UW VETS certification announced

Campuses with high level of services for vets to receive distinction

WAUKESHA, Wis. (WKBT) — The University of Wisconsin System created a new University of Wisconsin VETS (Veterans Education and Transition to Success) certification to recognize campuses for their commitment to helping student veterans succeed.

UW System President and U.S. Army veteran Ray Cross made the announcement at an event honoring veterans at UW-Waukesha on Tuesday.

“Today’s veterans are facing significant challenges including higher than average unemployment and increased demand for mental health and other services,” Cross said. “Each institution within UW System has a responsibility to provide the services necessary for that transition to be successful. The UW VETS certification process will help us measure and focus our efforts on that front.”

To become UW VETS certified, campuses will have to meet UW best practices as well as a series of criteria developed by the U.S. Department of Education.  A panel of UW System representatives and external stakeholders will evaluate campus applications.

UW System expects to issue the first UW VETS certification in the fall of 2015.