LANSING – WMU-Cooley Law School has been recognized by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) as both a Veteran-Friendly School and Michigan Veteran Connector. The dual certification by the MVAA recognizes higher education institutions for supporting military veterans.
WMU-Cooley is among 35 Michigan universities, colleges, and trade schools that have achieved the dual certification. In a release distributed by the MVAA, Zaneta Adams, the department’s director said, “Based on our work, we know that the earlier we identify and connect our veterans to services and resources, the sooner we can lower the risk for self-harming behaviors, including suicide. A veteran who gets support with education, employment, housing and other essential needs is a veteran who is more likely to flourish.”
To earn the Veteran-Friendly School designation, institutions must demonstrate their commitments to student veterans. Those earning the designation must have a veteran-specific website, student veteran clubs, and a system to evaluate and award academic credit based on military experience.
Schools participating in the Michigan Veteran Connector program must have employees designated to work with veterans and help connect them to resources, such as health care, job training, and suicide prevention. The Michigan Veteran Connector program is part of the national Governor’s Challenge to prevent suicide among service members, veterans, and their families.
WMU-Cooley offers an array of support to students with military service experience. Some of the services offered include: academic advising, admissions guidance for testing, applications and disclosures, disability services, GI Benefits assistance, help with housing and relocation, and student-life activities on and off campus, including military student organizations.
“We are proud to be among Michigan’s first higher learning institutions to earn the dual designation of Veteran-Friendly School and Michigan Veteran Connector,” said Paul Zelenski, senior vice president and associate dean of enrollment and student services. “WMU-Cooley has a long-standing tradition of helping those wishing to pursue a career in law by having specially trained admissions and financial aid staff assist veterans with the process and by accommodating needs for deployments for active duty military members and reservists.
