UM-Flint celebrates 11 years as a Gold-Level Veteran Friendly School

The University of Michigan-Flint has once again been recognized for its longstanding commitment to supporting student veterans. For the 11th consecutive year, the university has earned the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency's prestigious Gold-Level Veteran Friendly School designation, highlighting UM-Flint's legacy of fostering an environment where student veterans can thrive through dedicated resources and community-building.

"Gold certification is the highest level of recognition, reserved for institutions that set the standard in supporting veterans, their dependents and all military-connected learners. This award reflects UM-Flint's outstanding commitment, innovative programming and leadership in creating a welcoming, resource-rich environment for Michigan's military-affiliated students," said Joe Saur, education analyst for MVAA.

To earn gold certification, institutions must meet six of seven criteria:

• Establish a process for the identification of current student veterans.
• Create a veteran-specific website.
• Maintain an active student veteran organization or club.
• Offer veteran-specific career services, resources, advising, and/or outcome monitoring.
• An on-campus veterans' coordinator and/or designated staff point of contact.
• Evaluate and award academic credit based on prior military training and experience.
• Monitor and evaluate student veteran academic retention, progress, and graduation rates.

With overall enrollment increasing for the third consecutive year, student veteran enrollment has also seen corresponding growth. UM-Flint welcomed 283 student veterans for the 2025-26 academic year, representing an 18% increase from the previous year. Helen Budd, UM-Flint Student Veterans Resource Center program manager, said that the wealth of the university's veteran-specific services, combined with its market-driven academic programs, is attracting a growing number of former service members.

"Our continued Gold-Level ranking is a point of pride for our students, who are proud to be part of our community. Our programs and services in the SVRC, combined with the innovative and high-demand academic programs in all of our schools and colleges, provide our students with a well-rounded experience at UM-Flint," said Budd. "We are honored to serve our veteran and military-connected students."

One of the most valuable things Budd and the SVRC offer is a sense of community-something particularly valuable for service members used to tight-knit environments who are stepping into a new, and sometimes overwhelming, chapter of their lives to earn a degree. Such is the case for Kyle Cantrell, an online M.S. in Software Engineering student from Huntsville, Alabama, and U.S. Army veteran.

"I have visited campus one time, and my most critical check-in was with the Student Veteran Resource Center. When I walked into the office, I was almost immediately provided with some SVRC and U-M swag, pertinent information to help me navigate university processes, and a social connection platform to meet other student veterans," Cantrell said. "The most important thing I took away from the meeting, though, was an advocacy group that understands my experiences and will do everything in their power to ensure I succeed. People who have served in the military form almost instantaneous bonds with each other because of shared experiences. I felt that bond as soon as I walked into the SVRC office."

According to Christopher Giordano, vice chancellor for student affairs, this sense of connection and support is central to the UM-Flint student experience.

"We are deeply honored to receive Gold-Level certification from the state of Michigan's Veteran-Friendly Schools program. This recognition affirms our ongoing commitment to supporting student veterans, service members, and their families with the resources, respect, and opportunities they deserve. At UM-Flint, we take pride in helping those who have served our nation, supporting them in pursuit of their academic, personal, and professional goals," said Giordano.

For additional information about the SVRC, visit its webpage.