Wayne State University has received funding from the U.S. Department of Education to supplement student success services for military veterans. The $1.2 million Veterans -Student Support Services (VET-SSS) grant will enhance services provided by the Office of Military Veterans Academic Excellence (OMVAE). The five-year grant will serve 120 currently enrolled student veterans each academic year and provide intensive advising, career preparation, financial aid information and benefits assistance.

“Given the unique needs of our undergraduate veteran population, the VET-SSS grant will provide WSU with the additional resources needed to fully actualize our vision of truly comprehensive veteran academic support services on campus,” said Matthew McLain, assistant director of OMVAE.

The grant is a collaborative effort between OMVAE and of the Office of Federal TRIO Programs’ Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) program, which helps veterans transition from the classroom to the workforce. The grant was secured by McLain; Henry Robinson, senior director of the Office of Federal TRIO; Ewart Jarrett, VUB program director; and Cheryl Kollin, senior director of university advising.

“The VET-SSS program is designed to make a significant contribution to the student-veteran experience. The Office of Military Veterans Academic Excellence and Veterans Upward Bound provide high-quality services and programs dedicated to meeting the academic support needs of this dynamic group of students,” said Robinson.

In addition to the robust services offered to student veterans through OMVAE and VUB, WSU offers a 50% tuition discount to active-duty military personnel, the most expansive tuition benefit program for currently serving personal offered by any four-year institution in Michigan.

The grant program is actively recruiting undergraduate military veterans attending Wayne State University. Interested veterans should email Matthew McLain at ag9201@wayne.edu or Joshua McGruther at gy0284@wayne.edu to apply or to receive more information.