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VETERANS COLLEGE PREP PROGRAM CUT BY FEDS --
"After 33 years of running a successful program
at
Humboldt State, with three generations of
veterans
coming through, we received a one-day notice."
Story here...
http://www.times-standard
.com/ci_6816009?source=email
Story below:
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Veterans college prep program cut by feds
Karen Wilkinson/The Times-Standard
ARCATA -- One week ago, nearly 30 veterans finished orientation and were
set to start college prep classes Tuesday -- the day after Labor Day.
But at 3:30 p.m. last Thursday, Veterans Upward Bound program director
Cai Williams received a Fed Ex message that has since thrown her into a
frenzy of phone calls and paperwork.
The grant money the federally-funded program has received for the last
33 years would dry up the next day, the message said.
”After 33 years of running a successful program at Humboldt State, with
three generations of veterans coming through, we received a one-day
notice,” Williams said.
Though the U.S. Department of Education announced the cut last week, and
no one's been on the payroll since Friday, Williams hasn't given up.
She's been calling Congressman Mike Thompson, the U.S. Department of
Education and lobbyists in an effort to reinstate that money. And
classes that were to start Tuesday have been postponed until further
notice, Williams said.
”We're under the gun,” Williams said, taking a break from answering
calls and directing staff. “It might turn around -- we don't know.”
Veterans Upward Bound is designed to prepare veterans for the challenges
of college, its Web site says. Classes and academic counseling are free
to veterans who have a discharge other than dishonorable.
The program at HSU is the only university-affiliated VUB on the West
Coast.
Since 1973, more than 2,000 students have been placed into college
through the program.
”We help veterans get into college -- that's basically what we do,” said
VUB outreach coordinator John Avalos. “If you're someone who's never
been to college and have had no one in your family go to college, it's
very difficult. This is a place for them to come and learn and use what
they learned afterward.”
And that's just what Jared Chase-Dunn has done.
After stumbling onto the program “by accident” through HSU's Web site,
the 24-year-old Arcata native wanted to see if he could return to
school. “I needed something that would get me up to par as a freshman,”
he said.
Chase-Dunn graduated from the program last winter, and started attending
HSU last spring, where he's now studying business and German.
But for newcomers and those still in the program such possibilities may
diminish.
”Many veterans that come out of the military and jump into school cold
turkey may end up failing two to three classes,” Avalos said, noting the
importance of refresher courses. “It'll be a lot more challenging for
veterans in this community to go to school.”
Armeda Reitzel, who teaches VUB speech classes, said the program not
only provides a transition from military life to civilian life, more
importantly, it helps veterans adjust to life as a student.
”Some haven't been out of the military long, some are shell shocked, but
I see them get that glint in their eye and find their voice,” Reitzel
said. “If Veterans Upward Bound (funding) doesn't come through, it would
be like losing a family member.”
As far as where the program is headed and when Williams will know its
status for certain, she's unsure. The same goes for the reasons why the
program is not receiving grant funding for another four years.
”What we're trying to do is find out -- that's why we're asking
questions and we don't have the answers yet,” she said.
Karen Wilkinson can be reached at 441-0514 or
kwilkinson@times-standard.com
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Larry Scott --
