Chancellor Deaton,
We would first like to thank you for your efforts in making this campus veteran friendly. The continuous effort of the University of Missouri-Columbia’s (UMC) students, faculty, and staff has made a tremendous difference in the well-being of Mizzou student veterans. There has been much progress in the past few years, and we continue to build on this success.
The new University of Missouri Veterans Center (MUVC) in the Memorial Student Union has made a tremendous impact on our efforts in assisting veterans and their families. MUVC currently serves around 450 students, including those honorably discharged, on active duty, guard and reserve veterans, as well as family members of retired, disabled, or deceased veterans. We would like to thank the new Veterans Center director, Carol Fleisher, the new student services adviser, Dawn Copeland, and the Veterans Center student workers, as well as those in Enrollment Management who have put a lot of hard work into making sure that the MUVC is a success.
Over the past year, many University of Missouri student veterans have represented (UMC) and the Mizzou Student Veterans Association (MSVA) in multiple conferences to discuss issues important to student veterans. The most recent conference was held July 30th - 31st in Kansas City. MO. MSVA President Kevin Jones, President Emeritus Daniel Sewell, Vice President Jevin Anderson, and student veteran James Sander attended the first Student Veterans of America (SVA) South-Central Annual Conference. Other Midwest Colleges in attendance were The Universities of Kansas, Texas, Houston, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and many more. Many issues relevant to student veterans were discussed including mental issues of student veterans returning to college, financial and disability aid for student veterans, and community and student group development. You will be happy to know that the MSVA and the MUVC are both at the forefront as one of the most developed and sophisticated university organizations.
The MSVA has also been working with other organizations and legislators to increase awareness for veteran needs throughout the community and the State. This has brought recognition to our organization. A few of the projects that the MSVA is currently working on include: state and national veteran legislation; fall golf tournament hosted by the Core 20 of Columbia to raise money and awareness for the MSVA and student veterans; and Oh Yes I Can, a Missouri nonprofit corporation created by Patricia Hoddinott which provides free scuba diving training and certification for handicapped/combat challenged veterans. In addition to the programs and events mentioned above, the MSVA continues to collaborate with the University of Missouri Students Association (MSA), University of Missouri Student Org, and University of Missouri Student Life to increase campus awareness issues unique to student veterans. This year the MSVA will once again plan activities and celebrate the 4th Annual University of Missouri Veterans Week. Veterans Week has grown to become a tradition for our University of Missouri students, faculty, and staff, and we are thankful for the opportunity to provide learning opportunities to the community.
You can look forward to more news as the Mizzou Student Veterans Association and University of Missouri Veterans Center continue to develop and improve. We would like to thank you for your support of student veterans, and appreciate your continued support in making MU a veteran friendly institution.
Sincerely,
Executive Board
Mizzou Student Veterans Association
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