Welcoming Veterans:Finding the Right UC FitUC Counselor ConferenceSeptember 2015

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UC is Welcoming to VeteransU.S. Military veterans and active-duty personnel add to the richness of experiences to all of UC (faculty, students and staff).

Most of UC's veterans who enroll as undergraduates started at a California Community College.

• Commissioning programs – student should contact UC directly.

UC undergraduate veterans receive grants and scholarships, in addition to VA education benefits for which many student veterans are eligible.

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Number of Veterans Admitted to UC

For Fall 2015 936 U.S. military veterans, active-duty, reservists, & National Guard members applied to UC.

Of these, 79% were CCC applicants and 64% of them were admitted.

Total Applicants CCC Applicants CCC Admits0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

936

746

480

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Step 1: Is UC the Right Fit?

Major research institutions will allows students to maximum benefits

UC is designed as a full-time, day-time, in-person educational experience.

In some cases student may petition to receive approval for part-time enrollment under certain circumstances after they enroll at a UC

campus.• However, UC charges tuition by the term not by the units

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Step 2: At What Level Should the Student Apply?

As a FRESHMAN: Student who graduated from high school, has not enrolled in a regular (non-summer) session at a college or university or if only completed college courses during high school (through summer after graduation).Exception: Completion of non-transferable U.S. military services courses/training

As a TRANSFER: Student who is/was enrolled in a regular session (fall, winter or spring) at a college or university after high school; including college courses completed while in the military.Note: If course were completed only summer term immediately following high school graduation – can still apply as a freshman.

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Step 3: Major/Pathway Selection

UC offers over 700 academic programs across the nine undergraduate campuses.

Majors List: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/undergraduate_majors_list.pdf

Transfer Pathways: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/transfer/preparation-paths/index.html

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Step 4: UC – Transfer Admission Planner

Students can stay on track with UC’s Transfer Admission Planner (UC TAP)

Once they start planning their classes, they can start entering them into UC TAP – a tool that tracks progress toward meeting UC admission requirements

Military members can identify themselves on the TAP profile

The TAP application can be uploaded in the UC admissions application

It can also serve as the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) application

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Step 5: UC – Transfer Admission Guarantee

UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG), a program that offers guaranteed admission for well-prepared transfer students.

Currently, six UC campuses: Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz, participate in the guaranteed admission program for Fall term enrollment

UC Merced also offers TAG for Spring Semester

Specific requirements must all be met; details available on the TAG Matrix: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/transfer/guarantee/index.html

The TAP application can be used to create the TAG application.

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Step 6: How Military Service is Considered in

the Admission Review ProcessHow applications are reviewedComprehensive Review Factor: Academic accomplishments in light of your life experiences and special circumstances, including veteran status.

Personal Statement: instructions for active-duty personnel or veterans of the U.S. MilitaryUC is interested in knowing about an applicant’s military service. Students may choose to use the personal statement to communicate how their military service has been instrumental in developing their educational plans.

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Step 7:Before Applying... Advice for Prospective Applicants

Communicate with a CCC advisor

Research specific UC campus websitesIdentify a personal UC campus contacts as applicable

Visit the campuses for a touror view a virtual tour on online

Explore veteran specific programs on each campusCheck for availability of transition courses/workshops specifically for military

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Step 8: Transfer Credit for Military Coursework

Report on Admission Application: Students who have completed courses offered by a branch of the U.S. military may indicate their intention to submit a military transcript by checking the box in the "About You" section of the UC admission application.

• Students should plan to earn at least the minimum 60 sem/90 qtr UC-transferable units without including military credit

Submission of Official Record: Students who accept an offer of admission can submit their official military transcripts (e.g., JST, SMART, AARTS, etc.) to the UC campus after enrollment.

UC may award elective transfer credit for some of military courses if the content is equivalent to a course taught at UC.

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Examples of types of courses for which UC may grant transfer credit:

• Courses must be completed at a UC-recognized college/university

Collegiate institutions such as: Defense Language Institute, Community College of the Air Force, University of Maryland, etc.

• Courses offered by U.S. military branches

• Physical Education• Some courses related to

occupational training if equivalent to courses offered at UC (e.g. leadership)

Examples of courses that are not transferable to UC:

• How to/practical application vocational courses

• Recruit/Basic Training, Firefighting, Automotive Repair, Crane Maintenance, Cryptologic Technician, Military Policies

• Personal Development: managing finances, master chief training, increasing your emotional intelligence, communication etiquette, driving for life

• Exam Credit: CLEP and DANTES

Courses Completed in the MilitaryUC may award elective transfer credit for some of military courses if the content is equivalent to a course taught at UC.

UC Student Veterans Services

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Veterans Enrolled at UCSince 2008, UC’s enrollment has seen a steady 50% increase.

• UC enrolls more than 2,000 military veterans (approximately 1,600 undergraduates and 400 graduate students) and roughly 100 military personnel.

• Approximately 71% of UC undergraduate student veterans are transfer students form California Community Colleges.

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Growth of Student Veterans at UC

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UC is Welcoming to Veterans

President’s Advisory Council on Student Veterans

Advises the President on:

• Campus support

• Outreach efforts

• UC Summit on Student Veterans

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Veterans Services on Campus 

Berkeley

Davis

Irvine

Los Angeles

Merced

Riverside

San Diego

San Francisco

Santa Barbara

Santa Cruz

Veterans Services Coordinator (Primary Contact) X X X X X X X X X X

Veterans Education Benefits Certifying Official X X X X X X X X X X

Veteran Student Center X   X X   X X   X X

Veteran resource website X X X X X X X X X X

No-drop policy until benefits are received X X X X X X X X X X

Student Veteran Organization(s) X X X X X X X X X X

Peer advising and/or mentor program X X X  X   X X   X X

Veteran-specific campus events or programs X X X X X X X X X X

Deferred Payment Plan X X X X X X X X X

Specific programs/services for veterans’ dependents or military families

X X X X X X X   X  

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Veterans Services on Campus• Admission and transition support including workshops, priority enrollment,

and advising to ensure timely access to Post 9/11 GI Bill and other VA benefit programs

• Campus support teams, peer support, and mentorship opportunities

• Veterans transition course

• Veteran-specific orientation

• Pre and post-deployment support for students who get reactivated or deploy during an academic term

• Staff and faculty training opportunities to raise campus awareness regarding student veteran issues

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UC Campuses

“Our coordinator set aside a block of time to answer all our questions. He made us aware of a transition course. [This course] was really nice to have – it was all student veterans and we were able to ask questions and work with one another and help each other.”

STUDENT SPEAKER

“When I showed up to campus, I saw a flyer for the meet and greet at the vet center. I stopped by and sure enough the people I met are lifelong friends of mine. It was huge relief to find buddies who were in exactly the same boat. It changed things for me.”

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Resources Campus Veterans Websites• Berkeley: http://veteran.berkeley.edu/

• Davis: success.ucdavis.edu/trv/veteran/index.html

• Irvine: http://www.veteran.uci.edu/

• Los Angeles: http://www.veterans.ucla.edu/

• Merced: http://veteranservices.ucmerced.edu/

• Riverside: http://specialservices.ucr.edu/veterans/index.html

• San Diego: http://admissions.ucsd.edu/transfers/veterans/

• San Francisco: http://veterans.ucsf.edu/

• Santa Barbara: http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/veterans/

• Santa Cruz: http://stars.ucsc.edu/veteran/

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To Our Veterans, Thank You for Your Service!

Thank you!