Director: Megan Witherspoon Evans
Associate Director: Fernando Rodriguez Escobar
Number of staff members: 7
Do you have student staff?
- 1 graduate assistant for retention and outreach
- 3 student office assistants
- 5 VA Work Study students (employed by the VA but work in our office)
Purpose of the department, what does your department do?
With the understanding that military-affiliated students have unique needs, our services are adapted to the individual student. We serve as the central point of contact for prospective or current University of Arkansas military-affiliated students needing assistance with the admissions process, applying for military educational benefits and scholarships, and referrals to various academic departments around campus. Additionally, we maintain a large network within the community to refer students to organizations specializing in veteran services.
Tell us about your programs and/or signature events
VA Works: Our new comprehensive platform for managing VA Education Benefits. Its objective is to streamline the application process for staff and students. Simplify and transform the way we communicate, share documents, interact with notifications, manage applications, stay productive, and track updates. It will improve student experience by giving them guided access to submit applications at any time and interact with staff through a centralized communication hub to include live updates on their benefits status.
Veteran Impact Program: VIP is a one-semester cohort program for incoming or transfer student veterans that will support their transition from military to civilian to student. Our pilot cohort is participating in the program this fall. This program will focus on individualized skill development, peer to peer as well as faculty/staff mentorship, preparing for academic and post-graduation success, and connecting participants with each other, our office, and campus as a whole.
Green Zone: This is a national program template that we are launching at UofA. The purpose is to educate the campus community on the military-affiliated population and strive for a more military friendly campus. It is similar to Safe Zone training. Attendees will have the opportunity to opt-in to a “network” of military-friendly faculty/staff listed on the VMSC website.
Coffee & Careers: Each month we will be inviting an NWA business that has military and veteran- friendly hiring practices or programs to come to campus. They will talk specifically with VMSC students about upcoming opportunities and to answer questions about applying for internships, jobs, and other opportunities within their business field.
Razorback Student Veterans: This RSO is a social and professional organization for veterans and veteran supporters and serves as the student voice for the military/veterans on campus. Their mission is to assist military-affiliated students to achieve academic goals and assimilate into student life. They reach out to the community through service projects and philanthropic activities.
How are you contributing to the Advancing Student Affairs Strategic Plan?
In our continued effort to support initiatives that will increase student belonging and well-being, we hosted our first specialized orientation sessions during A-Week. During the morning session, we met with veterans and active military members to discussion resources and their benefits process. Prior to their session, we also invited key campus partners, veteran/military friendly employers, and various VA and community resources to table at a small info fair. During the afternoon, we had another information session from the lens of military spouses and dependent children.
What do you want to brag about?
Our office was selected as a finalist and recipient of a Women’s Giving Circle grant in the amount of $18,450. These funds will support the Veteran Impact Program and Orientation sessions for the 2025-2026 academic year. We are so thankful for this recognition and support towards the goal of our students finding community and connection at the U of A. A positive on-boarding and transition will lead to greater success in the classroom, positive progress toward graduation, and encouragement as they seek career and post-grad opportunities.