VetSuccess on Campus helps veterans transition from military service to college. The program is designed to ensure that veteran students at University of Maryland Global Campus have the support and assistance they need to be successful in higher education, their careers, and their lives. Services are also available for military personnel, military spouses, and dependents.
Letter from VA Counselor Diane Wilson
Read about tools UMGC offers to ensure success of our veterans in a letter from VA counselor Diane Wilson.
UMGC offers Veterans Tools for Success
A letter from Diane H. Wilson
Have you heard of the VSOC program? It stands for the Department of Veteran's Affairs VetSuccess on Campus program—and UMGC is a location spot! Through the VSOC program, VA places experienced vocational rehabilitation counselors on college campuses to assist the growing number of servicemembers, veterans, and dependents attending school under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other VA educational programs.
These VSOC counselors are trained to provide academic and vocational guidance to veterans and help connect them to other VA benefits, including healthcare and mental health services. The VSOC counselors maintain close relationships with local VA Vet Centers and VA medical facilities, referring servicemembers, veterans and dependents as needed and providing assistance applying for VA medical and nonmedical benefits. UMGC VSOC counselor can be found on campus at 1616 McCormick Drive, Military Partnerships, Room 2272, Largo, MD 20774. They can be reached by phone at 240-684-2555.
VetSuccess on Campus services are available to servicemembers and veterans eligible for any of VA's educational programs, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill, as well as VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. VSOC counselors can also assist dependents of veterans who are receiving VA education benefits, including eligible spouses attending school through the Post-9/11 GI Bill and eligible children.
In addition, VA's Education and Career Counseling Program offers a great opportunity for transitioning servicemembers and veterans to get personalized counseling and support to guide their career paths, ensure most effective use of their VA benefits, and help them achieve their goals. Visit UMGC's VSOC counselor on campus to learn more about this program.
VA's GI Bill website offers tools to help veterans transition from military service to student success. For career assistance, including connecting to employers looking to hire servicemembers, veterans and dependents, the new Veterans Employment Center on eBenefits is a one-stop-shop offering online tools and resources.
About VetSuccess Counselors and Services
Our VA counselor, Diane Wilson, works on-site at UMGC at the Academic Center at Largo in Largo, Maryland. Additionally, she is available once a month at other UMGC locations on military installations in the region, including Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Joint Base Andrews, Fort Belvoir, Fort Meade, Fort Myer, and Quantico Marine Corps Base. Two days a month, she is available at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
This counselor assists students in a multitude of ways, including
- Serving veterans, servicemembers, and military spouses
- Helping students sign up for health, education, and other VA benefits
- Helping students choose a major, set career goals, search for a job, and adjust to civilian life
Our VA counselor connects with students via e-mail, by telephone, and in person. On-site counseling is available at the Academic Center at Largo by appointment.
Global Reach
Students from the D.C. area, across the United States, and as far away as Sweden and Afghanistan have taken advantage of the VetSuccess on Campus program at UMGC.
Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to read more about VetSuccess on Campus.
Contact VetSuccess on Campus at UMGC
Diane Wilson
240-684-2555
diane.wilson2@va.gov
Barbara Brown
240-684-2561
barbara.brown3@va.gov
