Sonoma State University

VET NET Ally Seminar – Thursday, February 5, 2026

Thursday, January 29, 2026, 11:00am

TO: All Employees
FR: Dr. Khou Yang-Vigil, Executive Director of the Center for Academic Access & Student Enrichment

Dear SSU Colleagues,
This is a friendly reminder to register for the upcoming VET NET Ally Seminar, an opportunity to strengthen our campus-wide understanding and capacity to support student veterans at Sonoma State University.
Our student veterans bring valuable lived experiences, leadership, and perspectives to our campus community. This seminar is designed to provide faculty and staff with foundational knowledge, practical tools, and shared language to better support student veterans in academic and co-curricular spaces.

Please see the original email below, and register here.

Are you interested in learning more about the experiences, strengths, and needs of student veterans on our campus? The Military and Veteran Resource Center (MAVRC) Team is inviting you to participate in a once-a-year opportunity to better understand and support this unique student population, foster a stronger sense of belonging, and contribute to improved student veteran retention and academic success.

The VET NET Ally Seminar will be presented by Dr. Marshall Thomas, Director of Veterans Affairs from the Chancellor’s Office. 

Date & Time: Thursday, February 5, 2026, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Format: In-person (location will be shared with registered participants)

This half-day (four-hour) awareness seminar focuses on the needs, challenges, and strengths of student veterans in higher education. Faculty and staff awareness and supportive classroom practices play a critical role in student veteran engagement, persistence, and degree completion. At the conclusion of the seminar, participants will receive a VET NET Ally decal to display in their workspace, signaling their commitment to supporting student veterans. To receive a VET NET Ally decal, participants are required to attend the full four-hour seminar.
The seminar will cover the following topics:

  • VET NET Ally Program overview
  • Veterans by the numbers
  • Reasons for military service
  • Military culture and the impact of service
  • Challenges faced by veterans in higher education and their impact on retention
  • Status exercise: Disclosure of veteran status
  • Campus resources and support for veterans to promote persistence and retention
  • Situational awareness: Interacting with veterans on campus
  • What it means to be an ally

To register, please click here.

For any other questions, please contact the Veteran Services Advisor, Yvonne Kang-Lopez at: [email protected].