After serving their country and exiting the military, many veterans question what their future holds as they transition into civilian life. Thanks to an upcoming partnership, UCF is preparing to help them answer that question.
UCF is one of 12 universities nationwide 麻豆精品 S� and the only school in Florida and the southeast 麻豆精品 S� that will participate in the new Service to Service initiative. The national pilot program is dedicated to connecting veterans and their families with graduate educational pathways in public service and helping them find impactful long-term careers in public leadership. By encouraging service members to pursue higher education in public administration affairs, this military-to-public-service pipeline is intended to help veterans leverage their military experience in rewarding new roles.
Participants can apply for scholarships and use their GI bill toward the program. Recruitment starts in Spring 2025, and the program 麻豆精品 S檚 launch is scheduled for Fall 2025.
Service to Service is a collaboration between two nonprofit organizations: The Volcker Alliance, which supports public service education, and We the Veterans, which aims to empower service members and their relatives. UCF joins Cornell University, Arizona State University and others in having been selected as a pilot site for this initiative.
, director of the and the school 麻豆精品 S檚 representative to The Volcker Alliance, says he believes Service to Service is an excellent opportunity for veterans who want to transition into a civil service career.
麻豆精品 S淭he military is always an untapped resource, 麻豆精品 S� Goodman says. 麻豆精品 S淢any veterans leave the military with a lot of experience, and they want to continue that level of experience by serving their communities. We want to provide quality education that engages our veterans, and the Service to Service program can better connect us with that group of people. 麻豆精品 S�
Students who join the initiative, known as Service to Service Fellows, can further their education through UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 graduate programs in public administration, emergency and crisis management, nonprofit management, public policy, and regional and urban planning. Goodman says the fellows will also enjoy various program benefits such as mentorship, community-building, professional development opportunities and even facilitated job placement.
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, a 23-year Army veteran and director of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 , adds that the program serves as an avenue for veterans seeking guidance in their next chapter.
麻豆精品 S淰eterans often leave the service feeling lost, not knowing who they want to be or what they want to do, 麻豆精品 S� Kepner says. 麻豆精品 S淭rying to become a civilian overnight can be very difficult, and finding work after military life can feel like trying to find your first 麻豆精品 S榞rown-up 麻豆精品 S� job. Service to Service is a fantastic way for veterans and their families to find their footing in local or state government roles where they can continue serving the community. 麻豆精品 S�
Looking ahead, Kepner says he is excited about the Service to Service initiative and thinks it will have a highly positive impact on the service members and military families who decide to enroll.
麻豆精品 S淔lorida is a great state for veterans, 麻豆精品 S� Kepner says. 麻豆精品 S淎 lot of veterans and retirees come down to Florida, and as more veterans move here, Service to Service will allow them to explore new career options. I think it 麻豆精品 S檚 going to pay huge dividends for transitioning service members to discover who they want to be. 麻豆精品 S�
In January, U.S. News & World Report ranked UCF No. 8 for Best Online Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 Programs for Veterans. In 2024, UCF received the Collegiate Purple Star Campus聽designation, which recognizes the university for its efforts to support military and veteran students through 2027.
Those wanting to learn more about the Service to Service program should contact the School of Public Administration.
