VRC WEEKLY UPDATE
ELAC Veterans Resource Center - Mar 2021, Vol 3
JOIN THE VETERANS CLUB!
A Message From ELAC's Veterans Club President, Richard Tso:
We are the East Los Angeles College Veterans Club! This club is centered around community and building on the college experience. The Veterans Club is open to all students, alumni, staff, and faculty of East Los Angeles College (no prior military experience required).
Interested in learning more about the Veterans Club's leadership and membership opportunities? Fill out a Veterans Club Interest Form and we will get back to you soon: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=GiZxC19JqU6ZEdqES5QC7-V-2qrCXhxEj72m_-b6s-RUNEJOV0NLN1cxTTNHUTFaNzdEMDc1VVA1Ui4u
ELAC's Veterans Club is a Chapter of the nationally recognized Student Veterans of America organization: https://studentveterans.org/.
VRC COUNSELOR & SCO WALK-IN SERVICES
Can't book an available counseling appointment for this week? Walk-in times with the VRC Counselor will be held on...
Thursday, 3/25, 9am-12pm & 1pm-2pm (https://laccd.zoom.us/j/97920543335)
Meet with the VRC Counselor for quick questions and to check graduation eligibility.
Have a question for the VRC School Certifying Official regarding your recent VA Certification? Drop in during our walk-in times and meet with the SCO as well.
**All Counselor & SCO walk-ins are routed to private breakout rooms to maintain privacy & confidentiality.
GRADUATION INFORMATION
*Graduation Petition Filing Period: 2/8/21 - 5/9/21
*Deadline for Graduates Names to Appear in the Graduation Ceremony Program: 4/19/21
Graduation: June 8, 2021
For more information about ELAC's 2021 Virtual Graduation, visit the following website: https://www.elac.edu/Student-Services/Graduation
To petition for graduation, schedule an appointment with the VRC Counselor or Disability Specialist as soon as possible. Graduations are not posted to your transcript automatically. You must meet with one of our VRC faculty to check your eligibility and submit your petition.
To schedule an appointment with the VRC Counselor or Disability Specialist, visit http://bit.ly/VRCappointments and select "Schedule a Counseling Appointment." For additional assistance, the VRC Staff can be reached at 323.415.5052 or via email at veteranservices@elac.edu.
PRIORITY REGISTRATION FOR VETERANS & SERVICE MEMBERS
- SUMMER 2021 Priority Registration: begins APRIL 12, 2021
- FALL 2021 Priority Registration: begins MAY 24, 2021
A friendly tip from your VRC Counselor...
Be sure to update those ed plans with the VRC Counselor or Disability Specialist! Plan accordingly... Summer Priority Registration starts the day after Spring Break ends. There will be no VRC counseling availability during Spring Break. Be sure to book an appointment with either Sal Murillo or Jessica Peak during March to avoid the last minute rush.
How to Request Priority Registration:
- Continuing student veterans and service members with less than 100 LACCD units and in Good Academic Standing only need to request Priority Registration one time. You will continue to receive Priority Registration while maintaining the criteria stated above.
- New students who are not coded as veterans yet are advised to submit a copy of your DD-214 to the VRC at veteranservices@elac.edu.
- Last Name, Student ID#, Priority Registration
WEEKLY NOON FORUM
Every Wednesday at Noon, our military-connected students are invited to attend workshops covering a variety of topics, and to connect live with VRC counselors, tutors, peer mentors, and School Certifying Officials.
THIS WEEK: Ch31 Veteran Readiness & Employment Program Workshop
In this week's forum:
- Informational workshop about Ch31, VA's Veteran Readiness & Employment Program (formerly known as Voc Rehab)
- Learn about Ch31, when/if you should apply, and advice on how to apply
- Who should attend? All ELAC student veterans considering using the Ch31 VA Education Benefit
- Already in Ch31? Attend anyway if you have a concern or question regarding your entitlement. Deana may be able to help you!
- Guest Speaker: Deana Garay, Ch31 VR&E Counselor
You can log into this week's 1-hour forum at the following link: https://laccd.zoom.us/j/93386337792
Wednesday 3/24/2021 @ 12:00PM - 1:00PM (ZOOM)
- Topic: Ch31, Veteran Readiness & Employment Program
- Time: Wednesdays from 12:00PM to 1:00PM
- Location: ZOOM
- Link: https://laccd.zoom.us/j/93386337792
- Facilitator(s): Deana Garay, Ch31 VR&E Counselor
VIRTUAL VRC STEM TUTORING
The VRC offers free virtual tutoring in Math, from Intermediate Algebra thru Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Equations (no Statistics); Chemistry up to Chem 102; Physics up to Physics 102. Inquire with VRC STEM Coach, Matt Downing, regarding specific engineering subjects.
