According to U.S. Veterans Magazine, the University of New Haven has not only been named a Veteran Friendly School again, but it is also the only Connecticut school on the list of over 150 schools mentioned.
UNH assists veteran students every step of the way through their journey within school.
“There are a lot of different services for veterans,” said Joseph Fredrick, the Coordinator of Veteran Services at the University of New Haven. “There is a lot of dedicated staff in admissions, bursars, registrar, and in financial aid. There is staff in all key administrative departments to help the students.”
Fredrick feels UNH has earned the title of being “Veteran Friendly.” With its Veteran Emergency fund for students, early registration, orientation, workshops, and events that the student club, Military Veterans of the University of New Haven, put on both on campus and in the community.
MVUNH recently voted in a new mission statement for their club: “We engage, connect, and advocate for military- affiliated students by providing the resources necessary to excel academically and professionally.”
The club has put on events for Veteran’s Day, participates in the 9/11 ceremony, has a Love your Country banquet in the spring semester, and has also recently had a table at Westfest.
MVUNH also helps incoming veterans find their home at UNH. Sergeant-at-Arms Vincent Goffiedo spoke about the club personally calling incoming students and walking them through the admission process, paperwork, and other things they might need. He also talked about how UNH offers the Yellow Ribbon Program which is a huge draw to veterans because it helps them financially with their degrees and living expenses more than any other school.
Goffiedo says UNH has earned this title because they are “welcoming” and that have “made themselves available” by helping the veterans with different schedules, financial assistance, having the staff in the different offices who are more knowledgeable about the paperwork that they need to do that a traditional student won’t have to, as well as the facilities—having the Veterans Office and lounge in Maxcy Hall.
Junior Jennifer Langan, who serves as vice president of MVUNH, said that when she saw the advertisement that said UNH was Veteran Friendly, she contacted Jason Riendeau in Admissions and didn’t even look at any other school when applying.
Andrew Stevenson, a graduate student who serves as treasurer for the club says that, for him, “the professor’s experience is most valuable” and the connection UNH has to the V.A is “huge.”
They also spoke about the community they have among each other. When arriving on campus they all “help each other out” said Langan, and they use each other as “resources” because they have “automatic trust,” adds Stevenson.
Moving forward, there is a common wish for others at the university to understand and recognize who the veteran students are and dispel any stereotypes that may exist, as well as for more veterans and military affiliated students to “come out of the shadows” and get involved. The club is working on becoming more involved with the campus and USGA in hopes of being able to integrate more with traditional students and maybe even be seen as a resource.
