Eastern Washington University expands outreach

EWU Veterans Resource Center celebrates 10 years

‘I WANT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY WHO’S BEEN IN MY SHOES. I KNOW THEY WILL BE THERE …’

By David Millet

EWU VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER

In summer 2012, members of local and regional veterans organizations, the campus community, and student veterans gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Eastern Washington University Veterans Resource Center. The Center encompasses over 2,000 square feet of space consisting of offices and a beautiful lounge area complete with leather furniture, a big screen TV, a kitchen area, books, resources, and a small computer lab. Since that time, the center has become the benchmark in the Pacific Northwest for its space and atmosphere, and for the student-veteran support and programming offered by the administrative staff, VA representatives, and student-veteran workers who work there.

This fall we celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the VRC and I reflect on the incredible growth, support and programming the enter has provided to hundreds of veterans and military connected students. Just as impactful has been the growth and collaboration of other Veteran Centers at our regional colleges and universities – we have truly become a close-knit community across our institutions of higher learning in finding ways to better support our student veterans.

“It is nice that if I go there and I want to talk to somebody who’s been in my shoes or understands what I went through or what I’m going through now, I know they will be there.” Lainey, USAF Student Veteran

The primary function of the EWU VRC is to provide guidance and support to any student using VA Education benefits and ensure all VA policies and procedures are followed in the VA certification process. But over the years I have come to realize that the VRC staff and work study students are also informal academic advisors, campus, and community resource connectors and sometimes “social workers” and financial aid counselors. In many cases we just need to be good listeners and advocates for our veterans as they transition from active-duty service to higher education.

To help our entire campus, I have created programming in collaboration with EWU faculty such as “Got Your 6” (got your back) which is a seminar that helps guide faculty, staff and students on their journey towards veteran and military cultural competency. With over 500 veterans and military connected students at Eastern Washington University it is important that the campus community have a better understanding of their military background, the VA Education Benefits many are using and ways we can support them on their academic journey. We continue to grow our Military and Veterans appreciation events around Veterans Day; such as our football game where we have military static displays, a KC-135 flyover, recognition of veterans and the enlistment of new ROTC Cadets and service members at half-time. We are also fortunate to have a large Veterans Day display in the EWU JFK Library for the first two weeks of November each year; just a small way of educating our community on what Veterans Day is all about.

Supporters of the EWU Veterans Resource Center enjoy cake.

COURTESY PHOTOS

The EWU Veterans Resource Center has collected badges and other mementos from service members.

“It’s really nice that we have a huge lounge area for people to come, hang out and get to know each other and get to know some of the other veterans on campus.” Jon, USMC Student Veteran

Who knows what the next 10 years will bring for the Veterans Resource Center? We are working on creating a “Veterans Reflective Space” on the campus grounds to both celebrate the transition from “warrior” to “scholar” and as a quiet place anyone can go to reflective and meditate. I know we will continue to have veterans and military connected students coming to Eastern Washington University with their own unique experiences and challenges; and I know the VRC staff and the University is prepared to offer them the best support to help them achieve their academic goals.

For more information about the EWU Veterans Resource Center Visit or contact Eastern Washington University Veteran Resource Center 122 Showalter Hall, Cheney, WA 99004

Or contact Dave Millet, (509) 3592461, dmillet@ewu.edu or inside.ewu. edu/veterans/