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FIU’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (VMA) has been awarded a three-year $450,000 grant from the U.S. Office of Post-Secondary Education to establish a center dedicated to supporting veteran students.
The Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success will be staffed with an interdisciplinary team who will address the academic, financial, physical, and social needs of over 1,600 veteran and military-affiliated students at FIU. The center will offer comprehensive services to enhance veteran students’ college experience, assist veteran students in overcoming challenges while acclimating to university life, and increase veteran students’ graduation rates at FIU.
“We are looking forward to creating important dedicated and intentional models of coaching, advising, and career preparation pathways that will positively impact retention and graduation, and solidify the academic and professional success of our student veterans as they reintegrate back into civilian life,” said Elizabeth Béjar, senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs.
FIU plans to leverage existing resources, such as financial wellness programming and micro-credentialing, in order to assist students in developing the technical and life skills necessary to ensure they are prepared for post-graduate studies and professional careers.
“By providing a valuable and impactful experience at every stage of a veteran’s experience at FIU, our team is committed to ensuring each veteran and military-affiliated learner maximizes their student success and fulfills their professional goals,” said Anthony DeSantis, assistant vice p for Student Affairs.
The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs provides comprehensive military-friendly services and programs to veteran and military-affiliated learners. Recently, FIU earned the 2021-22 Military Friendly School designation, ranking as the No. 7 Tier 1 research institution. In 2020, FIU received the Colleges of Distinction Military Support Recognition award and was ranked as a 2020 Top School for Veterans by U.S. Veterans Magazine.
For more information about FIU, visit www.fiu.edu.
