UofL opens new offices to serve veterans and transfer students

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville today unveiled new facilities dedicated to serving the unique needs of veterans and transfer students.

The new offices, located in the Houchens Building, will help these groups with counseling; academic support and advice on gaining admission to UofL; determining which prior college credits apply toward a UofL degree and planning a course of study.

The Office of Military and Veteran Student Services will be a “one-stop shop” for UofL’s more than 700 student veterans and is staffed by two professional staff members and six students. The office also will serve as a liaison with services outside the university, including the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Benefits Office, Veterans Employment Assistance and the Veterans Center, which provides readjustment counseling and outreach services.

UofL has been assisting veterans for years by offering classes online and at Fort Knox.

UofL President James Ramsey said the Office of Military and Veteran Student Services would “help lead our vets from the war zone to the classroom and, ultimately, to the new workplaces of the 21st century.”

The new Transfer and Adult Services Center has four staff members who will focus on adult learners and students transferring from other colleges. About 1,500 students transfer into UofL each year, and that number is expected to grow.

“Our goal is to increase the number of transfers by about 50 percent by the year 2020,” said Provost Shirley Willihnganz. “To accomplish this, we need services directed toward their specific needs and one central place they can turn to for help.”

The center includes services for ULtra students. ULtra is a UofL collaboration with Jefferson Community and Technical College in which students begin their studies at JCTC but complete their degree at UofL.