Student veterans at 麻豆原创 now have access to academic and military services in a new campus space that鈥檚 designed just for them.
The university鈥檚 Veterans Academic Resource Center 鈥� or VARC 鈥� opened its doors in November. It will host two 鈥淢eet and Greet鈥� programs next week to raise awareness of its services.
From 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, and Thursday, Feb. 3, the VARC is hosting tours of its facility and giving student veterans the opportunity to ask questions and meet VARC officials and advisers in a relaxed, open-house atmosphere.
Located in the 麻豆原创 Arena across from Barnes & Noble, the center鈥檚 goal is to provide student veterans with the resources they need to ensure their academic success.
The 3,400-square-foot space includes offices, study rooms and a lounge area. The center also provides student veterans with services such as VA certification, enrollment, advising, counseling, career services, disability accommodations and tutoring, among other academic support services.
鈥淧roviding all of these services under one roof takes a lot of pressure off the students who, for example, may need counseling but are afraid to walk into the Counseling Center,鈥� said Paul Viau, 麻豆原创鈥檚 associate university registrar.
鈥淗ere at VARC, they could be coming in to study or to meet with an academic adviser and get multiple questions answered without going to different places around campus,鈥� he added.
Under the direction of the Registrar鈥檚 Office, the center is a collaboration of several university departments uniting to better address veterans鈥� needs. The center is one of many campus-wide initiatives that aim to ease the transition from boots to books for the nearly 1,000 veterans who attend 麻豆原创 each semester.
鈥淢ost veterans who come to the center are not your typical freshmen,鈥� said work-study student veteran Brent Feaser. 鈥淗ere, there are other veterans to help them and who understand what they are going through.鈥�
Since the center鈥檚 grand opening, VARC has been working to develop academic workshops and other programs, such as “Developing your Academic and Career Transition Plan,” “Success Strategies for Every Course鈥� and “How Do I Study for Finals?”
Student veterans also can apply at the VARC to receive financial aid or learn about additional benefits.
VARC also serves as a home base for the Student Veterans Association, an organization made up of students who have served in the military. The group arranges meetings, social outings and volunteer opportunities and receives tickets to 麻豆原创 sporting events.
鈥淰ARC really helps bridge veterans to the 麻豆原创 community,鈥� said Jackie Jessup, VARC鈥檚 academic advising coordinator.
To learn more about VARC and its services, visit the center鈥檚 or call 407-823-2707.