SPRING 2011 ISSUE
A Cuyamaca College Veterans Counseling Department Publication
Cuyamaca College enrolls over 550 veterans with approximately
this issue
SERVICES
424 completing the certification process in order to begin receiving
their VA benefits. Cuyamaca consistently receives more than 500
veterans applications per year which include new and continuing
Veterans Walk-In Advising . 1
students. After meeting with a counselor, veterans will have an
Veterans Advising Orientation
and Assessment ………………. 2
education plan and assistance with identification of an educational
DSPS ………………………………. 2
activities to support the needs of veterans at Cuyamaca College.
goal. Counselors continuously participate in on-going training and
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
New Veteran Work Study .. 2
Personal Development
Course for Veterans ........... 2
Student Veteran
Organization ...................... 3
EMPLOYMENT
Partnership with Shaw
Environmental ………………. 2
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Warrior Traditions .............. 3
GI BILL
Important Changes ………... 3
Veterans Walk-In Advising
In Fall 2010, the general counseling
department
started veterans
only advising hours
in an effort to
better serve our
growing population
of active duty military
and veteran students
and to assist with
Nicole Jones,
Veterans Counselor
Spring registration.
This enabled us to serve 229 veteran
students between November 1, 2010—
January 21, 2011; 150 more students
than were served during the same time
period last year.
Summer 2011 Advising Hours:
Mon. 3:30pm - 6:30pm
Wed. 11:30am -2:30pm

April 25th - June 8th
Please stop by the one-stop
center, Bldg. A-200 to meet with
Veterans Counselor, Nicole Jones.
Veterans Advising
Orientation &
Assessment
More info on Page 2
Services
Veterans Advising
Orientation &
Assessment
STARTING IN APRIL 2011, Veterans
counseling will provide Orientation,
Assessment and Advising sessions.
Veteran students who attend will
take
the
Math
and
English
Assessment, meet with a Counselor,
and complete a semester plan for
Summer 2011.
Upcoming Dates:
Tuesday, April 19, 2011 ~ 1-4:30pm
Monday, May 9, 2011 ~ 9-12:30pm
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 ~ 2- 5:30pm
TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT:
Contact Veterans Counseling
Services: 619-660-4542
Disabled Students
Programs & Services
On a case by case basis DSPS
connects veteran s tudents to
community based resources for
assistance with PTSD counseling,
learning disability assessments, and
provide accommodations for
veteran students.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
CONTACT DSPS: 619-660-4239
New VA Work Study
KESHA WILKERSON, our new Veterans
work
study
s t u d e n t, has
been assisting
N i col e Jon es
in the Veterans
Counseling
department.
Kesha will work
part-time
as
the
Veterans
Couns elor assistant, usually from
9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. She will be
available in the lobby area during
Veteran walk-in advising and will
schedule Active Duty Military and
Veteran students appointments and
answer phone calls.
CONTACT KESHA WILKERSON:
PH: 619-660-4542
Personal
Development Course
for Veterans—PDC 124
This
class
focuses on
transition
related issues
for active
duty military
and veteran
students as it
relates to being a successful college
student.
SHAW ENVIRONMENTAL, a local
employer who runs several industrial
waste pre-treatment plants in our
area, has recently hired three
veteran students from Cuyamaca to
work initially as Plant Maintenance
Mechanics, with the opportunity to
move up into Plant Operator
positions.
This is a large company with worldwide work locations. They work
primarily under contract at US
military bases and/or the shipyard/
maritime and refinery industries (i.e.
cleaning up contaminated bilge
water, sandblast residue, etc.). The
company values the high mechanical
aptitude and trouble-shooting skills
of retired and recently separated
military personnel. Congratulations
to our students!
FOR
MORE
INFORMATION ON
SHAW VISIT: http://shawgrp.com
MORE INFO ON PAGE 4
ATTENTION
April 13th
Miramar Career Fair
April 27th
NAB Galley
April 19th
Miramar Education Fair
July 20th
Hiring Heroes Career
April 20th
North Island Education Fair
July 25th—29th
Ed Fair week
CUYAMACA VETERANS
We value your feedback and
opinions. Please be on the
lookout for the upcoming
Veteran survey. Information
from this brief survey will directly
impact the services we provide.
Your participation is appreciated!
Community Resources
GI BILL Post - 9/11 Changes
EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2011

Veterans
Village
of
San
If you are training at greater than ½ time your housing allowance is
Diego
now prorated according to the training time you are enrolled in, i.e.
Warrior Traditions Program offers,
full housing allowance for you is $1000, you are attending ¾ time -
confidential, and off-base support
your housing allowance would be $750 (¾ of $1000)
groups for Active Duty, National
Guard, Reserve and recently

and fees; this includes graduate training, etc.
separated Combat Veterans of Iraq
(OIF) and Afghanistan (OEF). The
support groups are led by Combat

due to an emergency situation such as a natural disaster or strike.
share experiences, receive
Entitlement which previously would have been used for break pay
assistance, and discuss any issues
will be available for use during a future enrollment.
related to Combat or its effects on
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
PHONE: 619-497-0142
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: www.vvsd.net/warrior.htm
Break or interval pay is no longer payable under any VA education
benefit program unless under an Executive Order of the President or
Veterans and provide a safe place to
readjustment to civilian life.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill will now pay all public school in-state tuition

This means that if your semester ends December 15 your housing
allowance is paid for the first 15 days of December only. Your
benefits will begin again when your new semester begins (e.g.
January 15) and you will be paid for the remaining days of that
month and term.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
NORTH COUNTRY
(Monday & Wednesday: 1900-2100)
Libby Lake Community Center
4700 North River Rd.
Oceanside, CA 92057
CONTACT DEBRA AYERS: 619-660-4276
or visit the Department of Veteran Affairs website at:
http://gibill.va.gov/post-911/post-911-gi-bill-summary/
Post911_changes.html
SAN DIEGO
(Thursday: 1900 -2100)
Veterans Museum & Memorial Ctr.
2115 Park Blvd.
San DIEGO, CA 92101
Join Cuyamaca College
Student Veteran Organization (SVO)
On Facebook!
Spouse NIGHT
(1st & 3rd Tuesdays: 1800-2000)
Libby Lake Community Center
Please add this page to your friends list so we can stay in
touch with new and exciting information for veterans.
4700 North River Rd.
Oceanside, CA 92057
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622#!/home.php?
sk=group_138605156186852
[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 and
comprehension

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!
Personal Development
Counseling 124
Transition Skills for Veterans
Students who complete this
course are more successful in
college.
Fall 2011
Instructor:
T/TH 8-9:15 am

Nicole Jones
This course is designed for veterans and
transitioning active duty service members.
Important Contacts
Veterans Counseling
Veteran Services
Nicole Jones, Counselor
Reem Asfour, Counselor
Osvaldo Torres, Counselor
Kesha Wilkerson, Work Study
Debra Ayers, Certifying Official
A-201
619-660-4429
DSPS
A-113
619-660-4239
A-319
619-660-4276
Financial Aid
A-303
619-660-4201
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 Interim President: Robert Garber