he Utah Valley University (UVU) Veteran Success Center (VSC) is dedicated to the success
of all veterans as they seek to navigate their educational paths. Serving nearly 4,000
students who are veterans and their families each year, the center is committed to
partnering with veterans to implement their GI Bill® education benefits and provide
opportunities to forge connections with others who have served in the armed forces.
The UVU Veteran Success Center provides educational guidance, programming, and opportunities
that explore and honor the unique position and experiences of each veteran and their
family. As the number of veterans seeking higher education continues to increase,
providing support and resources through the UVU Veteran Success Center is essential
to honoring those who have served and sacrificed.
At-a-glance
Veterans living in Utah
of Utah veterans are enrolled in college (higher than the national average of about 4.5%)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Total student visits since November 2016
Total amount awarded to UVU student veterans via the GI Bill® and tuition assistance since 2015
Estimate of additional money paid to students
Source: UVU Accounts Receivable office reports, UVU Veteran Success Center
Military-connected students who graduated in 2021-22
Source: Queue Reports and Institutional Research
Unique students helped since October 2015
It is imperative for a campus veterans organization to help service members feel more engaged in student life. According to Kathy Snead, director of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, this sense of being involved is a key indicator of whether student veterans will be academically successful. The UVU Veteran Success Center is dedicated to supporting students beyond the classroom.
Returning to civilian life is a difficult transition. Nationwide, only 54% of veterans who enroll in college programs complete a degree. Many veterans face readjustment issues, while others are recovering from physical and mental injuries. At times, the minutiae of everyday life can be dull or painful. Other times, life beyond service can feel overwhelming. College seems like a clear path, but without special attention too many veterans leave without graduating.
The Utah Valley University Veteran Success Center was established in 2015 to ensure veterans enrolled in UVU have a support system that will allow them to thrive as they complete their degrees. It connects students with campus services, community services, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It helps them access their benefits. It awards scholarships. Perhaps most importantly, the VSC is a community of veterans and service members — a place where they can gather and find the familiar feeling of camaraderie.
There are 143,771 veterans living in Utah right now. Six percent of those veterans are enrolled in college. As the largest public higher education institution in the state, UVU takes its role of educating veterans seriously. It could not do this without the VSC, and the VSC would not exist without the support of donors like you.
How the VSC increases retention and engagement:
1 Provide Scholarships
2 Fund Experiential Learning Opportunities
3 Create the Veteran Success Center Endowment
“If colleges are not prepared to help transition soldiers from combat, you do run the risk of losing an entire generation. The GI Bill® isn’t a thank you for your service. What it really is is a readjustment benefit. It is giving them the opportunity to do something that is constructive for their mind and their body, that gives them a mission and allows them to move forward in life. It’s a backstop so you’re not walking right off the plane from combat into the civilian world. It was designed to be a soft landing.”
Tom Tarantino, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
EverGREEN, the Campaign for UVU, marks an exciting time to give to an institution that values the service and sacrifice of veterans. The UVU Veteran Success Center will continue to support serviceconnected students to see them through to graduation. We can only achieve our goals with your help
It is a common misconception that VA education benefits cover the full cost of education. Often, veteran students run out of benefits before their last year of schooling when seeking a four-year degree or higher education. Scholarships can help bridge the gap in those benefit shortcomings. The VSC works with donors to secure scholarship funds to facilitate the completion of educational goals.
Purple Heart — 2 awarded in 2021-22 UVU awards recipients of the Purple Heart a tuition waiver; however, students must still pay fees. The waiver covers up to 18 credits of Utah resident undergraduate tuition per semester and/ or up to $10,000 graduate tuition total (not per semester).
Scott B. Lundell Scholarship — 3 awarded in 2021-22 This scholarship is awarded to surviving dependents of Utahresident military members killed in the line of duty after 9/11/2001.
Veteran Success Scholarship — 6 awarded in 2021-22 The UVU Veteran Success Scholarship was established in 2016 to benefit UVU students who are either veterans or dependent children or spouses of veterans. The scholarship is awarded in two categories:
UVU believes in education that provides real world hands-on learning opportunities. The VSC helps veteran students translate their military experience to marketable civilian skills. The VSC wants to expand partnerships with UVU alumnus, local entrepreneurs, and veteran friendly businesses to develop internship opportunities and job fairs for veteran and military affiliated students.
Endowing the center will ensure that quality programming, support, and scholarships are available to students this year and for decades to come. A sizable donation will provide the stability and momentum to support militaryconnected students in perpetuity. Endowing the center will ensure that quality programming, support, and scholarships are available to students for decades to come.
“I started my MBA program while I was still in the Utah Army National Guard. The Veteran Success Center helped me navigate my options as a guardsman, as well as made sure I was aware and prepared for my options after my pending deployment to Afghanistan. They also helped to make sure I was squared away before I took my leave of absence for my deployment and was ready to hit the ground running when I returned.
It’s always been great to work with the staff in the Veteran Success Center and I really appreciate the periodic check-ins. In addition to the assistance provided, I also appreciate how easy they’ve made it to access and use my veteran’s benefits. I’m grateful to have had this resource available to me as a veteran and a student.”
By making a gift to Utah Valley University or any of its educational programs, you can enrich the lives of service members who, in turn, will positively impact our communities
