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Student Veteran Centers on Campus

Brian Williams
by Brian Williams
August 28, 2018
student veterans
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Today’s  colleges  and  universities  want  YOU,  service  members,  veterans  and  military  spouses  —  and  new  centers  are  opening  on  campuses  all  across  the  country  to  accommodate  your  needs.

Student  Veteran  Centers  are  all  the  rage  at  many  schools  these  days,  ranging  from  a  room  set  aside  as  a  special  retreat  for  student  veterans  to  entire  buildings  with  everything  from  computer  labs  to  counselors  and  campus  liaisons.  The  idea,  say  officials,  is  to  create  a  welcoming  environment  for  military-affiliated  students  to  ensure  a  positive  college  experience  and  help  promote  successful  degree  completion.

FSU

Florida  State  University  celebrates  its  status  as  a  veteran-friendly  university,  creating  a  Student  Veteran  Center  on  campus  that  offers  a  transition  point  for  veterans  working  their  way  back  into  the  classroom.

Retired  Air  Force  Col.  William  “Billy”  Francis  says  FSU  wants  to  integrate,  not  separate,  their  student  veterans,  but  that  the  center  offers  a  one-stop  shop  for  everything  from  deciphering  GI  Bill  benefits  to  helping  veterans  get  involved  on  campus.

“We  want  [veterans]  to  feel  like  they’re  coming  to  a  comfortable  place,  more  like  a  home  instead  of  a  large  institution,”  he  said.  “If  you  look  at  successful  people,  a  common  trait  is  that  they’re  not  afraid  to  ask  for  advice  or  guidance…We  are  encouraging  them  to  do  that.”

Robert  Mills  joined  the  Army  in  2003,  became  an  Army  Ranger  and  had  four  combat  tours  —  three  in  Iraq  and  one  in  Afghanistan.  He  deployed  to  Kuwait  with  the  Florida  National  Guard  to  Kuwait  in  2010  as  a  sniper,  and  talks  about  becoming  a  student  veteran.

“Being  a  student  veteran  definitely  has  its  fair  share  of  challenges,”  he  said.  “It’s  difficult  getting  back  into  the  routine  of  being  a  student  when  you’ve  been  away  for  so  many  months,  years,  days.”

Coming  to  Florida  State  made  the  transition  very  easy,  he  said.  “Prior  to  the  veteran’s  initiative,  if  I  had  a  class  that  conflicted  with  my  National  Guard  training,  some  professor  would  tell  me,  ‘hey,  that’s  not  my  problem.  You  need  to  drop  the  class.’  Now,  in  the  last  few  years,  more  professors  are  understanding  of  students  who  still  have  military  obligations.”

Abby  Kinch,  who  attended  college  after  high  school  but  focused  more  on  the  “social  aspect,”  joined  the  Air  Force  after  9/11.  She  later decided  she  needed  to  return  to  school,  but  had  a  different  perspective.  “Student  veterans  definitely  have  challenges  adapting  to  civilian  college  life  —  I  know  I  did,”  she  said.

“I  really  couldn’t  relate  to  other  students  because  I  viewed  everything  from  a  different  context  because  I’d  serving  my  country,”  said  Kinch.  “The  Student  Veterans  Center  helped  me  connect  with  others  and  got  me  to  the  point  where  I  was more  comfortable  with  my  college  experience.”

Visit FSU  for more information.

KU

The  Lt.  Gen.  William  K.  Jones  Military-Affiliated  Student  Center  at  the  University  of  Kansas  offers  nearly  3,000  square  feet  of  space,  including  study  and  tutoring  rooms,  free  printing,  scanning  and  copying  services  and  a  lounge  and  break  room  for  those  needing  to  take  a  break  from  their  studies.  It  also  serves  as  the  headquarters  for  the  KU  Student  Veterans  of  America  chapter.

The  center  is  open  to  all  military-affiliated  students  at  the  university,  including  spouses  and  children  of  veterans.

“The  center  is  at  the  heart  of  our  initiatives,”  said  April  Blackmon  Strange,  the  center’s  director.  “And  we  want  it  to  be  a  place  where  our military-affiliated  students  can  feel  welcome  and  at  home  at  KU.”

Visit  KU  for  more  information  on  the  center.

Not  just  at  big  schools

Smaller  colleges  also  offer  services  to  student  veterans  navigate  their  college  experience.

California  State  University,  San  Bernardino’s  Veterans  Success  Center  is  a  1,200  square  foot  facility,  which  houses  eight  computer  stations  where  student  veterans  and  military  members  can  work  on  assignments,  and  a  group  room  for  students  to  congregate  between  classes  and  hold  study  groups.  The  center  offers  dynamic  programs  that  are  comprehensive  in  scope  and  sensitive  to  the  unique  needs  of  service  members.

Visit California State University  for more information.

Excelsior  College  in  New  York  offers  free  tutoring  and  benefits  assistance  at  their  Lt.  Col  Bryant  A.  Murray  Veterans  Center.  The  school  also  offers  a  mentorship  program  through  the  Veteran  Services  Office  and  other  student  veteran  services  throughout  campus.

No  matter  the  size  or  scope  of  your  college  of  choice,  there  are  almost  always  options  there  for  students  like  yourself.  Student  Veteran  Centers  offer  a  single  point  of  contact  to  coordinate  support  to  military-connected  students.  The  trick  is  to  plug  in  and  take  advantage  of  everything  your  school  has  to  offer.

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Tags: California State UniversityExcelsior Collegestudent veteransStudent Veterans of America
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Brian Williams

Brian Williams

R. Brian Williams retired after 30 years in the U.S. Army, both on active duty and in the AGR program as a member of the Alabama National Guard, working at NORTHCOM, JDOMS and the U.S. Army War College. He is currently enjoying retired life, but misses his time in uniform.

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