To contact the Vernon Valenzuela Veterans Resource Center (VRC), a dedicated Veteran Educational Advisor or schedule tutoring, call (661) 395-4312, text (565) 656-3385 or email veterans@bakersfieldcollege.edu and you will be directed to a Zoom conference number where you can make an appointment or be provided with a “walk-in” virtual tutoring appointment.
Summer Hours of Operation:
- Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Tutoring: Monday through Thursday (hours will vary)
- Friday: Closed
- Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Connect directly to the Virtual Veteran Resource Center's Zoom Lobby at Virtual Veteran Resource Center. Password is: 3954312
If I schedule a Zoom advising meeting, how do I prepare for that? After you schedule your appointment you will receive a “Zoom Cloud Meeting'' link with steps on how to log-in and "meet" with your advisor. Log-in from a computer, laptop, or tablet with a microphone and webcam to optimize your virtual appointment. Your smartphone is also an option when you download the mobile app. If you do not wish to download Zoom, you may use the Zoom phone number provided in your appointment reminder as an option. Visit the Zoom Video Tutorials website for more information on starting a Zoom meeting.
I need to be tagged for priority registration and/or to not be dropped for non-payment. Email a copy of your DD-214 or active military ID to bcrecords@kccd.edu from your BC student email account with "Veteran" in the subject line. Include your student ID#.
I registered for Summer/Fall 2020 courses and need to certify for the VA. How do I fill out my Yellow Card if the campus in closed? Email bcrecords@kccd.edu from your BC student email account with "Veteran" in the subject line. Include your student ID# (do not include your SS#), the term (summer/fall), and your current major. Once we are able to submit the certification to the VA, you should receive an auto-generated email to your BC student email account. If you have updated your CSEP with the VA Educational Advisor since the last semester, include a copy of that CSEP in your email as well.
Cal Vet Tuition Waiver for Eligible Dependents (Must apply/reapply each summer): Due to the COVID-19 situation, the IRS is not processing "did not file" letters for students who did not work in 2019. Therefore, you can supply a completed Cal Vet Tuition Waiver to the Kern County Veteran Services Department (VSO) for processing after 4/16/20. Email veterans@bakersfieldcollege.edu with “Cal Vet Tuition Waiver” in the subject line for the application forms and process. When you receive a copy of the Cal Vet Tuition Waiver, BC would have received a copy too and will apply it towards the Fall 2020, Spring 21, and Summer 21 semesters. For more information or questions, contact the VSO at kernvets@kerncounty.com.
I am a Veteran/Dependent, I dropped/added a course to my current schedule. What next? Email bcrecords@kccd.edu with "Veteran" in the subject line from your BC student email account. Include the course information and date this was completed. We should be able to update the certification for you. Which would then generate an auto-generated email to your BC student email with the updates/changes made.
Post 9/11 GI Bill® Coronavirus Legislation information: Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) additional authorities to continue GI Bill® and VR&E payments for the period beginning on March 1, 2020 and ending on December 21, 2020.
It allows for:
- Continuation of payments to students participating in the Work Study Program who are furloughed or have to stop working.
- VA to continue to pay benefits for up to 4 weeks to GI Bill® and VR&E students whose classes are suspended, even if school is still open.
- Provision for restoration of entitlement for GI Bill® and VR&E students who lose credit due to school closure or schools’ suspension of training.
- VA to extend the delimiting date for Montgomery GI Bill®, Post-9/11 GI Bill®, and VR&E students if they are unable to attend training due to COVID-19.
Bill S.3503: On March 21st the President signed into law S.3503, giving VA temporary authority to continue GI Bill® payments uninterrupted during an emergency.
- The new law allows VA to pay education benefits regardless of the fact that a program has been converted from resident training to online training, even if online training hasn’t been approved or is not approvable.
- GI Bill® students will continue to receive housing allowance payments at the resident training until 12/21/20, or until the school resumes normal operations of resident training, for programs converted solely to online training.
- The new law applies to both current and new students enrolled in courses affected by COVID-19.
- Note: Other types of changes to your enrollment status (for example, dropping a class results in a reduced rate of pursuit) may affect payments.
