From military service to student success at UTA
Crucial.
That’s the term Oriana Holden used to explain the importance of Military and Veteran Services at The University of Texas at Arlington. As an Army veteran, Holden understands the challenges many military-connected students face when transitioning from military service to college life.
That’s why Holden, along with her Military and Veteran Services (MVS) colleagues, spent Monday afternoon braving the triple-digit heat at the ninth annual Veteran Resource Fair to share more information about the extensive resources available to UTA’s more than 5,500 military-connected students.
“Having an office like Military and Veteran Services is crucial for the military population. Some veterans transition out of service still very accustomed to military structure and being told where to be, what to do and where to go,” said Holden, a social work major. “MVS does a great job helping bridge that transition by showing student veterans how to navigate a more independent civilian and academic environment.”
The office provides a range of programs, benefits and services for students. For example, Holden is a peer mentor in UTA’s Veteran’s Edge Peer Mentor Program, an initiative that pairs experienced student veterans with incoming military-connected students to provide guidance, support and community.
MVS also assists students with accessing educational benefits, supporting their health and well-being, and preparing for careers after graduation.
“Our goal is to start the semester on the right foot by connecting students with resources they may not even realize are available to them,” said Lance Sanders, coordinator at MVS. “Events like this help ensure they know where to turn for support throughout their academic journey. I think many people underestimate, or simply don’t understand, how difficult the transition from military service to higher education can be.”
Making that transition as seamless as possible is the office’s mission. Those efforts have earned national recognition, with the University consistently ranked among the nation’s most military-friendly universities.
“When I was looking at colleges, I wanted to move away from home (Mineola, Texas) but stay somewhere I was somewhat familiar with, which led me to the DFW area,” said Ian Wishart, a construction management major who serves in the Army National Guard. “UTA also stood out because it is consistently recognized for its support of military-affiliated students and service members. The Military and Veteran Services staff on campus are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. When students have questions about their benefits, they have the answers and resources needed to help.”
Wishart, who also serves as a mentor in the Veteran’s Edge program, reiterated how committed the staff is to making sure students receive every benefit available to them.
“The office has a relatively small staff to serve the more than 5,000 military-connected students at UTA, so processing can take time, but they are committed to making sure students receive every benefit they’ve earned,” he said.
To learn more about UTA’s MVS office, visit uta.edu/veterans.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 300,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.