Our Mission
Our mission is to support the Wisconsin Experience of military-connected students by fostering personal transitions and pursuit of academic success.
Our History
UW-Madison has employed a Certifying Official since the creation of the first GI Bill® after World War II. In 2007, the former Division of Student Life hired an Assistant Dean for Veterans. The Veteran Services and Military Assistance Center (VSMAC) opened in 2014 with an office in 333 East Campus Mall, a joint effort between the Division of Student Life and the Office of the Registrar. The center housed both the Assistant Dean and the School Certifying Official.
In 2019, the VSMAC was administratively moved to Student Affairs as part of the Identity and Inclusion unit. The name was changed to University Veteran Services, effective November 1st, 2019.
Learn more about the Military-connected history of UW-Madison here:
Camp Randall Stadium
Discover the history of Camp Randall's transition from Civil War military training facility to football stadium.
The Red Gym
Learn about the "Red Gym's" evolution from armory to hosting the Multicultural Student Center (MSC).
Gold Star Honor Roll
Visit the Gold Star Honor Roll in the Memorial Union to read the stories of UW-Madison alumni who were killed in the line of duty.
What We Do
We serve military-connected students in three key areas.
Education Benefits
We certify both state and federal GI Bills, advise students on the use of education benefits, and assist with applying for new benefits.
Student Success
Students often need more than financial assistance to succeed academically. We develop programming to build community among our military-connected students and campus as a whole.
Educate/Advocacy
As subject matter experts on the needs and interests of the students we serve, we educate the campus community and act as a resource for faculty/staff. Through local, regional, and national partnerships, we advocate for the best student experience.
Who is Military Connected?
We use the term “military-connected student” to describe students who are:
- Veterans of the U.S. military.
- Currently serving in the U.S. military (active and reserve).
- Children and spouses of current or former members of the U.S. military.
This term does not include all ROTC students, but cadets and midshipmen may also identify as former military or family members.