Riverside City College Hosts Veterans Region IX Meeting to Strengthen Support for Student Veterans

Oct 24, 2024
Army boots-beige with an American Flag and dog tags on the boots. Gravel Background. Bottom right corner, Thank you Veterans

Riverside, CA – On Friday, October 18, 2024, Riverside City College (RCC) hosted the California Community College Chancellor’s Office Veterans Region IX meeting from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in CAK 140. The gathering brought together representatives from colleges across Region IX to collaborate, share updates, and discuss best practices to better serve student veterans.

Led by Lizette Tenorio, Veterans Services Coordinator at RCC and Region IX Representative, the meeting served as a vital link between the Chancellor’s Office and colleges within the region. The Region IX representative plays a key role in relaying information, soliciting feedback, and addressing questions or concerns from the colleges to the Veterans Services Advisory Committee.

The focus of the meeting included reviewing updates related to VA policies and California’s State Approving Agency for Veterans Education. Attendees also explored shared collaborations with the VA and CalVet to enhance veteran support at community colleges.

Guest Speakers Provide Expert Insight

  • Vickie Hernandez, Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR&E) representative from San Diego, gave a comprehensive presentation on the VR&E program. She covered program updates, eligibility criteria, and best practices for engaging student veterans.
  • Adam Barnes, Supervisor at the National Service Office of Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and Gregory Seidel, a representative from a local DAV chapter, discussed available resources for college Veteran Resource Centers (VRCs). They highlighted services such as monthly VA claims assistance and bi-annual resource fairs.

Participating Colleges 

Representatives from the following institutions attended the meeting:

  • Barstow College
  • Chaffey College
  • Copper Mountain College
  • Crafton Hills College
  • Cal State San Bernardino
  • Moreno Valley College
  • Mt. San Jacinto College
  • Riverside City College
  • Victor Valley College

The Region IX meeting, held 3-4 times a year, provides an essential platform for discussing policies, challenges, and collaborative initiatives to ensure California’s community colleges deliver exceptional services to veterans and military-affiliated students.