Renovated student veteran center opens for business

The military veteran student population at Wayne State now tops 600 and continues to grow as more men and women in uniform return home.

This fall semester, 175 veterans have been admitted to the university.

In an effort to continue its commitment and support for veterans, the university recently reopened its newly expanded and renovated Student Veteran Resource Center (SVRC) — just in time for the beginning of fall semester.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last week at the SVRC, located in the Student Center Building on the main campus in Detroit. Preceeding the evnet, a brief  9/11 remembrance ceremony was scheduled in front of the flags at Gullen Mall.

The SVRC includes nearly 3,000 square feet of space dedicated to assisting veteran students as they transition from military service to civilian life and higher education.

Patrick Hannah, resource center manager, Wayne State alumnus and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was instrumental in both the creation of the Student Veterans Organization and the current center. 

“Before we had our own center, we would meet at various places, but we really needed a place to call our own, where our veterans felt comfortable meeting and socializing,” says Hannah. “But more importantly, we needed an environment that promoted academic success and respect for one another. The resource center’s new look is a visual example of Wayne State University’s commitment to its veterans.”

Through Wayne State’s Office of Military and Veterans Academic Excellence (OMVAE) and the SVRC, students have access to tools that assist them in both their academic success and transition from military to civilian life — a journey Hannah calls “from uniform to student.” 

OMVAE offers academic advising, tutoring, mentoring and assistance completing the paperwork required to access federal veteran education benefits.