Garden City, NY - November 4, 2015 - U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice, a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today called on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to approve Nassau Community College’s proposal to host a VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) counselor, who would offer a range of services to veterans, servicemembers and dependents seeking help with their educational, employment, or adjustment goals. In a letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald, co-signed by all five members of the Long Island delegation, Rice noted that Syracuse University is home to New York’s only VSOC counselor, and wrote that approving a VSOC counselor for Nassau Community College would help meet the needs of the rising number of Post-9/11 G.I. Bill beneficiaries on Long Island. Rice also highlighted the success of Nassau Community College’s 2,500-square foot Veterans Resource Facility, which would be an ideal location to accommodate a full-time VSOC counselor serving veterans and their families in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Nassau Community College has agreed to partner with Suffolk Community College in its proposal for a VSOC counselor, significantly increasing the number of Long Island veterans who would benefit from VSOC services.
The bipartisan letter was co-signed by U.S. Representatives Peter King (NY-02), Steve Israel (NY-03), Gregory Meeks (NY-05) and Lee Zeldin (NY-01). The letter is available here.
“There is nothing more important that ensuring that the brave men and women who served this country have the support they need to succeed after they leave the military,” said Representative Kathleen Rice. “Nassau Community College’s Veterans Resource Facility is providing student-veterans with critical services and support as they begin the often difficult process of integrating back into civilian life. But as Long Island’s post-9/11 veteran population continues to grow, our investments in our veterans have to grow. We have to make sure that institutions like Nassau Community College have the resources they need to fully meet the demand for on-campus veteran services. That’s why I’m urging Secretary McDonald to approve this proposal so that we can do a better job helping veterans on Long Island succeed as civilians, as students, and as members of our workforce.”
"Nassau Community College is extremely heartened by the strong support of the members of the Nassau and Suffolk congressional delegation for the appointment by the Veterans Administration of a VSOC counselor to the NCC campus who can service the needs of the region's student veterans. Located at NCC's Veterans Resource Facility that is celebrating its first year anniversary, the VSOC counselor will propel forward efforts to facilitate student veterans' achievement of their educational goals and their transition to civilian life,” said Thomas P. Dolan, Interim President of Nassau Community College.