College information session for veterans slated

KALAMAZOO—Representatives of Western Michigan University's graduate and undergraduate programs will be on hand to answer questions at a special information session, "Higher Education for Veterans," to be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 23, in Battle Creek, Mich., at the Fort Custer Education Center Pentagon Building, Room A181C.

Representatives from Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Kellogg Community College will also be available.

"This is an excellent opportunity for veterans and Veterans Administration employees to find out more about degree completion (including online programs) and master's and doctoral degree programs," says Tony Dennis, WMU director of graduate student recruitment and retention. "Also, representatives will be available to talk and answer questions about financial aid and about WMU's off-campus offerings through Extended University Programs."

KVCC, KCC and WMU, which together serve more than 1,000 veterans, have all been singled out repeatedly by G.I. Jobs magazine as "military friendly schools." Additionally, WMU has been named by Military Times' Edge Magazine as one of the top 50 "Best for Vets" schools in the nation in each of the past three years. Also, KVCC and WMU both are home to longtime chapters of the Student Veterans of America Association.

Last year, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton announced vets would be able to tap an array of new services to help them succeed, thanks to a decision by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to locate a VetSuccess on Campus program in southwest Michigan. WMU partnered with KCC and KVCC to secure the first such VA program in Michigan.