Why? Because many veterans deserve it, and some of them are in need of it, said Midge Hill, a veterans certifying official with the college.
“Many of them have been away for four or five years, and now they’re coming back to school, and unfortunately we speak a foreign language to many of them,” Hill said. “What is ‘matriculation’? What is ‘articulation’? What is ‘general education path’?”
A lot of educational catchphrases might not make much sense to the war-experienced veterans or those who have been out of the loop for a while, Hill said.
Additionally, the veterans will also get one-on-one orientations of the campus, something that’s usually conducted in groups of 50 students or more, Hill said.
By becoming a military-friendly school, OCC joins the ranks of 15% of the nation’s colleges, junior colleges and universities that hold such a distinction, Hill said.
A couple of other perks now enjoyed by veterans under the label of “military friendly” include their being allowed to enroll immediately in classes not requiring prerequisites, Hill said.
Also, the payment of tuition can be deferred, depending on the financial cases of the veterans, Hill said.
Of the estimated 20,000 students who attend OCC each year, 600 to 800 of them are veterans, Hill said, adding that many come to Orange County from Marine bases at Twentynine Palms or Camp Pendleton, and, in some cases, out of state.
Of that number, at least 350 are taking advantage of the GI Bill, which gives them nearly $2,200 a month for basic housing expenses.
To qualify for the GI Bill, however, you must have served active duty post-9/11, Hill said.
How To Enroll
Call (714) 432-5072, then hold for a representative, then have him or her transfer you to Midge Hill, the veterans certifying official.
