New class provides more support for incoming veteran students

Eder Tavera knows firsthand how daunting starting college can be for veterans, especially for those just getting out of military service.

Tavera enrolled at Bakersfield College in fall 2015, just a few months after completing a seven-year stint in the Army as an infantry squad leader. He remembers how overwhelming it was trying to learn about the campus, connect with other students and understand the intricacies of higher education.

"It was difficult to navigate," he said. "I didn't know much. I felt like I was kind of on my own. I didn't really have any guidance or that sense of mentorship. I had to figure everything out myself, little by little."

Tavera - now a senior at California State University, Bakersfield - is a student in a new class this fall that aims to provide that guidance for incoming students. CSUB now offers a new section of its First-Year Seminar class that is tailored to veterans and military-connected students, as well as their dependents.

The goal of the class - one of only two of its kind in the CSU system - is to help this student population with their transition to the university and educate them about the services and benefits available both on campus and in the community.

"For veterans, it can be a little bit overwhelming, because they're still in transition. Some are coming in after getting right out of the military," said Veterans Success Center Coordinator Jamie Pacheco, who is teaching the course. "This is a really good introduction class for not only being a new student but also being a veteran."

The idea for the class came in the spring after the Veterans Success Center held a check-in meeting with Interim President Vernon B. Harper Jr. Students had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Harper and provide feedback.

One student mentioned that he would like to see a class that could help veteran students who are coming in as freshmen to CSUB. Dr. Harper liked the idea and encouraged the development and adoption of such a course.

"It was a great way for our students to meet the president and allow him to hear where they are coming from as veteran students on campus," Pacheco said of the meeting. "I'm really thankful that our students were given that opportunity. I think it was clear that the need is there."

Veteran students often come to CSUB with more challenges than other freshmen. For one, they tend to be older and often already have full-time jobs and families. Pacheco said committing to attending a college or university on top of those responsibilities can be difficult.

A lot of the veteran and military-connected students she works with come to CSUB with a lot of stressors and barriers, which Pacheco has tried to take into consideration while developing the class. She hopes it will help encourage veteran students to attend CSUB because they will feel there's a support system for them here.

"That sense of community is something that sometimes veterans struggle with in the decision to come back to school," she said. "If a veteran is thinking about going to school, having an introduction class like this could be enticing to a veteran who might be on the fence."

The class isn't just a new experience for the students; it's also a challenge for Pacheco, who has never taught before. Being in a classroom has long been a goal of hers. While she has been able to talk with students at workshops and other events hosted by the center, Pacheco is excited about having the opportunity to have more in-depth conversations with students.

"I'm able to help students outside of the classroom, but this gives me a chance now to be able to provide that same level of support for our students inside the classroom," she said. "I'm thankful of everything CSUB has offered me as both a student and a staff member. One way I can give back is by helping these students coming into our university."

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