Pictured: Students hanging out in the Veterans Resource Center

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University recently was selected as one of 14 institutions to receive funding from the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs through the Campus Veteran Resource Center Grant, which aims to enhance existing campus resources by funding innovative and impactful projects or programs that improve the lives of student veterans and support their success. All 14 institutions that applied were awarded a portion of the available grant funds, ranging up to $100,000.

The grant will expand Western’s Veterans Resource Center, which is vital to the academic success of student veterans. 

“With the support of this grant, we can continue to provide our students tools and experiences that help them pursue their academic goals and thrive in their post-military journey,” shared Logan Doefler, director of the Veterans Resource Center. “We honor their service and will continue to ensure access to education that becomes a beacon of hope and opportunity for their path to new horizons.”

The grant-funded project will support programs including the development of veterans-specific campus orientation and welcome programs, the establishment of peer mentor programs, the purchase of technology and electronic equipment for student use, and the acquisition of tutorial software to enhance college-level writing and math skills.

It will also support travel to conferences for student veteran professional development and employment networking opportunities, programs addressing food insecurity and mental health struggles, veterans’ events and career fairs, and marketing efforts to reach historically underrepresented and underserved veterans. 

Western is committed to the success of student veterans. The funding will continue to enable the steps to enhance the Veterans Resource Center and the mission of empowering student veterans in their pursuit of higher education. 

Learn more about the Veterans Resource Center 

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction. Together we succeed.