SACRAMENTO – California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott said a Dec. 2 Veterans Summit will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn San Diego-On the Bay will increase awareness for community college faculty, counselors and others of the issues that veterans deal with when returning from active duty and attending community college.

The event will provide an opportunity to better understand the needs of student veterans and how to support their transition from military life into civilian careers.

“This summit is an important resource for information and program models that our people can take back to their campuses across the state to better serve those who have served our country,” Chancellor Scott said.

“Summit attendees will learn how difficult it is for many students to transition from the military culture and combat environment to campus life, how to recognize and respond to challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and how to make sure our student veterans are getting access to every resource available to them,” Scott said. “I’m proud that the California Community Colleges system is leading the way in higher education to better understanding and helping our student veterans.”

Approximately 80 percent of California’s returning veterans who utilize their educational benefits at one of the state’s public higher education institutions, do so at a California community college.

The veterans population in the California Community Colleges has been growing dramatically and is expected to increase further in 2012 as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to wind down.

Community colleges are a common destination as the returning soldiers look for a way to get job training so they can get into the workforce.

Topics at the summit will include evaluating military training and experience for academic credit, best practices in student services and at Veterans Resource Centers, mental health issues confronting veterans and accessing federal, state and local resources.

Guest speakers at the summit include Congressman Bob Filner (D- San Diego), the ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs; Ret. Major General Peter James Gravett, Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs; and Dr. Jon Nachison of San Diego, Chief of Psychology for Paradise Valley Hospital and co-founder and director of National Stand Down for homeless veterans.

The summit is jointly sponsored by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges Education Institute and the Foundation for California Community Colleges, and is supported by a generous donation from JP Morgan Chase.

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation. It is composed of 72 districts and 112 colleges serving 2.6 million students per year. Community colleges supply workforce training, basic skills courses in English and math, and prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. The Chancellor’s Office provides leadership, advocacy and support under the direction of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges.