UM-Flint Honored as "Gold-Level" School for Veteran Services

The University of Michigan-Flint has once again been designated a "Gold Level" school by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA). This is the highest level awarded by the state agency for recognizing higher education institutions for their veteran services.

"It's an honor to be recognized by such an outstanding organization," said UM-Flint Interim Veterans Coordinator Aimi Moss about the designation from the MVAA. "We appreciate what they do on behalf of veterans."

The Michigan Veteran-Friendly School program has seven criteria it uses to measure the veteran support levels. Those schools that reach six or more of these measures receive the gold designation. UM-Flint meets all seven.

The seven measures, as described on the agency's website, are:

• Established process for identification of current student veterans.
• Veteran-specific website.
• Active student-operated veterans club or association.
• Veteran-specific career services, resources, advising, and/or outcome monitoring
• On-campus veteran's coordinator and/or designated staff point of contact.
• System to evaluate and award credit based on prior military training and experience.
• Monitoring and evaluation of student veteran academic retention, transfer and graduation rates.

"The colleges and universities have proven their dedication to the men and women who have served their country by ensuring they succeed in achieving their educational goals," said MVAA director James Robert Redford in a release announcing the designations.

UM-Flint operates a Student Veterans Resource Center, which assists veterans in a wide variety of ways. Some of the services include help with admission, VA benefits, enrollment, advising, and referral to other services outside of UM-Flint. It also hosts social outings and space for student veterans to connect with their peers.

"We want our veterans to know we are there for them in whatever way they need us to be," Moss said.