continues to provide virtual events and services remotely.
The Veterans Service Center plans to reopen its doors for the Spring 2022 semester.
