SUMMER 2011 ISSUE
A Cuyamaca College Veterans Services Publication
***MANDATORY***
NEW Veterans Advising
Orientation & Assessment
this issue
SERVICES
Veterans Advising Orientation
and Assessment …………….…. 1
Changing Major .................. 1
Veterans Walk-In Advising . 2
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
Professional Development
Workshop …………….............. 2
Arizona State University ...... 2
Counseling Course ............... 5
IMPORTANT CHANGES
GI Bill ……………………….….…... 3
Exercise Science Credit .…... 3
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
VVSD Stand Down ............... 4
 Take Math & English Assessments
 Meet with a Counselor
 Learn About Financial Aid
Upcoming Dates:
 Wednesday, July 6, 2011*
10:00am—2:30pm
 Tuesday, July 26, 2011
1:00pm—5:00pm
 Tuesday, August 16, 2011
12:00pm—4:00pm
*In order to participate in Priority
Registration on July 11 th, please bring
your DD214 (member 4 copy) and
Eligibility Notice to Orientation and
Assessment on July 6, 2011
TO SCHEDULE ASSESSMENT:
Contact : 619-660-4542/4429
IMPORTANT!!!
Orientation, Assessment and Fall Semester Advising are REQUIRED activities
for all new first year Veteran students who will be using an educational
benefit.
URGENT NOTICE !
Regarding Change of Major
Military Fair ………............... 4
EFFECTIVE FALL 2011
Important Dates ………………. 4
 Change of major will REQUIRE a new Education plan.
 Change of major mid semester may delay benefits.
 Education plans are done by appointment only.
Services
Veterans Walk-In Advising
Opportunity for
Instructional
Faculty!
Advising Hours For Fall 2011 Registration:
Professional Development
Workshop
Monday, July 11th 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Please stop by the one-stop center, Bldg. A-200
to meet with one of the Veterans Counselors.
Beginning fall 2011, veterans honorably discharged from the
U.S. military will become eligible to receive the in-state
tuition benefit as they take advantage of educational
opportunities at ASU.
If you have any questions about the new benefit, feel free to
contact ASU Veterans Services at 480-965-7723 or via email
at [email protected].
Cuyamaca College has nearly 500 Veteran students
attending each semester and many more students
who are active duty military. This means that
chances are you have a military student in your
classroom. Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) and
Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)
Veterans are unlike than those Veterans from other
wars such as Vietnam and Desert Storm. Their
needs and readjustment issues are diverse. This
workshop is designed to provide our faculty and
staff with expert knowledge on veteran student
behaviors, what to look out for and how to better
engage those students in the learning process.
Workshop Date:
Monday August 15th 10:00 am-11:30am
Room: F-512
staff
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Vet
Nicole Jones,
Veterans Counselor
Reem Asfour,
Part-time Veterans
Counselor
Counseling Department
Building A-201
Counseling Department
Debra Ayer,
VA Certifying Official
Admissions & Records
Building A-319
Building A-201
PH: 619-660-4276
PH: 619-660-4427
PH: 619-660-4429
Osvaldo Torres,
Part-time Veterans
Counselor
Kesha Wilkerson,
VA Student Workstudy
Kevin Biddle,
VA Student Workstudy
Counseling Department
Counseling Department
Building A-201
Building A-201
Admissions & Records
Building A-319
PH: 619-660-4429
PH: 619-660-4542
PH: 619-660-4282
Important Changes
IMPORTANT
GI BILL Post - 9/11 Changes for Fall 2011
EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2011


The Post-9/11 GI Bill will now pay all public school tuition and fees; this includes graduate training, etc.
Prorates housing allowance by the student’s rate of pursuit
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
A student attending 1/2 time will receive 50% of the BAH rate
Break or interval pay is no longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under an Executive
Order of the President or due to an emergency, such as a natural disaster or strike.
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This means that when your semester ends (e.g. December 15th), your housing allowance is paid for the
first 15 days of December only and begins again when your next semester begins (e.g. January 10th) and
is paid for the remaining days of January.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2011

Housing allowance is now payable to students (other than those on active duty) enrolled solely in distance
learning. The housing allowance payable is equal to ½ the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents.
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

The full-time rate for an individual eligible at the 100% eligibility tier would be $673.50 for 2011.
Non-college degree programs are now covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The book stipend is now payable to active duty members.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
CONTACT DEBRA AYERS: 619-660-4276
or visit the Department of Veteran Affairs website at:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/Post911_changes.html
Exercise Science Credit
Beginning July 1, 2011, official military transcripts (SMART, AARTS, CC Air Force, Coast Guard) will be required to
award Exercise Science activity credit for Veterans.
The DD-214 will no longer be accepted for this purpose. (DD-214s may still be submitted to Veterans Services in
Admissions and Records for priority registration and other VA processes. Please see Debbie Ayers or a VA work-study
for further details).