Matt Downing: DOWNINMT@laccd.edu
Online Appointment Scheduling for VRC Tutoring: http://bit.ly/VRCtutoring
Don't see the subjects you need? Check out the following ELAC Departments for additional tutoring --
Learning Center: https://www.elac.edu/Student-Services/Student-Resources/Learning-Center
Writing Center: http://elacreadingwritingcenter.org/
Math Tutoring Center (aka Math Lab):
https://www.elac.edu/Academics/Departments/Mathematics/Math-Lab
VA CERTIFICATION
You will need to sign in to your LACCD student portal to access the online VA Cert form. You can access the VA Cert form via the VRC Canvas Portal as well.
For additional information regarding the VA Certification process at ELAC, or an explanation of how the courses you select during remote learning affect your BAH rate, please visit http://bit.ly/VRCwebsite
If you have any questions regarding your VA Certification status, students are encouraged to contact the VRC Certification Team at VAcertification@elac.edu. You can also reach us at 323.415.5052.
VIRTUAL WELLNESS COUNSELING
She's an Army Veteran that has served 10 years in Reserve and Active-Duty Service; that includes two Overseas Tours. Tijon believes "Selfcare is paramount and It's okay not to be ok."
Wellness sessions can be scheduled at trobinson@usvets.org or you can leave a confidential message at (424)394-0839.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
- Richard Tso, Navy Veteran
- Cindy Thai, Army Veteran
- Matt Downing, Marine Veteran
They proudly join more than 35 ELAC SALUTE members! Our next induction will be on April 28th at 12pm!
SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society - Apply Today!
Do you have a 3.0 GPA or higher? Join SALUTE! SALUTE is the only National Honor Society in the nation recognizing and honoring the service and the scholastic achievements of this generation's greatest veterans. Member benefits include:
- SALUTE scholarship opportunities
- a lifetime membership
- access to a network of SALUTE veterans, both locally and nationally
Not to mention, it looks GREAT on your resume for UC and private university transfer or graduate school admissions, as well as employment!
Interested in learning more? Follow the link https://salute.colostate.edu/
Interested in applying to ELAC's Chapter of SALUTE? Submit your application today at http://bit.ly/SALUTEapp!
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to Veterans Counselor, Jessica Peak, at peakj@elac.edu.
ONLINE VRC EVENTS CALENDAR
This Week
3/24 @ 12pm: Noon Forum - Ch31 Veteran Readiness & Employment Workhsop: https://laccd.zoom.us/j/93386337792
3/25 @ 12pm: SVO Veterans Club Informational Meeting: https://laccd.zoom.us/j/91292853253
The Week(s) Ahead
3/30 @ 12pm: Women V.E.T.S. (Veterans Empowering Through Sisterhood) Virtual Lunch Break Social: https://laccd.zoom.us/j/93857438156
3/31: College Closed - HOLIDAY
LA Sparks MILITARY RESOURCE NETWORK Event 3/30
Veterans, active military, and their family members are invited to attend the virtual Spark the True You: Military Resource Network event on Tuesday, March 30 from 9:00 – 11:00AM PST.
Learn how to navigate employment, housing, caregiving, and healthcare as a civilian. Admiral Sandy Adams will give opening remarks, followed by resources from Metro, Healing CA, Goodwill of Southern California, General Wong, and special message from Guard/Forward, Seimone Augustus!
To register for the virtual event: http://bit.ly/3eO9dJY
*This is an external event and not hosted by ELAC's VRC. For more information, please visit the registration link.
**VISIT THESE LINKS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**
Veterans Resource Center - East Los Angeles College
Email: peakj@elac.edu
Website: www.veterans.elac.edu
Location: 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, CA, USA
Phone: 323.415.5052
MEET YOUR VRC TEAM!
JESSICA PEAK: VRC Director, Veterans Counselor & Veterans Club Advisor
SAL MURILLO: Disability Specialist
MARK DIAZ: School Certifying Official (VA Certifications A-M & All Ch31 Students)
RAZIEL VELA: School Certifying Official (VA Certifications N-Z & All Sheriff/Fire Academies)
MATTHEW DOWNING: Veteran Transition Specialist & STEM Coach
MIKE GARCIA: Career & Academic Coach & Veterans Club Co-Advisor
CINDY THAI: VA Certification Support
VRC HOURS
M-Th 8am-6:30pm
F 8am-4pm
Contact Us!
phone: 323.415.5052
email: veteranservices@elac.edu