Show Utah's first Collegiate Veterans Center Salt Lake Community College recently opened a anew anew anew new Veterans Center Utah's first collegiate center and andone andone andone one of just several across the nation new Veterans Center took the resources of a room one-room Veterans Office and moved into an accommodating spacious new location in inthe inthe inthe the Student Center on the Taylorsville Redwood campus Full- Full Fulland and part- part time staff members as well as six veteran work study students provide personal individualized attention to veteran students The new center provides veteran students and their families a wide range of support services in one convenient location Students have access to tutoring counseling computer access and job support as well as Post PostTraumatic PostTraumatic PostTraumatic Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury services at Salt Lake City's VA Hospital We wanted an open and inviting place for our veterans to conduct their business a single convenient place where they can receive the services they need and deserve Dean of Enrollment Services at Eric Weber said the new Veterans Center is is- tremendously helpful to our veterans and their families It gives them a place to study relax and provides all the essential support services they need to be successful students employees and family members The Veterans Center at is meeting demand in the community It is also busy More than veterans attend each semester The Veterans Office certifies classes taken by and attendance of most of veteran students to the Veterans Administration All veterans attending are welcome to use the center free of charge The amenities at the new center include a lounge with couches a television and microwave a study area with tables computers and anda a printer in order to make the college experience more enjoyable for veterans The new Veterans Center facilitates cooperation with outside Veterans Service agencies that provide support to students including Veterans Upward Bound the Utah Department of Workforce Services State Transition Advisor Bart Davis and the Veterans Veteran's Administration Hospital The outside agencies fully participate with the center The and Veterans Upward Bound send representatives to meet with students twice each week in the office A Math English and a Computer Information Systems tutor assists students twice per week once a month the State Veterans Affairs Transition Assistance Advisor meets with veterans once a month VA Hospital professionals are currently working with staff to hold a focus group for veterans And counselors from Veterans Rehabilitation Services meet two times each semester with about veteran students using VA Vocational Rehabilitation assistance to help them complete their education Students seem to love the increased services and opportunities the new center provides I am very appreciative of all that has been given here to those of ofus ofus ofus us who are veterans Air Force veteran and student Shawn Whitney said It is nice to know this College cares about us to give us so much I have attended a few other schools and there is nothing like this anywhere Ive I've ever been Darlene Head-Goldman Head Veterans Office Supervisor and Certifying Official believes it necessary to always look for better ways to help the veterans she sees And the new center gives her herand and the college community an array of options to help that didn't exist before The space we have now is almost like a USO mini-USO for our students They receive just about everything here they need to take full advantage of their GI educational benefits she said With this new center and our continued efforts to support veterans we are sending a clear message to our students that they matter matterand matterand matterand and we appreciate their service to our country Salt Lake Community College has always been supportive of our veterans and we are grateful for this wonderful new space Patrick Dwire another student retired from the US U.S. Army agrees and points to the synergy developed between veterans in this special place specifically designed for forand forand forand and devoted to their needs This center provides an anarea anarea anarea area for those of us who are veterans to draw strength from one another Dwire said Because only another veteran understands what a fellow veteran has gone through and continues to togo togo togo go through Many people working with veterans especially those working in college or university settings marvel at what were we're doing here nere I have been contacted by colleagues from other colleges and universities across the nation asking how we were able to get our center approved by the college Darlene Head- Head Goldman said I am always so pleased to tell them that Salt Lake Community College has always supported it its veterans by having a dedicated Veterans Office Honestly I did not have to fight to get this space I have shared our experiences with them I let them know anything's possible especially with a cooperative enthusiastic and progressive administration That we could go from having one tiny room with one employee to everything we have here today to help students is truly amazing As important as the Centers Center's work is in making sure students are receiving the benefits the education and training and the support services they need student veterans get another benefit that is every bit as valuable from the center a sense of belonging US U.S. Marine and student Corbin Motter articulated what many of his student and veteran peers felt upon se seeing ing the new center Just looking at this place just being here today makes me feel like my service to our country is valued by others that its it's all been worth it |