Problem
This petition calls for RIT to establish a student veteran and military lounge.



The best colleges for veterans offer on-campus services for educational, career, and counseling. These types of services are co-located within a single building and also contains a lounge area where student veterans and military affiliated students may visit for the continued sense of military community while excelling academically. This is not the case for RIT. RIT has a Veterans Services office, a Veterans Upward Bound program, and ROTC programs. These offices are not located near each other and are difficult to find. If RIT’s commitment is to honor and support its student veterans and military from beginning to end as it states on the school’s “Military & Veterans” page, then the establishment of a lounge would fully and respectfully reflect that statement.



Student veterans, military affiliated students, and their dependents contribute to the diversity of the student population on RIT’s campus. Currently, there are approximately 136 student veterans who are attending RIT. These numbers are based on the students’ use of earned Post-9/11 GI Bill and other educational benefits. These numbers could potentially be higher as there may be other student veterans, military affiliated students, and dependents who have chosen not to self identify on the university admissions applications or who may not be using veteran or military education benefits. They may feel left out and they may be looking for someone to make a connection with, but are unsure of where to go or who to speak with. The lounge can be that safe space for student Veterans and military.

Solution
Create a space for a student Veteran lounge on RIT's Henrietta campus, possibly with the ROTC program.