Campus Connection

[caption id="attachment_7066" align="aligncenter" width="685"] The new full-service Veterans Lounge in the university's new Student Union highlights the many services the campus offers to veterans.[/caption]

Campus achieves UW System stamp of approval

UW-La Crosse has successfully met the criteria to achieve University of Wisconsin Veterans Education and Transition to Success (VETS) certification. The campus was recognized at the UW System Board of Regents meeting Thursday, Nov. 9, in Madison. The UW System is a national leader in offering exceptional higher education services to student veterans. The certification is important because it demonstrates UWL's dedication to veterans, says Kevin LeQue, the university’s veteran educational benefits coordinator. “It’s not only their attending here, but also their staying the course with a variety of support and graduating,” he explains. LeQue says highlights of services that UWL offers to veterans include a full-service Veterans Lounge in the Student Union, the Veterans Advisory Committee, and the Student Veterans Association. UW VETS certification specifically recognizes commitment to ensuring student veterans have the best possible educational experience. The certification is an important distinction that student veterans and others may consider while choosing a university. Criteria for UW VETS certification include:

• Training campus faculty and staff on issues that student veterans may face in transitioning to college, such as scheduling, making connections, study habits, and health and welfare challenges;
• Conducting regular surveys of student veterans to identify needs and get input;
• Establishing a campus steering committee composed of student veterans, faculty and staff to share information and provide guidance to campus leadership;
• Providing student veteran-focused orientation programming;
• Identifying internal and external counseling resources to assist student veterans with academic, financial and social concerns;
• Providing a dedicated space on campus where student veterans can meet peers and receive help with benefits, enrollment and connections to supportive resources.

UWL currently enrolls 172 veterans in the fall semester.