CGU- Senior Veterans Support Coordinator

CGU- Senior Veterans Support Coordinator

Established in 1925, The Claremont Colleges includes five undergraduate liberal arts colleges and two graduate institutions: Pomona College, Claremont Graduate University, Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Pitzer College, and Keck Graduate Institute. Located on contiguous campuses in the Southern California city of Claremont, each institution has its own student body, faculty, governance, curricular emphasis, culture, and mission. Intercollegiate cooperation provides university-scale services and facilities. With 8,500 students and 3,300 faculty and staff located on more than 540 acres of land, The Claremont Colleges benefit from the diverse missions, character and culture, and the integration of academic and extracurricular programs that make up this truly unique consortium. Nestled in the San Gabriel Mountain foothills, Claremont is 32 miles east of Los Angeles and part of the greater Los Angeles County.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Claremont Graduate University seeks a Veterans Support professional with a demonstrated record of depth and breadth of knowledge and ability to support the full lifecycle of military-affiliated students from recruitment and admission through degree completion. Jointly situated within Academic Affairs & Student Affairs, the coordinator ensures accurate administration of VA educational benefits, supports campus-wide veteran success initiatives, engagement programming, and provides holistic support to promote persistence and completion. The role requires a high level of collaboration with students, faculty, staff, internal stakeholders, the broader Claremont community, and veteran-serving organizations. The coordinator understands Federal and State regulations, ensures that the office follows all applicable laws, and demonstrates a student-centered philosophy.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Develop, coordinate, and evaluate campus programs, workshops, and events that promote belonging, engagement, and academic success for veteran and military-affiliated students.
• Serve as the student support specialist for veteran students, providing case management, referrals, and advocacy on matters affecting academic progress and well-being.
• Identify barriers and partnering with units such as advising, counseling, career services, financial aid, and academic departments to support holistic student success.
• Collaborate with counterparts across the consortium to identify shared challenges, develop best practices, and pursue coordinated or cross-campus initiatives that advance veteran and military-affiliated student success.
• Lead and coordinate institutional committees, task forces, and working groups focused on supporting veteran and military-affiliated students, including the VA Subcommittee and the Veteran Task Force, as well as any future committees established to advance student success, persistence, and cross-campus collaboration.
• Act as staff advisor to the Student Veteran Association (SVA), supporting governance, programming, and leadership development.
• Coordinate upkeeping, programming, usage policies, and community-building within the Veteran Student Lounge.
• Coordinate the Veteran student welcome associated with New Student Orientation, managing planning, logistics, budgeting, and communications.
• Schedule and coordinate the annual VetNet Ally Training, ensuring campus-wide participation and awareness of veteran student needs.
• Plan and coordinate the Veteran Commencement Ceremony, including logistics, budgeting, and communications.
• Connect students with resources and organizations in the broader Claremont veteran community, promoting integration, mentorship, and access to support services.
• Serve as the institution's primary School Certifying Official (SCO) for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Assist prospective and current students with navigating campus resources and processes of post matriculation, Yellow Ribbon eligibility, VA benefit processing, and available support resources.
• Accurately certify enrollment, monitor student status, and maintain records in compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Serve as a compliance liaison with the VA, State Approving Agency, Registrar's Office, Financial Aid, and Student Accounts.
• Stay current with state and federal reporting requirements, participating in mandatory Department of Veterans Affairs School Certifying Official Training, and updating campus processes accordingly.
• Calculate Yellow Ribbon funding allocations and maintain accurate records for reporting and awarding.
• Maintain accurate veteran-related records and data in support of compliance, reporting, and institutional priorities.
• Provide clarity and guidance on course planning, schedule adjustments, and program changes and their impact on VA educational benefits.
• Serve as a liaison to academic departments to advocate on behalf of students when scheduling conflicts, course sequencing issues, and enrollment barriers arise.
• Collaborate with primary faculty or professional academic advisors to support students in achieving timely academic progress.

Other Duties as Assigned

The duties and responsibilities described above are not intended to be an exhaustive list. The employee may be assigned additional duties, projects, or responsibilities that are reasonably related to the position and consistent with the needs of the department, school, and University.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Experience working with student services, advising, enrollment management, or veteran/military-affiliated populations.
• Knowledge of student development, retention practices, and the unique needs of veteran student populations.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy when handling sensitive student information.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across campus units and external partners.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior military service or experience working closely with military/veteran communities (priority consideration).
• Experience as a School Certifying Official or direct familiarity with VA education benefit programs.
• Experience with event planning, program coordination, or student organization advising.
• Experience in higher education settings such as student affairs, academic advising, admissions, or the registrar's office.
• Knowledge of Claremont Colleges, regional veteran community networks, or similar consortium environments.

HOURS: Work Schedule

The regular work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This position is primarily on-site. Upon successful completion of the probationary period and with supervisor approval, the incumbent may be eligible to work remotely up to two (2) days per week. Hours and work location may vary based on departmental and University needs.

To support operational, academic, and institutional priorities, the incumbent may be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays, Commencement activities, student events, orientations, accreditation visits, and other special programs or events. Any work performed outside the regular schedule must be approved in advance and recorded in accordance with University policies and applicable wage and hour laws.

CLASSIFICATION AND STATUS:Non-Exempt (Hourly)

EEO Statement:

Claremont Graduate University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender and/ or gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, veteran or military status, sex, age, sexual orientation, or physical disability or any other legally protected basis in its employment practice and in admission of students to educational programs and activities in accordance with the requirement of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title I of the American Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable laws. CGU is committed to affirmative action in employment practices regarding ethnic minorities, the physically challenged, Vietnam-era veterans, and women. This job description defines the essential or fundamental job duties of the employment position. It is assumed that employees hired for this position can perform the essential functions of this job without imposing risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of themselves or others. Qualified candidates of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.