Springfield College Earns National Designation as a Military-friendly School
The Veterans and Military Services Center at Springfield College is the newest addition to the campus community that offers space and support services for military members.
Springfield College was recently named a “military-friendly” school by the national Military Friendly® program for the year 2022-23. Springfield College was awarded the organization’s “silver” status for its commitment to providing services through which current students in the military and veterans feel welcomed and supported.
As part of its commitment to military-connected students, Springfield College established the Veterans and Military Services Center in November 2021. Located at 227 Middlesex St., the center is a hub for veterans to receive resources and information that they need, whether on or off campus. The faculty and staff of Springfield College are dedicated to the spirit, mind, body, and journeys of the military service members and veterans affiliated with the College.
“We are committed to continuing to improve the quality of the military-connected students’ experience here,” said Logan Large, a graduate student who is leading the efforts of the new on-campus center. “The military-friendly designation sets a good foundation for continuing to build upon and expand on areas that will benefit our military-connected students.”
The center is a space specifically for Springfield College military-connected students to use and “escape from the hustle of campus,” Large said. “They can come and relax, do homework, take a nap, use the full-size kitchen to make their lunch, and more. The center is constantly in a state of adapting to better serve.”
Other resources the center provides include information on local veteran-related agencies, such as the Springfield Vet Center, the local Disabled American Veterans organization, the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation, and Operation Homefront that supports military family needs.
The resources and information that the center offers also incorporates resources specifically for spouses and dependents of veterans or military members. They have the same access to the center and amenities as that of the College veterans and military individuals.
“Just as veterans and military members have, and are sacrificing, so have their families and therefore they are supported in the same ways,” Large said.
The Military Friendly® program creates civilian opportunities for veterans. By setting a standard, promoting it, and raising the bar over time, it provides long-term, positive reinforcement for American organizations to invest in programs that improve the lives of veterans. Military Friendly® is the standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community.
