For military veterans, transitioning to civilian life can be tough. Transitioning from the military to a college campus can be even more daunting.
At the University of Central Florida, the Veterans Academic Resource Center (VARC) eases the way for students who have served their country, providing a one-stop-shop of services to help them succeed.
麻豆精品 S淔rom beginning to end, we work with our veterans to make sure their transition is as smooth as possible during their entire time here, 麻豆精品 S� said VARC program coordinator Joshua 麻豆精品 S淛J 麻豆精品 S� Johnson.
For the roughly 1,500 student-veterans who attend UCF, VARC provides everything from career counseling and tutoring to coffee and social activities.
That support is a key reason UCF has earned a spot on the Military Times 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S淏est for Vets 麻豆精品 S� college list, and been named a Military Friendly庐 School by Victory Media.
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It starts before student-veterans set foot in their first class. Veterans start their UCF orientation in the VARC offices on East Plaza Drive by CFE Arena. There, a team led by assistant registrar Bethany Glassbrenner cuts through the red tape by helping fill out Veterans Administration forms to take advantage of GI Bill educational benefits that can cover tuition and housing. Part of her team is made up of UCF VA work-study students 麻豆精品 S� most of whom are veterans themselves.
VARC, which is run by director Dr. Paul Viau, celebrates its sixth anniversary this month. When it opened in 2010, traffic was sparse. Since then, there 麻豆精品 S檚 been an increase in both the number of veterans who attend UCF and the number of services the university offers to support them.
Lorine Cisch-Taylor assists with student veterans 麻豆精品 S� transfer to UCF, advocates for disabled veterans and provides career counseling.
麻豆精品 S淭he first semester I was here, I had about six people physically come into my office the whole semester, 麻豆精品 S� she said. 麻豆精品 S淣ow I see about six a day. We have exponentially increased traffic. 麻豆精品 S�
Within UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 student-veteran population for Fall 2016, most have transferred with credits earned from a state college or the military. Some 74 percent are men and 26 percent are women. Eighty percent are undergraduates and 20 percent are graduates. Most 麻豆精品 S� about 90 percent 麻豆精品 S� are Florida residents. Nineteen percent attend regional campuses.
The VARC 麻豆精品 S檚 Vet 2 Vet Peer Mentoring Program currently has five peer mentors, who are veterans themselves. Much of their time is spent contacting the nearly 1,500 veterans at UCF multiple times each semester to make sure they 麻豆精品 S檙e on track with their academics and making a smooth transition at UCF.
When it comes to academics, student-veterans at UCF have priority registration status so they can sign up for classes early. At VARC, they can find quiet study rooms, tutoring, supplemental academic advising and more.
Vets can also find camaraderie and support from others who have served. They can hang out in the VARC 麻豆精品 S檚 lounge, which features a TV, gaming systems, coffeemaker, microwave and refrigerator.
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