The University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus is home to 652 military-connected individuals, including active-duty service members, veterans, reservists, and dependents. To better support these students, the university is building a new $7.5 million veterans’ center on campus.

New Center to Provide Wraparound Services

The new center will provide a range of services, including overall wellness support, academic advising, career readiness, and student engagement programs. It will also feature a full-service veteran lounge with a cafe, computer lab, and group and private study areas.

According to Todd Post, assistant director of the USFSP Office of Veteran Success, the center will help address the unique challenges faced by military-connected students. “These military-connected students have very unique life experiences and challenges,” Post said. “So, we want to be able to provide wraparound services in one spot.”

A Central Hub for Veteran Students

The new center will serve as a central hub for veteran students, providing a sense of community and camaraderie that is often lost after leaving the military. Thomas Wells, a USFSP student and veteran, said the center will be invaluable to future students. “It will help them get connected and let them know that there’s a community here,” Wells said.

Ryan Spyker, another USFSP student and veteran, echoed Wells’ sentiments. “What this building does for us is give us a permanent home,” Spyker said. “Now we can better facilitate and guide other veterans who are going through this journey and experience with a foundation that’s solidified.”

Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.