The Veterans Services Office works in tandem with the Financial Aid Office and the college to enable student veterans and dependents of veterans to take full advantage of their veterans education benefits as well as federal and state financial aid programs. The VSO strives to provide a positive and caring community for our student veterans built on shared experiences and dedication to service. We are committed to supporting opportunities for access to higher education and the achievement of vocational and professional goals through ensuring consistent and timely delivery of services to our students.
The VSO administers federal and state education benefits to eligible veterans and dependents of veterans, serving those who are students at Butte College or who plan to attend Butte. These services include certification of veterans educational benefits, referrals to both on and off-campus resources including financial aid, mental health, DSPS and supervision of Veteran Work-Study students. The regulatory services are guided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Further guidance is provided by the Student Services and Special Programs Office within the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. The VSO also provides oversight for the Veterans Resource Center (VRC). They are located in the same building to provide veterans with easy access to information and certification, as well as to promote a sense of community for those who have the common bond of having served in one of the branches of the armed services. As with financial aid, regulations concerning new GI Bill chapters have grown exponentially while the number of staff -- one certifying official who also has financial aid responsibilities -- has remained the same. For several years, Butte College Veterans Services and the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) have received state and national attention for a model programming. This is a source of pride for Butte College but it has been accomplished on a shoestring and should be directly supported by district funds. We have seen a steady increase in the number of students served through the VSO over the past two years. This increase in numbers of student veterans is predicted to continue.
The VSO has worked to ensure Student Veterans have better access to other types of financial resources. Our office has been successful but had some obstacles due to the Camp Fire.
The 2018/2019 Academic year provided a significant challenge due to the CampFire (November 2018). This resulted in a drastic decline in our student population for the Fall and Spring semester. One of the main challenges was reassessing the needs of our students from educational needs, to more immediate needs (i.e. housing, food, gas, supplies, etc.) By providing awareness to these services we were able to retain a portion of our students for the following semesters.
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Veterans Services meets the goal of the Vision for Success by providing a designated location for Veterans to access tutoring, counseling, certification of education benefits, support workshops and additional resources that assist the students in accessing, persisting and graduating in a timely manner.
The VSO staff and resources provided through the VRC meet the following Strategic Direction Themes of the institution:
Strategic scheduling- through CSEP with Veterans Counselor
Closing Equity Gaps- Veterans are listed on our Student Equity dashboard
Meeting student achievement goals- Veterans Services has increased the number of awarded degrees and certificates for our Veteran population of students
Fostering a Culture of Inclusiveness- Veterans Services hosts monthly workshops, participate in college community events and present to internal and external groups as requested
Strengthening Professional Development- All members of VS attend annual trainings to stay abreast of regulatory and program changes that impact the certification of education benefits for our Veteran students. They also attend one financial aid conference a year in order to support our Veteran students with applying for financial aid
The Veterans Services Program review conducted in Spring of 2017 included recommendations to strengthen our Veterans Counseling services, outreach to our Veterans, community connections and add additional workshops.
We have far exceeded our recommendations as stated in our Program Review.
We also referenced the new Veterans facility approved through Measure J. We will continue to work with leadership and facilities to ensure that our Veterans receive a facility that aligns with the expectations outlined in the description of Measure J when passed by voters.
Strategy 1 - District VA Program Coordinator
Create a Program Coordinator position to manage the operations and Veterans Education Benefits Certification process within the VRC.
The VRC currently serves an estimated 423 Veterans and dependents of Veterans. The current school certifying official has carried the responsibility of managing the VRC, overseeing activities and workshops, providing leadership to our Special Programs Clerk in the VRC and VA Work Study students. Coordinates services with our VA Counselor and outside Veterans agencies to provide resources and support to our Veteran students all under the title of Financial Aid and Veterans Services Assistant, Senior. In order to align this position based on program responsibility and number of students being served through the VRC it is critical that the District appropriately fund a Program Coordinator position within the VRC.
Strategy 2 - Awareness & Celebrations of our student veterans
Hold events at district locations to celebrate our student veterans and to bring about awareness of the unique issues they face. Awareness would come in the forms of presenations and trainings for faculty, staff and students and also through our annual Veterans Day event.
Veterans face unique issues as the transition from combat to civilian life. Add to that the transition to acadamia and it can be very overwhelming for both the veteran and his/her family. It is imperative that we ensure faculty, staff and students have an awareness of these issues. Veterans bring a unique perspective on diversity to campus. The majority of our incoming veterans have spent extensive amounts of time living in other countries and have experienced the culture (food, music, government, industry, education) along side the citizens of those countries.
