UGA’s Military Roots Run Deep

Nationally recognized as a top university for veterans, UGA values military-connected students as a strong asset in our online degree programs. Part of what makes UGA so welcoming to student veterans are the programs offered through the Student Veteran Resource Center (SVRC). Today, the SVRC forges meaningful partnerships across the university on behalf of UGA’s student veterans, through the university’s relationship with military-connected students dates back well into the 1800s.

• 1866: UGA reopens after being closed since 1863 during the US Civil War.
• 1929: Memorial Hall was built to honor UGA graduates who died in World War 1.
• 1942: UGA policy enacted during World War 2: “Any student who left for service would be permitted to resume his education after the war as nearly as possible to the point where it was interrupted”.
• 1944: In response to the GI Bill, UGA Chancellor Sanford advocated for curricular adjustments and plans for a “postwar university”.
• 1944: UGA established the University Veterans Association.
• 1946: 60% of enrolled students were veterans. Some of whom founded the Student Veterans’ Organization.
• 1946: UGA formed the Veteran’s Division and the Veterans Guidance Center.
• After the Vietnam War, Lumpkin St. was dedicated as a “Blue Star Memorial By-Way”
• 2005: UGA Memorial Garden and adjacent Book of Remembrance was built to honor university staff, students, and alumni “who have fallen in defense of democracy and their country”.
• 2013: The Student Veteran Resource Center was established under the Office of the Dean of Students.
• 2015: UGA opened a new SVRC office and First Data Student Veterans Lounge in the Tate Center on campus