Grand Opening Scheduled for Student Veteran’s Center
Seeking to address the needs of a growing veteran population, Fayetteville State University (FSU) will hold a grand opening for the Student Veteran’s Center on March 22, 2012, at 3 p.m. The center will be located in Bronco Square, at 1047 Murchison Road, Suite 102. Bronco Square is located across from the FSU campus. The public is invited to attend the grand opening event.
The center will serve a growing population of student veterans. Currently, the Office of the Registrar processes approximately 500 veterans with one full-time staff person, a student worker and shared office space. In order to meet the university’s mandate and mission as “military friendly”, the new office will have at least two full-time staff members and two veteran student workers.
“Clearly, Fayetteville State has moved beyond a one-office shop for veterans,” said Dr. Jon Young, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “It became evident that we needed a space that will allow us to serve those who have served our country that was adequate and representative of their sacrifices.”
In addition to certifying benefits, the center will also create a veteran-friendly environment with staff that understands the needs of veterans, and will offer a wide variety of services that will assist them with transitioning into and out of the university. The new center will be accessible with a reception area, with an expanded waiting area, office spaces for staff and student workers, a seminar room for workshops and training, computers kiosks for student veteran use, and adequate parking.
The University has provided resources and funding for the new office and has received a small grant from the Give an Hour Foundation (GAH) and the Wal-Mart Foundation to assist with the interior design and programming needs of the center. Give an Hour is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), founded in September 2005 by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area. The organization’s mission is to develop national networks of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society.
Currently, GAH is dedicated to meeting the mental health needs of the troops and families affected by the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The organization provides counseling to individuals, couples and families, and children and adolescents. It also offers treatment for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, sexual health and intimacy concerns, and loss and grieving.
FSU is the second-oldest public institution in North Carolina. A member of the University of North Carolina System, FSU has nearly 6,000 students and offers degrees in more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
For more information, call (910) 672-1474.