Veteran students at both Long Beach City College (LBCC) and Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) will soon benefit from a partnership between the two campuses that allows Lois Daz–an experienced Veterans Affairs (VA) counselor specializing in helping veterans transition to student life–to split her time between students at both.

Daz’s talent is now accessible to Long Beach college students thanks to the VA’s VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) program that dedicates itself to making sure college campuses across the country have on-campus support for veterans in the form of informing veteran students of their federal benefits, as well as medical and non-medical referrals to VA services. The program’s expansion was announced earlier this year.

Additionally, Daz’s connection with veteran students will hopefully strengthen the schools’ relationships with local VA centers and medical facilities.

“Having served in the Army myself, I can appreciate the dedication our military veterans have to the country and their families. And for those who decide to enroll in higher education institutions, we must dedicate resources, training and programs enabling our veterans to accomplish their academic goals and empower them to continue serving our country,” said LBCC Superintendent-President Eloy Ortiz Oakley in a release. “This grant and partnership will make providing those underlying services available to our veterans and ease the transition into the college/university system.”

Even further, providing veteran students with face-to-face interaction with someone who is not only knowledgeable but understanding of their situation will help strengthen veteran students’ transferring between the two schools for those wishing to obtain a four-year degree.

For more information on CSULB’s Office of Veterans Services, located in Room 220 of the Foundation Building, call 562-985-5115 or visit the Office of Veterans Services website. For more information on LBCC Office of Veterans Services, visit their website or visit their office, located at Liberal Arts Campus, 4901 East Carson Street, Room E-010, Phone: 562-938-4162, Fax: 562-938-4196, Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8AM to 6PM.