[State Chancellor’s Office] – California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott today announced the agency and the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) have signed a memorandum of understanding that will ease enrollment in community colleges for members of the military exiting active duty. The California Community Colleges already enroll 75 percent of the veterans using GI Bill education benefits in California. Under the new agreement, veterans will find it even easier to connect with a community college to begin their transition to civilian life and the state’s workforce.

“Our returning service members need access to the training offered at our colleges and this memorandum of understanding reaffirms the commitment our system and CalVet have to these veterans to get them enrolled and working toward their educational goals,” said Chancellor Scott. “Community colleges welcome the growing numbers of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and we are pleased to work closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide the best possible service to them and their families.”

Under terms of the memorandum, CalVet will help veterans to streamline their community college application process by providing a direct link on myCalVet.ca.gov to the CCCApply.org and icanaffordcollege.com websites.

CalVet will inform all veterans of their surrounding community colleges by using the zip code on completed reintegration forms to identify the closest schools. They will then provide information on how to apply and ways to use their Veterans Administration education benefits to pay for college. The military personnel, veteran or family member may also receive information on the many other federal, state, and local benefits, resources and services they may be eligible to receive.

“We’re thrilled with Chancellor Scott’s willingness to work closely with CalVet on community college applications for our military and veterans,” said California Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Peter Gravett. “Returning veterans face so many challenges in their attempts to re-enter civilian life, it’s wonderful to be able to simplify a process that might otherwise overwhelm and discourage them from pursuing their college education.”

The responsibilities of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office detailed in the memorandum of understanding include providing the California Department of Veterans Affairs with details on all 112 colleges and their respective regions, college contacts and student veteran websites. This way, service members, veterans and their families may be referred directly to colleges by indicating an interest either on the reintegration form or via a MyCalVet request.

There is no fiscal impact with the memorandum of understanding between the California Community Colleges and the California Department of Veterans Affairs.

The California Community Colleges has a webpage devoted to veterans’ issue. It can be found at http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/Students/SucceedInCollege/Veterans.aspx.

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation. It is composed of 72 districts and 112 colleges serving 2.6 million students per year. Community colleges supply workforce training, basic skills courses in English and math, and prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. The Chancellor’s Office provides leadership, advocacy and support under the direction of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges.