The Carolina Veterans Resource Center is the designated hub for veterans, active duty members and all military-connected students at UNC. The center connects them with University resources to help them start their college experience.
Veteran students have a specific background through their military training and are usually older than their undergraduate peers, Rob Palermo, program director for the CVRC, said. The center is designed to ease veterans’ transition, which is something he noticed was needed after he completed his service and went to college.
“As soon as they set foot on campus, basically they’re already starting to build a support structure, and we try to carry that throughout their time,” Palermo said.
Community building is a big focus for the CVRC, Palermo said. For example, the week prior to the first week of classes, the CVRC hosts the “Boot Print to Heel Print” program, which is a supplemental orientation program that connects military-affiliated students with the leadership of University organizations, as well as CVRC leaders.
Throughout the year, the center also hosts a biweekly Taco Tuesday.
Lindsey Hyde, who worked in the Marine Corps for four years and is a CVRC work-study student, said these events are meant to allow students to relax and network.
“We’ve had an academic advisor come down to help people. Or, we’ve had Velma from the Registrar’s office come down,” Hyde said. “Anything that could be of use to us — on a smaller scale to get help — but also to have community, be it eating a meal or hanging out,”.
When not hosting an event, the center's space has seating and couches which are open to military-affiliated students to use for studying or just hanging out, Roberto Escobar, a Marine Corps veteran and a recent UNC graduate, said.
One particular draw, Palermo said, is the current canine staffer, Lumen. She's not technically a service dog, but people still come in to see her.
