University of Northern Iowa students gathered Monday at the Military and Veteran Student Services office for an open house event. The event included a presentation about the services of the new office. located in East Barlett, as well as food and a prize raffle.
“The focus of the event is to get people in here to see this space. We want our faculty, staff and students to come visit, so it’s really just an introduction of where we are,” said Julia Heuer, coordinator of Military and Veteran Student Services. “It’s an open-door policy here.”
The Military and Veteran Student Services office provides services and connections for students on campus who are or serving in the military. The services provided include financial planning, tutoring and counseling.
The office has seen increased traffic since it opened at the beginning of the semester.

“A lot of people have visited. We’ve had a few regulars and a few people coming in, as well as some faculty and staff members coming in,” Heuer said. “We’re just making sure that they know we’re supporting them.”

Donald Scrimger, senior exercise science major, attended the event.
“I’m a veteran, and so I want to participate more in these types of events and kind of know what’s going on,” Scrimger said.
Scrimger is interested in making use of the new services because of a hurried enrollment.

“Everything is very overwhelming with me. My enrollment here was very sudden, as in I enrolled, moved and quit my job a week before school started,” Scrimger said. “To find out exactly what services (Heuer’s) offering, … this helps out. I have no problem coming in and finding answers out if I need tutoring, or whatever it is.”

The transition to UNI has been a positive experience for Scrimger.
“Everything’s been great,” Scrimger said.