Veterans Center connects

Liberty’s Veterans Center hosts open house, previews new program additions

 

The Veterans Center hosted a four-hour open house to connect with the student veterans of Liberty on Sept. 1.

Jon Norman, advisor for the Student Veterans Association and the Military Student Liaison, said the Veterans Center tries to do an event every semester to welcome student veterans back to school.

“Our goal really is to get in front of student veterans as soon as possible,” Norman said.

“The sooner I can meet with a student veteran to let them know I’m available to them for whatever they need, the less likely they are going to have
an issue.”

According to Norman, the open house was held to help get veterans connected with other veterans on campus.

The event served as an informational tool to let the student veterans know they have a resource on campus, and people willing to help.

“It’s a way to foster that camaraderie…to know that they can have that common link here in the Veterans Center,” Norman said.

The office also announced a new vet-to-vet tutoring program this year.

For some of the veterans, basic high school math was six or more years ago, Norman said.

The tutoring program will provide veterans to tutor other veterans who may be having trouble with math or any other subjects.

“If there’s a veteran student that’s having trouble with lower level math classes and needs help, then they can come in and we can get them signed up,” Norman said.

Norman said the tutoring program can even help the veteran student with time management.

Along with the added tutoring component, the Veterans Center will host a weekly Wednesday night Bible study and growing veterans’ careers through the student veteran mentorship program.

The Veterans Center is only in its second year at Liberty University after six years of planning.

The center found its current location in DeMoss last fall, making a significant contribution to the already military friendly campus.

“To me, Liberty University, from the inside looking out, is the most military friendly university in the nation,” Norman said.

Norman said there are many universities that appreciate veterans, but in his opinion, Liberty goes above and beyond.

One upcoming example is a whole week set aside to honor veterans in November of this year, including the first Veterans Day parade held on the Liberty University campus.

This event is meant to show thanks and gratitude toward veterans, Norman said.

“It’s just one more great thing that shows how devoted our leadership is to our veterans,” Norman said.

The university provides a place where veterans can gather and meet other veterans.

According to Norman, he met 10 times as many veterans when the center opened last fall than he had any other year.

“It’s a great place where veterans can be veterans and have fellowship,” Norman said.

For more information, visit the Veterans Center Office in the Montview Student Union, Third Floor, Suite 3630.

Or contact them via email at militarypoc@liberty.edu.

Yoder is a feature reporter.