Semper gumby is a phrase heard and repeated among Marine Corps families, meaning always flexible. That flexibility often comes at the sacrifice of the family as the service member hours and duties call them away from home. This also means that service members put the Marine Corps first over personal goals. This isn’t unique to just the Marine Corps though. Across the Department of Defense, service members and families may have ideas or goals that they can’t accomplish in traditional ways. A university in San Diego sees that, and is launching a new space for the non-traditional student.
On May 5th, National University announced the development of a “co-learning” center designed to provide comprehensive support services for the hard-working students balancing complex career, education and family responsibilities pursuing their education. Called the Nest” per the press release. The campus in San Diego opens on May 9th and a second location in Escondido is planned for later in 2025.
“The typical student today is an ANDer: a learner that is balancing education and work, education and parenting, education and deployment, education and caring for aging parents,” said Dr. Mark D. Milliron, president and CEO of National University. “This is about flipping the script for the hardworking students that we serve—giving online and hybrid students the resources they need to not just persist, but thrive—and providing ongoing support as they chart pathways to career and economic mobility.”
The Nest isn’t just a space. It is a space with resources. The Veteran and Military Community Center offers mentorship programs and writing programs assisting the non-traditional student in developing skills needed as a student, but also in the professional realm when writing FitReps or High Value Inventories is no longer on the to do list. The Nest provides co-working spaces for remote professionals in addition to laptop loan center and an area for printing services.
Affordable Childcare
The Toby Wells YMCA and the Escondido YMCA also have partnered with National U and the Escondido Campus providing affordable or free childcare. The childcare program at the Toby Wells YMCA is designed for potty-trained children ages 3 and up. It offers a flexible and affordable solution for National University students, available in 2–4 hour daily increments to accommodate busy schedules. There is no formal upper age limit, but the program is tailored for early childhood and school-age kids. The bonus with care at the Y is that the babysitters are background checked, fingerprinted, and certified in First Aid and CPR and able to utilize age appropriate curriculum for children.
The need for affordable childcare remains a top issue for military families, as demonstrated in the annual Blue Star Family Survey.
I have asked about the cost of childcare and will update once I have received that communication.
National University
National University is San Diego’s largest private nonprofit university. While NU’s Nest campuses are in the San Diego area for now, they plan to open more locations in areas with a heavy NU student population.
The NEST is funded, in part, through a grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, but is not a reflection of the position of the VA. No payment was received for this content; it is provided purely as a resource to inform and empower the military community. Our goal is to help service members and their families thrive—wherever the military sends them. If San Diego is currently home for you, this may be the perfect time to pursue the education or training you’ve been thinking about.
