Porterville College Supports its Military
Welcome to the Veterans Web site for Porterville College!
This web site has been developed in an effort to facilitate your understanding of the process required to obtain veterans' educational benefits. It is important to communicate with the Veterans Counselor and Clerk to ensure that you obtain the benefits necessary to complete your education. For further questions on veterans' benefits, please contact the Veterans Clerk at 559-791-2402 or via e-mail at aanaya@portervillecollege.edu.
First Annual Veterans Orientation
On January 9, 2008, the first annual Veterans orientation was held in the Student Center Conference Room. All veterans in the program were invited to attend and obtain valuable information from Norma Macias, Veterans Counselor; Andrea Anaya, Veterans Clerk; and Virginia Gurrola, Admissions and Records Director.
The event started with an energized welcome by the Vice President of Student Services, Steve Schultz, who also provided a little background on his military experience in the Army. The college's Anthropology instructor Richard Osborne joined the session to inform the students of a new Veterans' Club that has started on campus. He encouraged the students to join the club and distributed a sign up sheet. The Veterans' Club is planning to participate in the annual Veterans Parade held in November. The parade is one of the biggest events in the city and attracts 10,000 people into downtown Porterville. Mr. Osborne hopes that the Veterans Club will be a source of information for Veterans as well.
The staff provided students with the updated procedures and forms to be used in the program. Veterans Counselor Norma Macias reviewed the new Veterans Educational Plan and Request for Certification which includes the students schedule. Norma emphasized the importance of meeting with her prior to the start of the term for the completion of class schedules. Andrea Anaya, Veterans Clerk informed students of their responsibility to inform the counselor if they drop or add courses as well as the effect to their payments for taking courses not on their Educational Plan.
Virginia Gurrola, Director of Admissions and Records, provided a legislative update on the newly chaptered Senate Bill 272 (Runner), which requires each community college district that administers a priority enrollment system to grant priority registration to any member or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States, who is within two years of leaving active duty. This legislation went into effect on January 1, 2008. She reviewed the groups entitled to the priority registration that are as follows:
- Current members of the armed forces.
- Former members of the armed forces for any enrollment period that begins within two years of their date of separation from active duty.
- Former students called to active duty during a period of enrollment are explicitly included.
The group was treated to pizza and sodas for lunch. This was a successful event with more scheduled for the spring term. Please check back to obtain updates on planned events.
