New interim director at MSUB’s Military and Veteran’s Success Center

Montana State University Billings aims to be a welcoming institution for veterans and active-duty members. The Military and Veteran’s Success Center was unveiled in 2018 to move towards an inclusive and supportive environment for military personnel. Shane Grantham was recently hired as the interim director of the Center to aid in the continuation of veteran outreach on campus.

Grantham, a Billings-native, entered the U.S. Army after graduating high school and served for 20 years in active duty. Throughout his time in the military, Grantham mentored college-aged soldiers which is where he found his interest in guiding others. Following his retirement, he tried a few different career paths until landing a position for Veterans Upward Bound at MSUB where he regained his interest of mentorship through student interaction.

As a veteran, Grantham is aware of the needs of his peers and hopes to improve veteran involvement at MSU Billings. “I want the Military and Veterans Success Center to be more than just a department that certifies the GI Bill each semester,” says Grantham. GI Bill certification is one of the main functions of the center, but he wants to provide community and academic support to veterans in addition to the technical support. Grantham believes his experience and relatability will provide an increasing support to fellow veterans. “I am looking forward to helping establish a stronger veteran presence on campus. Currently there is a lot of desire to better support military and veteran students, but we are a hard demographic to reach.”

The Military and Veterans Success Center is located on the first floor in the College of Education on University campus and in the Tech Building at City College. Free coffee and snacks are available to all military members along with a lounge for relaxing or studying. The Center provides assistance with Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness & Employment, Chapter 33 Post 9/11 and Post 9/11 Transfer of Eligibility, Chapter 35 Dependents Education Assistance, Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve, Montana National Guard Tuition Waiver, Honorably Discharged Veteran Waiver, and War Orphans Waiver. Full on-campus veteran support services are available such as Montana Veterans Affairs Division, Disability Support Services, Army ROTC, Advising, Academic Support Center, Financial Aid, and Veterans Upward Bound.

MSU Billings is a Purple Heart Designated institution, a designation given by the Department of Montana Military Order of the Purple Heart. This designation recognizes that MSUB actively supports combat-wounded veterans and implements that steadfast support of the military and veterans on campus. Only a handful of universities have been selected to receive this honor. MSU Billings recognizes the sacrifices veterans make and the trials and tribulations they face as they transition from military service to the academic lifestyle. MSUB is also a Yellow Ribbon institution, which can help students pay for higher out-of-state, private school, or graduate school tuition that the Post-9/11 GI Bill does not cover. MSUB has been named a bronze-rated Military Friendly School for 2020-2021.