The second floor of Calvin Hall includes space for veterans and military-connected students. With a newly renovated student lounge and study area complete with coffee maker and complimentary snacks, the room provides a haven for students.

Numerous resources are available, including tutoring and embedded advising, a relatively new feature of the program.

Chuck Xander, a former Army National Guardsman with more than 20 years of counseling experience, works at Calvin Hall to provide resources to students through the Iowa Veteran Transition, Education and Support office.

“There are approximately 600 veterans at the University of Iowa, but they serve approximately 2,400 military-connected students,” Xander said. “It’s a large population, but these are students who feel like they don’t fit in with the other community. “It’s different from the life of a typical college kid.”

The resident advising service for veterans and military-connected students began in fall 2023 and is now in its second year of operation.

“We know this program is the only one in the state of Iowa and the Big Ten, and as far as we know, it’s the only program in the country,” Xander said. “We’re trying to figure that out as we go forward, but we’re trying to make it so other universities can replicate it.”

Xander provides individual therapy to students on campus in the military community. Her background in juvenile facilities and working at the VA after earning her master’s degree in mental health counseling from the University of Northern Iowa helped her land this position.

“I’m glad I’ve been in the mental health field for over 20 years because I don’t know if I could have been as good at anticipating issues that arise,” Xander said. “There were some mistakes, but I have a great team around me with the IVETS office.”

The embedded mentoring program was funded by a grant from Mary and Pat Scanlan and their Scanlan Foundation. supplied $15 million in 2022 to the UI College of Education (the largest gift in the college’s history) to expand mental health support, including veterans counseling.

Matthew Miller, director of student support in the Iowa Veterans Education, Transition and Support office, works to provide resources to veterans and military-connected students at the UI.

“We try to tell students that this is a space for them to build community, spend time between classes, and connect with students who have common backgrounds,” Miller said. “We meet students where they are and give them an option for another ally on campus.”

Xander said the resident consultancy service has grown rapidly in the past year. The veterans center works to expand the resources and availability of services for students who are veterans, dependents of veterans, or are connected to the community in some way.

“People ask, ‘What’s one thing we need more of on campus?’ when they ask. That would be mental health,” Miller said. “So it was phenomenal to actually have an experienced consultant in our program. It’s easier to go to someone who has a common background and knows what you’re talking about.”

Miller, a veteran who started school after military service, has a similar experience with students who come to the office for support. He can communicate with students.

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“I have been in the difficult position of transitioning into academics, which many of our students have,” Miller said. “This way I can connect with students in many ways because I have been in their situations before.”

Xander said one of the most difficult experiences veterans face is the transition back to civilian life, especially going to school after military service.

“It’s a tough transition going from this single lifestyle where everything is laid out for you to a college campus where everything is more open,” Miller said. “Our job is to ease that transition and help them be as successful as possible.”

As the program grows steadily with over 200 therapy sessions provided, demand for embedded counseling service is also increasing. As the only counselor in the resident veterans counseling service, Xander works to make resources accessible to students.

“Finding the right balance of the number of students we can serve is very important,” Xander said. “This allows me to be accessible and able to serve all segments of the population.”

Xander said being able to access services when needed is important for many students. Their work is ensuring that more and more students have the resources they need, when they need them.

“I get the most joy out of teaching and helping someone get through a tough time,” Xander said. “Being myself, being true and honest goes much further than saying the right thing. I don’t have to be fake. “I can be myself and people in this field want that.”

Cheyenne Vogel, a Marine Corps veteran and freshman in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, found that the services provided by the Iowa Veterans Education, Transition and Support office made the transition more comfortable. Resources such as student lounge.

“They give us extra resources,” Vogel said. “There’s a computer lab, workspaces, something a little bit different compared to everyone else. “This is a space where other veterans or students with a military connection can hang out and talk about what’s going on in their lives.”

Thanks to the services available on campus, he was able to find a place as a student and therefore fit in more easily.

“My transition has been a bit challenging, but it has become much easier with the resources provided, especially as they made me feel more comfortable with other veterans, military-connected students, and people my age,” Vogel said.

The Iowa Veterans Education, Transition and Support office hosts many events that connect the military community. These include the Hawkeye Distinguished Veterans Awards Ceremony, which will take place on Friday, November 1, at 4:30 pm in the Richey Ballroom at the Iowa Memorial Union. Additionally, the office will host several events during the week of Veterans Day. on their website.

“We meet students where they are, meet their needs as best we can, and give them another option for an ally on campus,” Miller said.