Campus Event Helps Veterans Transition to Life at UCSF
Members of the Student Veterans at UCSF pose for a photograph at the VET NET Ally Seminar, which is designed to help student veterans and military service members navigate UCSF and provide them with a welcoming space. Clockwise from top left are Virginia Blackman, Charles Hu, Alfonso Flores, David Haase, Jonathan Brandon, Onur Yenigun, Sharon Stortz, Rebecca Hudock, Joshua Noel, and Se Jin Joo.
Members of the UC San Francisco military veterans community participated Oct. 3 in a seminar designed to help them navigate UCSF and provide them with a welcoming space.
The VET NET Ally Seminar, sponsored by Student Academic Affairs, featured Marshall Thomas, EdD, a United States Marine Corps veteran and director of veteran services at California State University Long Beach, who talked about ways to ease the transition from military life to an academic one.
Services provided include mentorship from other veterans, guidance on educational benefits, and tools to succeed both academically and personally. The inaugural VET NET Ally seminar is a part of this effort and serves as an education and awareness program to develop a network of faculty, staff, and administrators.
Upcoming Veterans Day Celebration Events
- November 12 - Veterans Day Presentation & Reception at Parnassus N217 (12 - 1 p.m.)
- November 13 - Chancellor's Concert Series Honoring Veterans at Cole Hall (12 - 1 p.m.)
For more information about resources for military veterans at UCSF, please visit the UCSF Veterans Support Services website.
Organizers believe it is vital to have a better comprehension of military culture as the number of veterans on our campuses increase. The four-hour session provided an overview of the issues, challenges, and concerns student veterans face in higher education and concluded with a panel discussion of twelve UCSF student veterans who shared their thoughts.
Staff from Campus Life Services (CLS) Facilities Services and Housing; Controller’s Officer, Departments of Anesthesia and Psychiatry; Office of Diversity and Outreach; all four professional schools—dentistry, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy; University Development; Student Academic Affairs; and colleagues from UC Berkeley and Davis participated.
The students appreciated the demonstration of support shown from UCSF staff. Students say they were impressed by the commitment from staff toward becoming more aware of the issues and concerns faced by the veteran student population. Likewise, many of the staff attending the training also commented on the benefits of Thomas’ presentation.
Organizers say seminars and celebrations like these underscore UCSF’s appreciation for the skills, assets, and experiences veterans and military service members bring to the UCSF community. The goal is to highlight UCSF’s commitment to helping them achieve their goals and aspirations.