Jill Doubek is a veteran, a student, and a mother.

Doubek, like many other veterans, fights to balance all facets of her life.

After devoting years of their lives to service, veterans often decide to return to college ­— a transition that can be uncomfortable.

Luckily, UW-Eau Claire offers resources to veterans that can help create smooth transitions and strong communities.

For the third straight year, G.I. Jobs Magazine has named the Eau Claire a Military Friendly School. According to a press release, the list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s service members and veterans as students. The Veterans’ Center, located in Schofield Hall 20, has played a large part in ensuring that veterans receive the care they need.

The room is lively as some students work at desks, others at computers, and one chats on the phone with his wife. Alan Christian is a veteran and a student who uses the Veterans’ Center periodically. When asked how he personally utilizes the center, Christian spoke highly of it.

“I definitely go there all the time to study. It definitely gives me the chance to connect with other vets, if we ever have any concerns, or things like that.”

The Veterans’ Center is a space that provides a meeting place on campus for veteran students, faculty and staff. The center honors veterans for their service to their country and provides them a place to connect to resources specifically for them.

“As far as getting veterans to come to school, stay in school, and go through school, they have been great,” Doubek says.

Doubek is pleased with the accommodations that Veterans’ Services offers to veterans and uses the Veterans’ Center
frequently.

“This is pretty much the only place I go on campus other than my classes,” Doubek says.

Miranda Cross-Schindler, the military education benefits coordinator, said other colleges have been asking for advice on how to improve their own programs for veterans. Cross-Schindler is satisfied with their ranking from G.I. Jobs Magazine.

“There have been changes that push above years,” she said. “We deserve it for sure.”

Cross-Schindler believes that one of the greatest changes within the last year has to do with increased staffing. A full-time position allows Cross-Schindler to answer the needs of veterans in ways that are much more profound than just completing paperwork.

“To hold hands and explain the benefits is really, very helpful,” Cross-Schindler said.

Cross-Schindler’s efforts are felt beyond her office doors as students engage in friendly conversation in an environment that they can trust and rely on.

Veterans Services is hosting a variety of activities over the course of this semester. The Friday 5K is Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. The event is sponsored by UW-Eau Claire
Recreation & Sport Facilities and all proceeds benefit the Wisconsin Youth Success Program.