Veteran Enrollment Steps
Bakersfield College honors and supports the sacrifices of those who have served in our Nation’s military and is approved as an institution of higher learning for the training of veterans and dependents of veterans who are entitled to educational assistance. Services for Veterans include: priority registration, designated veterans counselor, and more. Because of special benefits allowed to veterans, enrollment steps are slightly different. Please see the following:
Step 1 Apply to Bakersfield College Online!
Step 3 Placement
All students are placed based on their high school GPA and coursework. Students who did not complete at least 11th grade in a U.S. high school and graduates of a non-U.S. high school or and international students will need to complete the Guided Self-Placement process.
Step 4 Develop an Education Plan
Complete the New Student Workshop online. The Abbreviated Student Education Plan (ASEP) does not satisfy VA requirements. To complete a Comprehensive Student Educational Plan (CSEP), make an appointment with Armando Trujillo by emailing armando.trujillo@bakersfieldcollege.edu. You will need a copy of the DD214 and your transcripts for your appointment.
You can obtain military transcripts for the Air Force on the Air University website. For military transcripts for the Army, Navy/Marines and Coast Guard via Joint Services Transcript, you will need to adjust the security certificate settings in your web browser. You can find directions for how to access this site for your browser of choice below:
- Google Chrome: to access the JST site via Google Chrome, click "Advanced" in the error message that pops up on your screen, then press "Proceed to jst.doded.mil (unsafe)" in the window that expands below.
- Mozilla Firefox: to access via Firefox, click "Advanced" in the error message that pops up on your screen. Then click "confirm security exception"
- Internet Explorer: to access via IE, click "continue to this website (not recommended)"
- Safari: to access via Safari, click "view the certificate", then click "visit this website". In the drop-up menu that appears, click "view this website". In Mac OSX, you may have to use a password to changes the Certificate Trust Settings in Safari.
Once you're able to access the JST website, you'll need to press the "OK" button on the bottom to consent to the US Government Information System policies.
Step 7 Bring Documents to Admissions & Records
Email veterans@bakersifeldcollege.edu with copies of the following:
- 1990 Application (from Step 7)
- DD214 Form (if not completed in step 5)
- ½ Sheet must be signed and provide mother’s maiden name
- Comprehensive Student Educational Plan from Step 5 signed by a counselor/advisor and must match major
- Enrollment Card
- Transcripts from all other colleges attended and requests to have them evaluated
Step 9 Get Going
Stay in frequent contact with the Veterans Services team to take advantage of benefits. Make appointments with Veterans Advisors each semester and stayed engaged with fellow students through the Student Veterans Organization.
Bakersfield College will grant veterans 12 elective credits for military service. Evaluation of military transcripts will be made by the Office of Admissions and Records. Credit evaluations will conform to the regulations set forth by the State Approval Agency of the California State Department of Education and the recommendations of the American Council on Education.
A maximum of 12 semester units will be allowed. A Veteran student will receive the following transferrable credits:
- HLED B1 (3 Units)
- Physical Education (2 Units)
- General Education (7 Units)
A copy of the veteran’s DD-214, member page 4 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces) is required along with military transcripts and prior college transcripts. Request military transcripts at the Joint Services Transcript website.
You may submit Request for Evaluation forms to the Office of Admissions and Records after you are enrolled in classes at Bakersfield College and have appropriate documentation of your successful completions of the military courses.
As a veteran, you may use your military basic training to satisfy Area E of the California State University (CSU) General Education Requirements or the Bakersfield College General Education Requirement by request on transcript order forms.
Vernon Valenzuela Veterans Center
The lounge inside Vernon Valenzuela Veterans Center is currently unavailable due to the physical campus closure. The hours for Veterans Services are below:
- Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Tutoring: Monday through Thursday (hours will vary)
- Friday: Closed
- Saturday and Sunday: Closed
The VRC features a quiet study room, computer area, conference room with whiteboards, a lounge area with two televisions, coffee bar, microwave, and an outdoor patio area. The 4,700 square foot building is bright and offers a place for veterans and military-affiliated students to come enjoy camaraderie, study, rest, tutoring and use of the center’s computers.
Veterans Club
Our club's mission is to be a resource for all veterans that are students of Bakersfield College in order to provide information, service, and a feeling of belonging. We meet in the VRC and our meeting dates are continually changing. Please stop by for the newest schedule.
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