Veterans Resource Center

NEW VETERAN STUDENTS

Please open this link, fill out, and submit this form

Attention current students using GI Bill® benefits:

As of January 1st, 2022, the VA requires all veteran students using post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits to check in with the VA once a month to confirm continued attendance. To check in with the VA please call 1-888-442-4551. You can call to check in over the phone or through the listed number set up your profile to allow you to text in. Failure to check in with the VA 2 months in a row will lead the VA to suspend you benefits.

On December 21, 2021, President Biden signed the Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions Act or the REMOTE Act into law. Section two of this law extends the various COVID-19 protections for GI Bill® students from December 21, 2021, to June 1, 2022. In part, this means that students who were attending a course that was converted to online training because of COVID-19, and were getting paid the resident rate, may continue to train online, and will continue to receive the resident housing rate until June 1, 2022.

To view the list of classes that were converted to online and will be certified as resident courses, click on this link. For more information, visit the VA's FAQ page.

Mental Health/Veteran's Resources

New? Start here!

Click here for a video walkthrough on how to use your veteran's benefits at Moorpark College.
If you're a veteran planning to use your Post 9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill®, check out our 'getting started' guide.
If you're not sure which benefits programs you qualify for, check our programs list - a comprehensive description of each can be found at: VA's education benefits

GI Bill®/Benefits News

Beginning with terms starting after December 17, 2021, students using their Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) facility will be required to verify their enrollment at the end of each month. Failure to verify for two consecutive months will impact their Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is encouraging students to sign up for text message verification. This will provide students a simple and convenient verification option and ensure they receive MHA and/or kicker payment uninterrupted.

After December 17, 2021, all impacted students with a US mobile phone number on file will receive an opt-in text as their next enrollment period approaches. Note: Students who do not have a US mobile phone number on file with VA will not be able to use text verification. They will be automatically be enrolled into email verification.

For more information, please view the FAQ on monthly enrollment verification.

The Moorpark College Veteran's Resource Center is currently offering all services online via phone, Zoom and email beginning March 17, 2020. All VRC counseling will be conducted online via ZOOM and Cafe Cranium. Please email and/or call to make a counseling appointment.

Our office can be contacted at (805) 553-4106 or mcvetdesk01@vcccd.edu.

For the most up to date information, please follow our Facebook page @MoorparkVeterans, and monitor your school email address. If you have any urgent concerns or questions, please contact Johnny Conley at jconley@vcccd.edu or 805-553-4753

Moorpark College Second Semester Counselling

Fall 2021 Career Workshops

Cash for College Workshops:

September 28, 2021– To help students overcome the challenge of paying for college, Moorpark College, Oxnard College, Ventura College and Ventura College East Campus are holding free Cash 4 College workshops. Workshops are scheduled for Oct. 9 and Oct. 23, and will be in-person or by Zoom, depending on the campus (details below). Students can drop in anytime during the workshops and attend any campus workshop.

Bilingual financial aid staff will assist students in completing applications for the 2022-2023 school-year FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). The workshops are free and open to the community; people may attend a workshop on either date and at any campus. Advance registration is preferred.

For more information, visit vcccd.edu/cash4college

Moorpark College

Oct. 9

9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Zoom link: bit.ly/MC-cash1

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android

Oct. 23

9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Zoom link: bit.ly/MC-cash2

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android

For info: Moorpark College Financial Aid Office

Phone: (805) 378-1462

Email: mcfa@vcccd.edu

Oxnard College

Oct. 9

Oct. 23

9 a.m. – noon

Zoom link: bit.ly/OC-cash

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android

Phone: (805) 678-5828

Email: ocfinaid@vcccd.edu

Ventura College

Oct. 9

9 a.m. – noon

In-person

Learning Resource Center

4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura

All attendees must wear a face mask and follow all COVID safety protocols.

Phone: (805) 289-6369

Email: vcfinancialaid@vcccd.edu

Ventura College East Campus

Oct. 23

9 a.m. – noon

In-person

Ventura College East Campus

957 Faulkner Road, Unit 106, Santa Paula

All attendees must wear a face mask and follow all COVID safety protocols.

Phone: (805) 289-6369

California Veteran Exemption - Under specific conditions, this form allows veterans that are not California residents to re-classify as residents at Moorpark College.

Statement of Understanding / Veteran Interest Sheet: These two forms are used by our office for the intake of new students that are veterans and dependents. Other VA forms are also required: for a guide to our intake process, check out our getting started page.

Thank you for your service!
You Served Us, Now Let Us Serve You!

Mission

The Moorpark College Veterans Resource Center (VRC) provides support services focused on the special needs and requirements of today's military veterans, active duty service members, and dependents. We assist students in transitioning to the college environment and in achieving their academic and personal development goals.

Veteran Educational Benefits

Moorpark College recognizes the sacrifice of those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. If you are a veteran or dependent of a veteran, you may be eligible for veterans' educational benefits to help you achieve your education goals! Veteran services are available to support your educational goals as you make use of your GI Bill® educational benefits. We can provide assistance as you complete the necessary paperwork to ensure you receive the proper entitlement pay and guide you toward a variety of campus resources ranging from tutoring to career and personal counseling. Students are not required to use their GI Bill® to utilize the VRC.

Services Include:

GI Bill® Enrollment Certifications - fee reimbursement, housing allowance (if applicable), & pre-enrollment guidance
Priority registration for veterans (even if you are not using your educational benefits)
Individualized, 30 minute counseling appointments to assist in developing your educational plan

For Women Veterans:

https://www.womenveteransalliance.org/

‘‘GI Bill_®’’ is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

WHY MC VRC?

The Veterans Resource Center serves students associated with the military and their families. Approximately 300-400 students seek services from the VRC on an average per year.

The Center is a welcoming environment that focuses on the inclusivity of veterans. Our primary goal is to ensure success for our veteran students.

The VRC is about building trust. I am not a veteran, so I focus on helping veterans build trust with civilians. The veteran student workers focus on helping students in the VRC by providing a shared perspective, a perspective they can relate to. The VRC tries to understand and help its veterans by examining the many factors that impact veterans’ health. They work to identify the issues and concerns felt by its members so the VRC can meet their needs effectively.

The spectrum of issues faced by veterans is complicated and vast and includes factors like mental health, assimilation into civilian life, and employment. The VRC, with its robust and wide-ranging services, is determined to ensure equal opportunity for its student vets despite the difficult disadvantages they face.

I think it’s the best opportunity for any student and for veterans, in particular, who are transitioning from a rigid regiment to civilian-hood. The VRC provides the opportunity for a close relationship with faculty, other student veterans, members of military families, and the general student population which one may not find at a larger university.

Students network and create a sense of comradery; they ensure that the VRC environment is welcoming and inclusive.

The VRC is a great place for any student to come. The staff is wonderful; we have a great team that cares about students. The VRC is not just looking to follow the status quo, rather we are constantly finding ways to improve veteran life on campus and at home. The VRC accomplishes this by ensuring that our faculty and staff are trained to look through the equity lens and from the veterans’ perspective.

The VRC is constantly finding ways to improve the program, which is a valuable skill to practice in these times. We have quickly adapted to remote work, and our student workers help with the new workload. Additionally, we have implemented an app called myVRC that allows us to better communicate with our students through new updates, referrals to academic and student support services and access to our team.