Division of Student Services

Western at the forefront of veterans' services
Veteran-friendly campus offers one-stop center

On August 7, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into law the Higher Education Veterans Service Act, requiring colleges and universities “to create, publish and distribute a comprehensive guide of services available specifically to veterans at their institutions. This bill also requires schools with 1,000 or more full-time students to appoint a coordinator to act as a liaison between administrators and student veterans.”

While most Illinois colleges and universities will be busy implementing this new legislation before the end of this year, these regulations were institutional goals accomplished by the University in 2007.

In fact, according to one official of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs state approving administrator, WIU is at the forefront in service to Illinois veterans and their families.

“Western’s commitment to veterans is exemplary and will set the standard for other colleges and universities in Illinois,” said Joan Ryan, Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs state approving administrator.

These standards include an array of policies, programs, and services designed to facilitate the successful transition from the military to college life.
Western will stay on the leading edge with the expansion of resources for veterans and reservists. Plans are slated for the 2009-2010 academic year to include opening of the Veterans Resource Center, currently located in the University Union, to the Wright Residence in Macomb.

The property, at 333 N. Ward St. (directly aross the street from the Alumni House), was donated to the University by Ken Wright, a Blandinsville veterinarian, and his wife, Betty. The center will include a computer/study room; two office areas for staff dedicated to assisting veterans and reservists; a lounge; and a private meeting room for students, University personnel, and community agency representatives. The center will also employ a minimum of four VA work study students who will serve as peer mentors and resource center assistants. Another priority will be to seek external funding sources so that Western can continue to meet the needs of a quickly growing veteran and reservist student population who willingly served their country.

While many colleges and universities are competing for students, WIU continues to enroll an increasing number of reservists and veterans each semester. The academic reputation of the University is often cited as the reason veterans choose WIU. Distance learning opportunities are appealing to veteran students, with course offerings providing the balance needed between work, families, education, and related commitments. 

Many veterans and reservists say they are here because they were referred by their veteran counterparts who had positive experiences at the University. There are a myriad of reasons why veteran students choose to attend WIU, but the one underlying theme is clear—WIU provides a welcome and friendly environment where veteran students can succeed.

A veteran returning from at least one year of active military service who has received an honorable discharge will be accepted to the University provided that WIU is the first school that the veteran attends after leaving the service.  The veteran applicant must have graduated from a recognized high school or have earned a high school equivalency certificate. Early outreach efforts for newly admitted students enhance communication between the University and veterans physically located throughout the U.S., Iraq, or Afghanistan. This valuable connection allows students to complete necessary paperwork and establish personal ties with University officials early in the enrollment process. The University has also established student-centered policies for veterans when they are activated for military service, re-entering from military duty, and requesting transfer credit for military training.

Jason Worthington of Macomb is a junior kinesiology major at the completion of his first year at WIU because he was awarded 39 credit hours for his prior military training.

“Everyone at WIU goes above and beyond for veteran students,” he said. “They are knowledgeable of the programs and services that are beneficial to us, they strive to promote strong networks among veteran students, and their doors are always open to take care of anything that we might need. The administration is receptive to feedback from veteran students, and we have sincerely developed a mutual respect and positive working relationship.”

In 2007, student veteran leaders and the University administration agreed that a centralized approach to serving this student population would provide greater opportunities for success via the development of a “one-stop shop.” Veterans Resources, located within the Student Assistance and Parent Service Center, was established to address the need to streamline these services.

According to WIU Veterans Club President Matt Medhat, a sophomore general orientation student from Downer’s Grove, those services are indeed streamlined.
“I actually started classes before I was formally discharged from the Marines. I had a lot to accomplish in a very short time period. Veterans Resources helped me from start to finish. I decided to take a few courses while I was home this summer. Suddenly, my GI Bill benefits stopped so I sought the assistance from the experts at WIU. They explained exactly what the other college needed to do to resolve my problem. Western is always one step ahead of the game.”

Many parallels can be drawn between building a veteran-friendly campus and the missions carried out by the military men and women that Western so proudly serves. Both undertakings entail visionary leadership, troops of dedicated professionals, collaborative partnerships, an unyielding loyalty to the cause, and a reverent commitment to succeed. Western’s ongoing pledge to serve its veteran student population has resulted in a model for other colleges and universities to emulate.

 

 

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