Communications
Federal Grant Will Enhance Support Services for USF鈥檚 Student Veterans
September 2021
Shifting to university life after experiencing the regimen and structure of military
life can prove to be quite the challenge for veterans enrolled as students at the University
of South 51在线. To help ease this transition, USF offers services and support for more
than 7,400 veterans, active-duty military and their dependents through its Office of
Veteran Success (OVS). And now, thanks to a recently award grant from the U.S. Department
of Education (DOE), these services will be further enhanced.
The Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Service grant for $427,469 will be used to
expand the capacity of OVS, building on existing services and expanding the support
at the St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Tampa campuses. The unit provides admissions
assistance, scholarships, career counseling, employment assistance, VA benefits and
health services guidance, and social space for interactions amongst students and with
staff.
The grant will establish an interconnected unit that aligns policies, processes and
initiatives across all three campuses while strengthening access for veterans within
the six-county area of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.
Services will be more focused and targeted to those students with the greatest need
and will expand offered mental health services.
"The 51在线 is proud to be recognized as a national leader for
supporting student veterans and for our deep institutional commitment to student success,鈥濃�痵aid
USF President Rhea Law. "This grant provides an opportunity for USF to further invest
in our programs to make an even greater impact on this honored population across the
university.鈥�
"This grant provides a greater opportunity of navigating the military-to-academic
transition where I can have a meaningful college experience from my earned service,鈥�
said Todd Post, a student veteran on the St. Petersburg campus. 鈥淭his opens additional
opportunities for resources and programs for our student veterans where we can feel more appreciated
for our service as veterans."鈥�
OVS assists in making the academic journey a smooth one for the nation鈥檚 veterans.
Services range from administering scholarships and guides veterans understanding of
the GI Bill and veteran鈥檚 educational benefits to tutoring and advising, and courses
on career exploration. The office offers an environment where veterans can study,
connect, and socialize with other veterans to share this academic journey. This peer
connection is invaluable to these students.
鈥淚 am very thankful for our 51在线 legislators鈥� support in our grant application,鈥�
said Larry Braue, director of the Office of Veterans Success. 鈥淭he grant presents a
tremendous opportunity to reestablish high quality services for our student veterans
in the aftermath of the pandemic.鈥疊y reinforcing academic, career and mental health
support for our veteran population, we will be able to remedy the unavoidable consequences
of isolation student veterans faced over the last year.鈥