Transitioning from military service to university studies as a civilian is a major shift. UM-Dearborn makes sure no veteran makes that move alone.
Named a Gold-Level Veteran-Friendly School by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency for the seventh consecutive year, the university backs up its award-winning title with customized on-the-ground support.
Veterans Services Coordinator Tom Pitock says the recognition is given to institutions that meet rigorous state benchmarks for military-connected services.
"Having a gold designation lets veterans know about the services we provide to our students and the importance we place on them," he says. "The state gives you a checklist of things you should be doing, and we check those boxes with confidence."
Navigating the academic transition
Pitock, a Coast Guard veteran who rose through the senior enlisted ranks during his military career, draws on his background to establish clear systems for incoming military-affiliated students. A first-generation college student, ultimately had his college costs covered through the GI Bill himself and recalls wishing he had someone to help guide him in a more direct way.
“I didn’t even apply for financial aid until my sophomore year because I didn’t know that I should do it. I didn’t apply until someone at the school told me that I should fill out the form. Turns out, it covered everything. I had no idea,” he says. “I want to make sure our veterans know to do these things before they even choose us as a university.”
When Pitock came to UM-Dearborn to lead Veterans Services in 2017, he created an easy-to-follow checklist for student veterans— from applying for VA benefits to submitting financial aid forms.
“Having that clarity is huge, especially for first-generation students. Many of our student veterans are first in their families to go to college,” he says. “Navigating college as a first-generation student is difficult in itself, but we have hundreds of students each semester who have that challenge and the additional challenges of learning a new way of life and balancing that with any traumatic experience they may have had while serving.”
Once veterans are on campus, they are connected to resources like academic advising, Counseling and Psychological Services and specialized Career Services sessions where, for instance, staff help military-affiliated students adapt specialized military jargon on resumes into terms civilian employers easily understand.
Creating tailored campus spaces and events
Pitock also organizes events tailored to UM-Dearborn’s veterans community, such as de-stress activities during finals week, Veterans Day commemorative events — and a special military-affiliated graduation social. There’s a Veterans Day event from 1 to 4 p.m. today in CASL Building room 1013 featuring keynote speaker and Disabled American Veterans National Service Officer Angela Bolen.
Pitock says the graduation social, which is held every semester, offers veterans who may not be comfortable at the large, universitywide commencement ceremony, an alternative way to celebrate..
"Our university commencement is a beautiful event, but it is overwhelmingly large. In a large-attendance setting, there are often abrupt, loud noises. Some veterans may experience an increased level of anxiety with this, so we offer a military-affiliated social as an option," Pitock says. "That event lets them be recognized in front of their peers in a smaller setting. They receive an honors cord and a special military stole they can display next to their degree. It’s a culminating event that signifies their achievement, much like a military retirement."
The university also has a designated space for veterans to decompress and bond between classes in the Veterans Resource Center, which is on the second floor of the Renick University Center.
A sanctuary for student veterans
Marine Corps veteran Evan Ahlin, who graduated from UM-Dearborn in 2024, says the Veteran Resource Center was a refuge for him. The one-time communication major is now a public information officer for a police department in New Hampshire, which is where he grew up.
In a 2022 interview, Ahlin shared how impressed he was with the level of support UM-Dearborn — and in particular, Pitock — gives veterans. “If you want to earn your college degree, find a school with a Tom. Get a mentor. Before enrolling, visit the school so you can feel it out and learn if it’s a good fit for you,” he said. “For me, UM-Dearborn is the right fit.”
Ahlin added that he appreciated the non-service members of the campus community saying hello and reaching out. He encourages the university community to continue doing that when the opportunity presents itself on any day of the year and not just on Veterans Day.
“There are stereotypes and stigmas that come with being a veteran — the media often portrays us as unstable, drunk or homeless, and sometimes all three at once — and that’s hard to overcome when you’re trying to put yourself out there and connect with people. So any effort made to get to know veterans in the community, to tear down walls, and to include our voice is appreciated,” he says. “It’s hard for anyone to ask for help, especially when they aren’t connected and don’t realize the support they need may be available.”
Beyond the classroom: community involvement
Pitock also works to integrate UM-Dearborn veterans into community activities.
He works with the Student Veterans Association to organize marchers in the City of Dearborn’s Memorial Day Parade. Student veterans also volunteer at the “Veteran of the Game” tailgates — which Pitock helps organize — before U-M home football games, where they assist in hosting honored veterans from various eras and attend U-M football games.
Pitock says he’s honored that the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency continues to recognize the level of student support offered through the Gold-Level Veteran-Friendly School designation.
"Our veterans are here to build better careers and improve their lives," he says. "Our role is to ensure they have every resource they need to navigate that transition successfully."
Story by Sarah Tuxbury
