SF State's Veterans Corner aims to inform the public that the campus welcomes veterans and is interested in their special needs, said Ernie Scosseria, associate director of undergraduate admissions. Scosseria is among the specially trained staff who offer assistance to those seeking information about starting or transferring educational benefits. The staff are listed on the new Veterans Corner contact page.

"We want to make it even more known to the public at large that we welcome veterans, are interested in their special needs and have people here available to assist them," Scosseria said.

Jo Volkert, associate vice president of enrollment planning and management, has assembled a veterans support team which will create a system to identify veterans more easily, facilitate the transition from military to civilian career, and work toward making veterans' needs more publicly known around campus. Offices represented on the team include Student Outreach Services, the Disability Programs and Resource Center, and the Educational Opportunity Program.

Volkert explains that one of the main objectives of SF State's veterans initiative is to assure that veterans and active duty members will receive immediate and appropriate assistance when contacting campus offices.

"It's not only about their transcripts," Scosseria said. "It's finding out about them and what their goals are."

Undergraduate student Clemente Yanez, a veteran working toward a degree in statistics, said that the help of veterans staff was essential to him when applying to SF State. Now on the dean's list, Yanez said that without the additional assistance, he would not have been able to further his education.

For more information about educational benefits for veterans, reservists, dependents and active duty personnel, contact veterans@sfsu.edu or visit Veterans Corner.

-- Student Writer Lisa Rau with Miles Orkin