A dedicated navigator, an accelerated aviation pathway, and a new federally funded veteran student center are helping more service members and veterans find their footing at WSU Tech.

Leaving the military means making a lot of decisions at once. Where to live. What kind of work comes next. How to use education benefits that took years to earn, and how to make sense of the paperwork that comes with them. For many veterans, the hardest part of going back to school isn’t the coursework. It’s knowing where to start.

At WSU Tech, the goal is to make that starting point clear. The college has built a network of people, programs, and partnerships around the way veterans and service members actually come to higher education: with real-world skills already in hand, benefits to navigate, and a clear focus on getting to a good career without wasted time.

That approach is working. WSU Tech’s military and veteran student population grew from 54 students in the spring 2025 semester to 140 in the fall 2026 semester, more than two and a half times larger in just over a year.

One person to call

Veterans returning to school often describe the same frustration: too many offices, too many forms and no single person who can answer the whole picture. WSU Tech took that on directly in 2025 by creating a VA Community Resource Navigator position.

The navigator is a single point of contact for military-connected students. That support starts with the first conversation about which program fits, continues through enrollment and understanding education benefits, and extends to connecting students with community resources outside the classroom when life gets complicated. Veterans don’t have to figure out the system alone, and they don’t have to retell their story at every stop.

“The biggest barrier to starting school for veterans oftentimes is not knowing where or how to start the process,” said Terri Shippen, VA Community Resource Navigator at WSU Tech. “Once they’re pointed in the right direction with all the various options available, they’re off and running!”

Military experience that counts

Service members leave the military with skills that employers need. WSU Tech built a program that treats that experience as a head start, not something to set aside.

Through a partnership with Heroes Make America, WSU Tech offers an accelerated Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) program designed specifically for military and veteran aircraft maintainers. Rather than starting over, participants build on their hands-on experience and can earn their A&P license in six weeks.

Since March 2025, 60 service members and veterans have completed the program as licensed A&P mechanics. In Wichita, where aviation is central to the regional economy, the program offers a direct path from military service to a skilled, in-demand career.

“Earning my A&P gave me nationally recognized credentials that will open doors in the civilian world for when my time in the Air Force is up, as well as expanding on knowledge and experience I’ve learned in my time as a maintainer,” said Travis Pierce, a recent graduate of the program currently stationed at McConnell Air Force Base. “It also gave me a lot of applicable credits towards a couple of degrees, which gave me the push to start working on my bachelor’s.”

His advice for other maintainers considering the course: “Just do it! Do it while you are in so you are ahead of the curve, do it while your knowledge is fresh and you can bring that back to your unit, do it while you can make use of your active duty resources.”

Getting the most out of earned benefits

Education benefits are one of the most valuable things a veteran earns through service. They can also be one of the most confusing to use well. Choosing the wrong program or misunderstanding how benefits apply can cost time and eligibility a student can’t get back.

WSU Tech works hand in hand with Veterans Upward Bound at Wichita State University to prevent that. Together, the two teams help veteran students understand their education benefits and match them with a program that fits their goals. A veteran who reaches out to either team gets connected to the right support.

A dedicated home for student veterans

WSU Tech has been awarded a Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success (CEVSS) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, providing up to $1.74 million over three years. The grant funds a dedicated campus space where student veterans can find centralized academic, financial, and community support in one place.

The award reflects work already underway. The grant proposal specifically recognized WSU Tech’s veteran recruitment efforts as a key factor in earning the funding. The new space builds on that foundation and gives student veterans a place to get help, connect with one another, and stay on track to finish what they started.

A partner for employers

Veterans bring leadership, discipline, and technical skill to the workplace. For Wichita-area employers who hire veterans, or want to, WSU Tech is a resource for building that talent pipeline and for helping veteran employees earn new credentials as their careers grow. Employers interested in connecting with WSU Tech’s veteran students or programs are encouraged to reach out.

Ready to take the next step?

Whether you are still serving, transitioning out, or have been a civilian for years, WSU Tech has a place for you and a person ready to help you find it. The same goes for employers, community organizations and anyone who works with veterans and wants to connect them with education and career opportunities.

Terri Shippen, VA Community Resource Navigator

Email: tshippen@wsutech.edu

Phone: 316.677.1816

WSU Tech South Campus, 3821 East Harry

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