Military on Campus

1
Military on Campus

• Developing a Culture of Appreciation and Support

Joan Putnam, Veterans Coordinator Nathaniel
Donnelly, Assistant Veterans Coordinator San
Diego State University
2
Military in San Diego

• Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
• Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
• Marine Corps Recruit Depot
• Naval Air Station North Island
• Naval Amphibious Base Coronado
• Naval Medical Center San Diego
• Naval Station San Diego
• Naval Submarine Base Point Loma

3
Economic Impact

• The military contributes more than 13 billion
  annually to the regional economy
• More than 260,000 veterans reside in the county
• Approximately 27,400 active duty military will be
  mustered out in California this year
  approximately 283,000 nationwide

4
San Diego State University

• 35,800 enrolled students
• More than 62,000 applications for 7,600
  undergraduate spaces for fall 2008
• Ranked second in the nation for number of
  applications

5
Military at San Diego State

• 839 veterans
• 134 active duty military personnel
• 146 dependents of veterans receiving benefits

6
Military Students

• Bring real diversity to the campus
• Have seen the world
• Do not always think alike
• Challenge and contribute to the intellectual
  vitality of the campus
• Are more mature and focused

7
Military Students

• Have strong leadership skills
• Will become leaders and persons of influence in
  society
• Are responsible citizens
• Know how to manage their time
• Many are the first in their family to go to
  college

8
Academic Success

• Low dropout rate for first-time freshmen veterans
  
• 7.5 points less than that of overall student body
• High cumulative GPA for first-time freshmen
  veterans
• .21 points higher than that of overall student
  body

9
Academic Programs

• Five most popular majors
• Business Administration
• Criminal Justice
• Electrical Engineering
• Physical Education/Kinesiology
• Psychology
• International Studies and Conflict Resolution
• Public Affairs Officers Program
• Language programs in Arabic, Persian, Russian,
  and Chinese

10
Special Programs

• Beginning in March 2009 Professional Science
  masters and graduate level certificate programs
• Joint effort between SDSU, CSU San Marcos and
  Military Education Services Officers from
  Southern California
• Special Admission Program for Active Duty and
  Veterans

11
Troops to College Working Group

• Division of Undergraduate Studies
• Enrollment Services
• Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Student Disability Services
• Student Veteran Organization
• Veterans Center

• Alumni Association
• Associated Students
• Cashiers Office
• College of Extended Studies
• Counseling and Psychological Services
• Department of Military Science

12
Reserve Officer Training Corps

• Air Force ROTC
• 115 cadets
• Program for Army, Reserve and National Guard
• Army ROTC
• 1,145 cadets from eight local schools, mostly
  from SDSU
• Naval ROTC
• 100 students
• Includes 60 active duty and 40 Midshipmen

13
SDSU Veterans Center

• Opened July 2008

14
Veterans Center Highlights

• One-unit transition course taught in fall 2008
• Discount to attend New Student Orientation
• Priority registration SB 272
• 1,000 academic scholarships
• 250 book scholarships
• Funding from Wal-Mart Foundation and various SDSU
  alumni

15
Veterans Center Goals

• Veteran Living Community in Residence Halls
• Including apartment-style housing
• Veteran Needs Survey
• Veteran Student Reception
• Deferred Intent to Enroll Fee

16
SDSU Veterans Web site

• www.sdsu.edu/veterans

17
Student Veteran Organization

• Founded November 2006 with a group of 5 student
  veterans
• Inaugural Event held March 2007 with 70
  attendees
• CDVA Secretary Tom Johnson and Congressman Bob
  Filner were in attendance 1st anniversary dinner

18
SVO Benefits

• Creates a network of students and successful
  alumni to provide both professional and personal
  development

19
SVO Benefits

• Provides a fellowship of persons with similar
  experiences

20
SVO Benefits

• Members can meet, share information, plan
  activities, and foster the camaraderie they were
  accustomed to while in the service

21
SVO Highlights

• Celebrated second anniversary in December
• Fund raising golf tournament on April 3rd
• Homecoming community service project with Naval
  Medical Center San Diego

22
SVO Web site

• www.svosdsu.org

23
Student Veterans of America

• Founded in January 2008
• Modeled after SDSU Student Veteran Organization
• Instrumental in gathering support of 21st Century
  G.I. Bill by mobilizing students to write to the
  U.S. Senate and
  Congress

24
SDSU War Memorial

• Memories of fallen SDSU students are honored at
  an annual wreath-laying ceremony

25
SDSU Veterans in the News

• Colleges Eagerly Welcome War Veterans MSNBC
  (August 27, 2007)
• Back to School, Vets on Campus Fox News (April
  8, 2008)
• Ex-Marine Rebuilds Life After Brush with
  Death Los Angeles Times (November 2, 2008)

26
Student Resources

• Student Veterans of America
• www.studentveterans.org
• Troops to College Program
• www.troopstocollege.ca.gov
• CSU Veterans Initiative
• www.calstate.edu/veterans

27
Quote

• The willingness with which our young people are
  likely to serve in any war, no matter how
  justified, shall be directly proportional to how
  they perceive veterans of earlier wars were
  treated and appreciated by their nation.
• - George Washington

28
Contacts

• SDSU Veterans Center
• Joan Putnam
• Veterans Coordinator
• Nathaniel Donnelly
• Assistant Veterans Coordinator
• [phone]
• veterans_at_sdsu.edu
• SDSU Student Veteran Organization
• Peter Salas
• SVO President
• [phone]
• president_at_svo.org