UC San Diego a Military-Friendly School

August 19, 2009

By Christine Clark

UC San Diego has been ranked among the top 15 percent of the nation's military-friendly schools by G. I. Jobs magazine for embracing veterans as students. The results are based on the universities’ efforts to assist student veterans with new initiatives, including financial aid benefits and additional support to the campus’s student veteran organization (SVO).

In September, UC San Diego will host a Welcome Week Orientation for new student veterans before the start of the fall quarter. The orientation was one of the initiatives implemented last year to support the campus’s 200 undergraduate students who have served in the military.

“It’s an honor to be recognized as a military-friendly school,” said Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Penny Rue. “UC San Diego remains committed to educating and supporting our student veterans who have served our country. Our campus benefits from having veteran students as they bring service, life experiences, diversity and leadership to our university.”

The list of military-friendly colleges was compiled after G.I. Jobs, a publication that provides education and transition assistance for military, polled more than 7,000 schools nationwide. Criteria for making the military-friendly schools list included efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students, results in recruiting military and veteran students, and academic accreditations.

UC San Diego’s Financial Aid Office will continue to counsel student veterans about available financial aid options and has taken new steps to ensure there is a smooth transition for students who will use their Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefits.  “A new process is in place to assist veterans with registration fees while they are waiting for their Post-9/11 benefits to arrive,” said Ann Klein, director of the Financial Aid Office. “We’re also offering interest-free emergency loan funds to assist veterans in paying their rent or living expenses while they wait for these new benefits.”

UC San Diego’s Admission’s Office is in the process of creating a work-study position for a student employee who will be responsible for supporting veterans’ issues, according to Assistant Director of Transfer Student Services Timothy Borch.

UC San Diego’s SVO was founded in 2008.

“UC San Diego has definitely made an effort to work with the veteran students on campus to ensure that we have a fulfilling experience at the university,” SVO President Justice Castaneda said. “This year the SVO will remain committed to advocating for veteran students, serving the campus and serving the community.”

Borch and Jed Schlueter, a student affairs officer, both serve on the UC-wide and UC San Diego Veterans Services Workgroup.  The Veterans Services Workgroup at UC San Diego will continue to meet quarterly to address the needs of student veterans. The campus will also continue to offer priority course registration to student veterans and make outreach efforts to local community colleges and military bases, Borch said.

Castaneda said he’s looking forward to organizing campus events this year that celebrate and recognize students who have served in the military. For example, the SVO was instrumental in planning Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, and individual service celebrations. The student organization also has collaborated with multiple departments to host special events and bring guest lecturers to the campus.

“As former public servants, all of us understand the importance and value of providing a service to benefit a greater good,” he said. “And as we are all guests here on the campus, we welcome the opportunity to become involved with the campus life.”

Media Contact: Christine Clark, 858-534-7618 or ceclark@ucsd.edu