Advising and Certification / Peer Advisor for Veteran EducatAt — CSUF - Veterans Resource Center

Under the supervision of the Veterans Resource Center Director and other department professional staff, the student intern assists newly admitted and continuing students with providing general information regarding their veterans and military education benefits including, but not limited to, Montgomery GI Bill (VA Chapter 30), Veterans Readiness and Employment (VA Chapter 31), Post 9/11 GI Bill (VA Chapter 33), Dependents Education Assistance (Chapter 35), Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (VA Chapter 1606), and the California Veteran (CalVet) Fee Waiver. Supports the daily operations of the department by providing customer service at the front desk and monitoring student lounge areas. Directs current and prospective students to appropriate on-campus and off-campus resources. Assists with departmental marketing, outreach, and dissemination of information relating to departmental programs and services. Directly supports professional staff members with programmatic development, event planning, marketing/engagement, and service delivery for the Peer Advisor for Veteran Education (PAVE) and Advising and Certification (ACT) teams. Experience culminates in one project each semester, such as training session, mentorship workshop, wellness activities, etc.

Learning Outcomes  

1. Develop a comprehensive understanding of the processing of educational benefits provided by the Veteran Affairs, including the application process, eligibility criteria, and documentation requirements for VA educational benefit certification.
   2. Articulate peer-advising techniques tailored to the unique needs of veteran students, ensuring they are informed about program requirements, course selection, graduation planning, and the VA educational benefit.
   3. Maintain connections with off-campus supporting agencies that can provide additional assistance to veteran students, including healthcare services, financial counseling, and community support organizations.
   4. Evaluate students' academic and transitional progress within the Peer Advising for Veterans' Education (PAVE) program.

Training  

1. Work with the coordinator of the PAVE program to certify the student as a Peer Advisor with PAVE national chapter.
   2. Facilitate training on VA educational benefits, VRC's case management practices, and student assistance.
   3. Provide weekly training on campus-internal software regarding student academic records to include Titan Degree Audit, the VA's enrollment manager, and the certification process.
   4. Train with support agencies on services available, and processes for aid.

Tasks/Duties  

1. Providing constant support to student veteran case load and log all interactions to the PAVE national website.
   2. Facilitating events, and team building activities to the case load (student veterans) to promote campus engagement, and the students' well-being.
   3. Actively engaging with front desk procedures, answering emails, phone calls, and assisting students with questions/concerns regarding their academic success, and VA educational benefits.
   4. Observing academic advising sessions with the academic advisors and assisting with the VA educational benefit certification process.