For Veterans receiving benefits, the military transcript will be treated as a required document and will be pending
until received.
Veterans not receiving benefits will be required to submit the military transcript to receive the Exercise Credit
Activity credit.
The credit will vary from 1-3 units, depending on the ACE guide recommendations noted on the military transcript.
These units will also be certified in Area E of CSU GE Breadth.
Community Resources
About Stand Down
What is a Stand Down?
In times of war, exhausted combat units requiring time
to rest and recover were removed from the battlefields
to a place of relative security and safety. Today, Stand
Down refers to a
community-based intervention
program designed to help
the nation's estimated
200,000 homeless veterans
"combat" life on the
streets.
Veterans Village of
San Diego organized
the nation's first Stand
Down in 1988. Since then,
the program has been widely replicated nationwide.
Today, more than 200 Stand Downs take place across
the country every year. "The program has become
recognized as the most valuable outreach tool to help
homeless veterans in the nation today," according to
the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.
What happens at a Stand Down?
Stand Down will be held in mid-July 2011 when
hundreds of homeless veterans will be provided a
wide range of necessities such as:


They will be greeted with respect and open arms
They will be offered breakfast and coffee and
fresh fruit
 A visit to the
clothing tent
 Showers
 Barbers
 Medical/Dental
 As well as many
other services.
distributors.
For Information on Volunteering or Donations
Please Visit: http://www.vvsd.net/standdown.htm
UPCOMING MILITARY FAIRS
July 20th
Hiring Heroes Career
When: Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Where: Camp Pendleton, CA.
Time: 9:00AM to 2:00 PM
Talk to over 70 DoD, Federal and Private
Sector recruiters about opportunities in
various civilian career fields
Sou th M esa Sta ff No ncommi ssio ned
Officers’ Club Building #202850
202850 San Jacinto Road,
Camp Pendleton, CA 92055
For more information:
Call Ty Redmon at 703-696-6243
Email: [email protected]
And last but not least
meals prepared by VFW,
American Legion, VVSD,
Kiwanis, and supported
by the Lions Clubs,
Rotary and local food
Important Dates
Starts
Ends
Summer Session
6/13/2011
8/4/2011
Fall Semester
8/22/2011 12/19/2011
Fall Registrations Begins
7/11/2011
Fall Registration Appointments
6/28/2011
Classes Begin
8/22/2011
Program Adjustment Period
8/22/2011

9/2/2011
9/02/2011
Please remember to see a counselor BEFORE making
any adjustments or changes to your semester
schedule.
[VETERANS/ACTIVE DUTY}

Overview of Military
readjustment and
transition related issues

Get ahead on units for
college graduation

Meet general education
for transfer to CSU (Area
E) and UC transferable

Discover super learning
techniques to improve
memory and learn faster

Increase your reading
speed, comprehension
and critical thinking skills

Practice effective notetaking and test-taking
skills

Decide on a major or
evaluate your present
career choice

Learn goal setting and
time management skills
Now there is a class for you!
Counseling 124
Lifelong Success
Transition Skills for Veterans
Students who complete this
course are more successful in
college.
Fall 2011
T/TH 8-9:15 am

Instructor:
Nicole Jones
This course is designed for Veterans and
transitioning active duty service members.
Important Contacts
DSPS
A-113
619-660-4239
Financial Aid
A-303
Cuyamaca College | Veterans Counseling Department
900 Rancho San Diego Parkway A-200
El Cajon, CA 92019-4304
www.cuyamaca.edu/counseling
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board Members:
Greg Barr, Bill Garrett, Edwin Hiel, Debbie Justeson, Mary Kay Rosinski
Student Trustees: Christopher Enders, Charles Taylor III
Chancellor: Cindy L. Miles, Ph.D.
Grossmont President: Sunita V. Cooke, Ph.D.
Cuyamaca President: J. Mark Zacovic, Ph.D.
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
8800 Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon, CA 92020-1799 | (619) 644-7010 | www.gcccd.edu
619-660-4201