(July 26, 2017) — The transition from military life to student life can be challenging for student veterans. Fortunately, a program located at UTSA makes the process easier.
VetSuccess on Campus is a collaborative effort between UTSA and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It provides support and counseling to veterans, active duty military and UTSA students who are benefits-eligible family members of veterans attending or planning to attend UTSA.
“We give them a solid understanding of their potential military benefits – what they are, how they work and how to use them most efficiently to get the most out of their education,” said Vet Success on Campus Counselor Wendy Foster, who works on the UTSA Main Campus along with counselor Kareem Vaughn.
VetSuccess on Campus is located at 94 colleges across the country. UTSA is one of a few schools in the nation and the only four-year university in Texas that has two counselors available for student veterans.
“It’s a reflection of the number of veterans and dependents being served at UTSA.”
UTSA’s student enrollment includes more than 4,000 veterans, active duty, guard, reserves and their family members, plus ROTC.
Nicole Nunez is one of them. Raised in a military family, her dad served 22 years in the United States Air Force. The UTSA Education major learned about VetSuccess when she took a work study position in the office.
“The Office of Financial Aid said I was eligible to be a work study even though I receive veteran benefits as a dependent,” said Nunez. “That’s how I found out I had even more benefits. It was a huge load off my shoulders.”
Now, Nunez helps other Roadrunner veterans understand the benefits available to them.
“I don’t have to worry about loans or debt after college. I can focus on being a full-time student,” Nunez said. “I’m very grateful and I’m proud to share what I know with other student veterans at UTSA.”
“Student veterans are often eligible for far more benefits than they realize or don’t realize certain benefits apply to them,” Foster said. “We want veterans and their dependents to know we are here for them through their entire educational journey.”
Since VetSuccess began at UTSA in 2012, it has helped more than 13,000 UTSA student veterans and dependents.
“Contact us and let’s start the conversation,” Foster said. “A lot of times, students don’t know what questions to ask. It’s our pleasure to sit down with them and try to identify anything that may apply to them.”
VetSuccess on Campus is located at the UTSA Main Campus on the first floor of the John Peace Library (JPL 1.01.14), inside the Veterans Certification Office.
