Campus Veterans Resource Center Coming to Rocklin

Rocklin, Calif – William Jessup University, the Sacramento region’s only residential four-year private university, announced today that it has been awarded a $10,000 grant to establish a veterans resource center on campus.

The William Jessup Student Veterans Club is one of 50 recipients nationwide of the 2015 Veterans Center Initiative Grant that is a partnership between the Grant Student Veterans of America and the Home Depot Foundation.

The university will use the funding to create and furnish a resource center in its student union. The center is expected to be completed by late November.

“This is exciting news for all our veterans. We wanted to establish a convenient location on campus where our students can find resources, learn more about benefits, and receive the support and advocacy that will enhance their experience at William Jessup,” said Dr. Manuel Salazar, Associate Professor of Business and Faculty Advisor – WJU Veteran’s Club.

Last year William Jessup had 48 veterans among their approximately 1,200 student population. The new resource center will give student veterans a dedicated campus space where they can socialize, study and connect. 

“As thousands of military veterans return to college campuses this fall, eager to re-integrate into society and jump-start their college education, the promise of a dedicated space that they can call home on campus is important,” said D. Wayne Robinson, Student Veterans of America, President and CEO. “Veterans Centers are critical in helping to empower veterans on campus.”

Through the Veterans Center Initiative Grant, Home Depot gift cards are awarded to grantees through a competitive application and review process.

“We employ more than 35,000 veterans, so we are very familiar with the strengths they can bring to the civilian workforce,” said Gaven Gregory, Executive Director of The Home Depot Foundation. “We’re excited to partner with SVA once again to improve student resource centers on campuses across the country so that student veterans will have access to the services and support they need to focus on their education and make a smooth transition to their civilian lives.”

William Jessup University employs a Yellow Ribbon Program, which offers any veteran who has served on active duty for at least 36 aggregate months since 9/11 to have the complete cost of tuition covered in any program the university offers.

The university also has an Air Force ROTC training program that it operates in conjunction with Sacramento State.

William Jessup estimates that 75 percent of its student veterans were deployed overseas while on active duty.

“We are extremely appreciative of all our veterans and want to make their stay at William Jessup a memorable one that equips them with the unique value of a private, higher education, and also offers a wonderful social experience on campus,” said Dr. John Jackson, President of William Jessup University. “We’re excited about the new resource center and being able to provide our veterans with a place that they can come to with any benefit questions and a dedicated room where they can socialize with other veterans.”