Upton Announces Vet Success Program for WMU, KVCC, and KCC
Program will enhance the ability of all three institutions to serve local veterans
Kalamazoo, MI,
Apr 10 -
Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) today joined leaders from Western Michigan University (WMU), Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC), and Kellogg Community College (KCC) in announcing that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will locate a Vet Success on Campus program in southwest Michigan.
Jointly hosted by the three schools – which now serve about 1,000 veterans – the Vet Success program will provide support for student veterans transitioning from active duty service to campus life, ensuring they are prepared for the future and have full access to the benefits for which they are eligible. Upton worked with the schools in obtaining a waiver from the VA, which allowed WMU, KVCC, and KCC to file a joint application for the program.
"We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the brave men and women of our armed forces. They have sacrificed so much and deserve all the resources to succeed back here at home," said Upton. "The Vet Success program will be a great resource for our area's returning student veterans who are transitioning from active duty to life on campus. I applaud the continued leadership of Western Michigan, Kalamazoo Valley, and Kellogg Community College in meeting the needs of those students who have so honorably answered their nation's call to duty."
The Vet Success on Campus program, which was launched in mid-2009 as a pilot project, supplies campus sites with an experienced, full-time VA vocational counselor and a part-time outreach professional to assist eligible veterans and their families as they access transition-support services, educational benefits, vocational rehabilitation and employment services, disability compensation, life insurance, home loan guarantees, job placement, and healthcare benefits.
Working with existing personnel who already focus on veteran services on the three campuses, the Vet Success personnel will focus on enhancing service to veterans as they transition from combat to college life, something all three schools have already established as a priority.
"We're enormously grateful to Congressman Upton for working so hard to make these new resources for our veterans a reality," said WMU President John M. Dunn. "He recognized that as higher education partners in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, our three schools have established a wonderful working relationship that can be leveraged to ensure those who have served our nation are able to take advantage of the benefits they have earned to achieve the success they deserve."
While Michigan has roughly 700,000 veterans, the 11th largest veteran population in the United States, it lags far behind in terms of the number of vets who use their educational and vocational training benefits. According to the VA, support services through Vet Success are critically needed to serve younger veterans who, because they have completed multiple tours of duty, will need more support than earlier generations of veterans.
"We are dedicated to assisting all students, including our veterans, in achieving their full potential," said Kalamazoo Valley President Marilyn Schlack. "At a time when we need it the most, this new program will allow us to build upon the meaningful assistance we already offer our student veterans and their families."
All three presidents note the natural fit the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek area is for establishing a Vet Success on Campus program. In addition to a sizeable student veteran population, the area is the site of the Battle Creek VA Medical Center.
"One of the goals of this program is to make it simple," said Dr. Dennis Bona, president of Kellogg Community College. "The concept of 'one stop' for veterans will hopefully minimize the red tape and confusion for veterans and get them the services they seek without the normal hassle of government programs."
WMU, KVCC, and KCC have all been singled out repeatedly by G.I. Jobs magazine as "military friendly schools." Additionally, WMU has been named by Military Times EDGE magazine as one of the top 50 "Best for Vets" schools in the nation in each of the past two years. WMU and KVCC both are home to longtime chapters of the Student Veterans of America Association.
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