Strategy 3 - Increase part-time Special Programs Clerk to full-time
Increase part-time Special Program Clerks from part-time (60%) to full-time to assist with the intake, processing, outreach, data entry, benefits certification, and campus community events.
Currently the VSO does not have a defined budget to support the many initiatives and goals it has set to enhance support and services to our Veteran students. Currently the VSO office is dependent on VA Work Studies (Volunteers) that are funded through the VA program, the addition of support staff will allow the VSO to be more visible during community and campus events, outreach efforts would expand dramatically, and student success will increase due to additional support provided to students. VA Work Study students do not have access to support data entry needs additionally, there is high turnover which leaves the VSO with less than adequate support to meet the overall strategic goals.
Strategy 4 - Veterans Counselor
Veterans Counselor to be housed in the VRC and provide direct support to veteran students and dependents.
Student Veterans and dependents of veterans are now able to have direct access to a counselor that is housed in the Veterans Resource Center, this has been extremely beneficial for the success of our veterans and dependents alike.
Strategy 5 - Laptop Loaning Library
Student veterans would be able to check out laptops in the VRC to use for the week.
Having laptops with WiFi access available for our student veterans to borrow will allow them access to complete assignments when not on campus.
None requested
Department of Veterans Affairs reimburses the VRC with a per-student reporting fee of $15, for 2018/2019 calculates to $5,340.
We received a $56,000 grant from the California Community College Chancellor's Office for VRC funding. The amount will change pending the number of student veterans Butte College serves.
Nor-Cal Crawlers: $3,820
Chico Noon Rotary: $4,790 used to purchase a refrigerator, snacks, student travel and micro-grants
| Original Priority | Program, Unit, Area | Resource Type | Account Number | Object Code | One Time Augment | Ongoing Augment |
| Description | Supporting Rationale | Potential Alternative Funding Sources | Prioritization Criteria | |||
| 1 | Veterans Services Office (VSO) | Personnel | 52120 | $0.00 | $10,706.00 | |
| Program Coordinator for Veterans Services | Create a Program Coordinator position to manage the operations and Veterans Education Benefits Certification process within the VRC. The VRC currently serves an estimated 423 Veterans and dependents of Veterans. The current school certifying official has carried the responsibility of managing the VRC, overseeing activities and workshops, providing leadership to our Special Programs Clerk in the VRC and VA Work Study students. Coordinates services with our VA Counselor and outside Veterans agencies to provide resources and support to our Veteran students all under the title of Financial Aid and Veterans Services Assistant, Senior. In order to align this position based on program responsibility and number of students being served through the VRC it is critical that the District appropriately fund a Program Coordinator position within the VRC. |
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| 2 | Veterans Services Office (VSO) | Personnel | To be established | 52150 | $0.00 | $32,554.00 |
| Increase Part-time (60%) Special Programs Clerk to full-time | Increase part-time Special Program Clerks from part-time (60%) to full-time to assist with the intake, processing, outreach, data entry, benefits certification, and campus community events. Currently the VSO does not have a defined budget to support the many initiatives and goals it has set to enhance support and services to our Veteran students. Currently the VSO office is dependent on VA Work Studies (Volunteers) that are funded through the VA program, the addition of support staff will allow the VSO to be more visible during community and campus events, outreach efforts would expand dramatically, and student success will increase due to additional support provided to students. VA Work Study students do not have access to support data entry needs additionally, there is high turnover which leaves the VSO with less than adequate support to meet the overall strategic goals. |
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| 3 | Veterans Services Office (VSO) | Personnel | $0.00 | $119,619.00 | ||
| Veterans Counselor | Student Veterans and dependents of veterans will have direct access to a full-time counselor that is housed in the Veterans Resource Center, this is extremely beneficial for the success of our veterans and dependents alike. The VRC must provide a full-time Counselor located in the VRC for the college to receive any categorical funding from the state to help support the services provided directly to Veterans and their dependents. In the past year Butte College has seen the devastating impacts of Veteran suicide as we have lost 2, possibly a 3rd student Veteran to suicide. The District needs to take very seriously the role we play in the transition for Veterans coming home. |
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| 4 | Veterans Services | Operating Expenses | $0.00 | $2,000.00 | ||
| Campus Awareness | Establish budget for on-going events such as Veterans Day Celebration |
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| 5 | Veterans Services | Equipment | 121557031648000 | 56411 | $3,200.00 | $0.00 |
| Laptop Loaning Library | Having laptops with WiFi access available for our student veterans to borrow will allow them access to complete assignment from home. |
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