11/11/2016 - Jackson, Miss.

Veterans enrolling in Mississippi Public Universities find more than just a helping hand to assist them. There are a number of centers, programs and services designed to ease the transition from member of the military to member of the student body.

Military service entitles those who serve and their dependents to assistance in pursuing their educational goals, but navigating the transition from military base to campus and understanding when and how to apply for benefits can be challenging. Mississippi Public Universities understand these challenges and provide assistance to help mitigate these challenge, enabling them to achieve their educational goals.

In addition to having a designated Veterans' Assistance liaison, Alcorn State University has honored veterans with special events, including a recognition luncheon and a football game.

Delta State University has held special events targeted to women veterans. The Women Veterans Education Summit was a benefits fair for female veterans hosted by the Center for Community and Economic Development in conjuction with the Gulf Coast Veteran Advocacy Council, Inc.

Opening in 2012, the Veterans and Military Center at Jackson State University supports outreach programs to provide student support services focused on the special needs and the requirements of today's military veterans, service members, dependents and survivors. The Center was established to improve and enhance the success of student veterans, to help them receive the benefits they deserve, to serve as a liaison between the veteran student community and the University and to increase their academic success.

The campus support services include Veteran Career Transition Program, Counseling Services, and Veterans Work-Study Program. These efforts have garnered recognition for Jackson State as a Top Military-Friendly School by Military Advanced Education Magazine and as a "Military Friendly" school by Victory Media.

Coordinated by the G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Center for America's Veterans, Mississippi State University has substantial services and support available to veterans and their dependents. The Montgomery Center for America's Veterans at Nusz Hall features student support spaces, a computer lab, study rooms, a meeting area and administrative offices, which serve the veteran community at the university.

Mississippi State University is listed among the best colleges for military veterans in the Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 rankings and has also been designated as a "Purple Heart University" by the Military Order of the Purple Heart for is outstanding services to military veterans, service members, dependents and survivors. Mississippi University for Women offers a number of services to help ease the transition for veterans and has been recognized as a Military Friendly® School in a list published on GIJobs.com and was also named number 10 among southern regional universities in the Best College for Veterans List by U.S. News and World Report.

Mississippi Valley State University has a designated liaison, the University Veterans' Coordinator, house in the Office of Student Records/University Registrar to assist veteran students with any questions or issues that arise while enrolled at the university.

The University of Mississippi created the university's Veteran and Military Services unit in 2013 to provide comprehensive resources for veterans, active members of the military and their dependents. Its purpose is to assist its clients in becoming successful students.

The University of Mississippi, in partnership with the City of Oxford and Lafayette County, received the Purple Heart Designation for their efforts to create a welcoming environment for veterans and Purple Heart recipients. The university is the first in Mississippi to receive the designation in conjunction with the city and county in which it is located.

The Southern Miss Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families at the University of Southern Mississippi offers support and guidance to student-veterans. The Center's mission is to offer sustainable conditions for a "military-friendly" education support program that provides veterans, service members and dependents the opportunity to pursue a degree at Southern Miss.

The University of Southern Mississippi, in partnership with the Veterans Affairs Board, established a Veterans Service Officer on the Gulf Park campus to advise and counsel local military veterans and their families concern rights and entitlements under various federal and state laws.

Southern Miss has also established a "Textbooks for Troops" programs that is designed to make a variety of classroom textbooks and professional development books available at no cost, on a loan basis, for student-veterans, service members and military family members.

The Center's efforts have resulted in numerous recognitions, including listing in the Military Times' 2017 "Best for Vets" college rankings, being named in the Top 50 colleges and universities in the U.S. with outstanding diversified services for veterans by Victory Media, Inc., and a Top School designation in the 2016 Guide to College & Universities by the Military Advanced Education & Transition.

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The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

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