May 4, 2015
Kyle Guthrie
[email protected]
Both the Student Veterans’ Organization and the Office of Veteran and Military Student Affairs aim to spread awareness of benefits and support to veterans currently attending UCCS.
The SVO also encourages events that promote veteran hiring in the city and state.
On May 19 and 20, industry specific training classes, where veterans can get information about career exploration, will be available for sign-up. Several of the classes will be at Pikes Peak Community College and are open to all veterans.
On May 21, a job fair will take place at the Mortgage Solutions Financial Center, formerly known as the Freedom Financial Center.
“It’s probably the biggest job fair for veterans in Colorado,” Morris said.
Another pertinent issue being communicated to veteran students for next semester is the availability of the College Opportunity Fund. Increasing use of COF could help alleviate some of the money the OVMSA spends on veteran students’ tuition.
Phillip Morris, director of the OVMSA, explained the use of COF for veterans.
“Student vets that are considered in-state residents and get in-state tuition are required to sign up for, and accept, the payment from COF.”
Morris spoke about the increased communication to veteran students.
“That is our intention, to be more proactive in getting out the word, and holistically our office in partnership with the financial services office trying to get more timely communication out to the student vets about everything that is going to affect their benefits and anything we do through veteran services.”
Justin Parker, veteran student success coordinator, believes the veteran influence at UCCS has to do with the location of the university itself.
“I think it has to do with the city,” Parker said. “I actually just moved here and I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the amount of support for active duty and retired veterans. I think a lot of people are retiring here after they get out.”
Parker also mentioned their ‘Boots to Suits’ program, a mentoring program.
“We find mentors in the community within businesses or state agencies or federal agencies, then we match them up with student vets who want to go into those career fields.”