STATESBORO - Georgia Southern’s military students, veterans and their family members now have a new space to call home on campus with the official opening of the Military and Veteran Student Center, located in Fielding D. Russell Union.

University officials held a ribbon cutting Aug. 24 for the Center, which will serve as a resource to assist military members, veterans and their family members in making a successful transition to the student community.

“Over the past seven months, we have been working to set up and make this Center a central hub for military, veterans and their family members,” said Lt. Col. Ret. Bill Roberts, associate dean of Students for Military Affairs. “We strive to provide a place of camaraderie, information and connection. The Center houses a lounge which we call the Eagle’s Nest, and a resource center where you can get connected with Team Eagle, which is the military and veteran success network of Georgia Southern University. The center is a place to meet, relax, study and get information, assistance and advice on the wide array of services provided by Team Eagle.”

Director of Military Affairs for Board of Regents David R. Snow, Ed.D., also addressed the crowd of about 150 present for the ceremony, informing them this Center is a place that will help military-connected students and veterans thrive.

“Almost three years ago … about a third of schools [in Georgia] had a veteran center on campus out of 30, and Georgia Southern was one of those initial ones that had [a center],” said Snow. “This Center is just the latest iteration and maturity of that process years down the road to better support that segment of the student population. I’m happy to report that today about 90 percent of University System of Georgia schools have a dedicated space on their campus for veteran students.”

Snow added that in Spring 2016, roughly 9,000 students enrolled in University System of Georgia schools took advantage of VA educational benefits, and that about 900 veterans graduated with degrees ranging from associate degrees to doctor of philosophy degrees.
 

“Veteran- and military-connected students are doing great things on our campuses and in our community,” he said.