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CSU, Chico Recognized by Three Premier Publications for Military Friendliness
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 11-04-2010
Kathleen McPartland
Public Affairs
530-898-4260
Larry Langwell
Coordinator, Office of Veterans’ Affairs
530-898-5911
Military Times EDGE invited more than 4,000 colleges and universities to tell them about their programs, policies and resources for veterans. Responses were evaluated in four categories: financial assistance, academic flexibility, campus culture and support services. The top 101 colleges in the nation were listed in Best for Vets: Colleges, a supplement to the magazine. Chico State was among those top colleges.
MAE has also selected CSU, Chico as a Top Military-Friendly College and University Nominee for its fourth annual Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities. In addition to academic programs, distance-learning programs and financial assistance, MAE considered a school’s regional or national accreditation and their membership in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges consortium, which ensures that members meet set criteria for granting credit for military experience and training.
These lists are based upon the comprehensive services offered to student veterans. CSU, Chico responded to the governor’s 2005 Troops to College initiative with several enhanced services, including the Student Veterans Center that opened in spring 2010.
Larry Langwell, coordinator of the Office of Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) on campus, outlined the services created at CSU, Chico in response to the Troops to College initiative. The following enhanced services address the needs of returning Afghanistan and Iraq veterans:
• VEST (Veteran Education Support Team), comprising 12 student service professionals on campus, collaborates with several veteran service agencies in the community.
• The CSU, Chico Student Veteran Organization.
• The Student Veterans Center that opened on campus in spring.
• A change in General Education criteria that allows veterans to receive academic credit for military experience.
• A special dispensation from admissions closures and priority registration.
• An invitation to give presentations at the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) conference to promote awareness of veterans’ issues.
• Participation in the Conversations on Diversity program.
• The creation of official policies and procedures for students called to active duty.
“Although Chico State has a long history of honoring our student veterans,” said Langwell, “this is the first year that our institution has received national recognition. The Chico model is being acknowledged as a national leader for its comprehensive package of amenities for student veterans.”
These services begin, said Langwell, with the CSU, Chico Student Veteran Organization (SVO), an inaugural member of the Student Veterans of America. The SVO is an integral part of the CSU, Chico Veteran Education Support Team (VEST), which is comprised of a team of dedicated service professionals from across campus and several veteran service agencies in the community.
“These two entities work to promote the awareness of veterans’ issues and provide advocacy for our student veterans as they transition from the military environment to the college campus,” said Langwell.
OVA and the CSU, Chico Student Veteran Organization (SVO) came into existence in the 1970s. The OVA has continued to serve student veterans since its inception, while the SVO has had periods of inactivity during the 1980s and 1990s. OVA is operated by an all-veteran staff led by Langwell. You can contact OVA by calling 530-898-5911 or e-mailing.
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