Veterans Success Center Provides Support and Resources to Students
The Veterans Success Center (VSC) is a one-stop shop for CSUSB student veterans, service members, and their families. Located at the San Bernardino and Palm Desert campuses, the Veterans Success Center provides students a lounge, workstations, free printing and test taking materials, snacks, and friendly, knowledgeable staff.
“We want students to feel welcomed, supported, and celebrated,” said Agustin Ramirez, Director of the Veterans Success Center. “So, throughout the year we host wellness workshops in collaboration with CAPS [Counseling and Psychological Services], two affinity graduations, Thanksgiving and Christmas gift-card giveaways, provide $10,000 in scholarships annually, and support the Student Veterans Organization (SVO), a chartered club on campus.”
The Student Veterans Organization is a community run by veterans for veterans. The SVO assists veterans, dependents of veterans, active-duty personnel, and veteran supporters in their academic, social, and career success.
With guidance and support from the Veteran Success Center, Graduate Student and VSC student assistant Ralph Figueroa, an Army veteran, restored and chartered the SVO, which had been inactive since 2018.
SVO relaunched in fall 2022 and is now a chapter of the Student Veterans of America, a nonprofit that provides programs, scholarships, resources, and support to student veterans in higher education.
Since spring, SVO membership has increased to more than 30 members due to the club’s outreach. SVO created networking opportunities for its members by collaborating with the Veterans Success Center and Graduate Student Success Center on events, such as the Veteran Mixer.
The SVO has also partnered with the nonprofit Disabled American Veterans in San Bernardino. The Disabled American Veterans has provided snacks to the VSC and donated six laptops it received from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to SVO members in need.
“We’re bridging that gap to our community,” said Ralph.
Students can join SVO through Coyote Connection. The Student Veterans Organization meets every two weeks using a hybrid format, where participants can attend in-person or via Zoom.
“As President, I want to make sure that everybody's voice is heard — I want everybody to be included,” said Ralph. “We always talk about inclusivity, and that's something that's huge in the veteran community.”
Service members, veterans, reservists, National Guard members, and dependents may be eligible for various educational benefits. In order to receive educational benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, students need to go through the certification process through the VSC.
The Veteran Success Center helps guide students through the available benefits, various applications, and explains the benefits they may be eligible to receive. Depending on what programs students are eligible for, benefits can cover some or all of their tuition costs, assist with living expenses, and more.
“My goal is for the Veterans Success Center to be a place where students come and engage with the campus, with their peers, and where they can find support and resources,” said Agustin.
The Veterans Success Center is located in the lower level of Building 23, room B006 and is open for in-person and virtual services during construction.
Stay connected and follow the Veterans Success Center on Instagram @veterans_success_center and @csusbpdcveteranssuccesscenter.
To access information about the Veterans Success Center, click here