What’s Happening:
- VMAS has been relocated from its longstanding office and student lounge on the 4th floor of the Student Services Building (SSB) to the Flawn Academic Center (FAC) — without any meaningful student consultation or replacement of the critical community space.
- VMAS staff have been removed to a location with no functional service area for students and no plan to create one. This will lead to diminished advocacy for all military affiliated student needs.
- SVA autonomy is under threat. Dean of Students Katie McGee, with support from Registrar Brenda Schuman, is attempting to assert control over the SVA through a "co-sponsorship" model, despite SVA leadership’s explicit opposition. This undermines 14 years of successful, student-led programming by VMAS staff who understand and represent the military-affiliated community.
We are asking the University to:
- Restore VMAS’s dedicated student space in the Student Services Building or an equivalent accessible, centralized location.
- Reinstate full advising and operational oversight of the SVA under VMAS, not the Office of the Dean of Students.
- Ensure all future decisions affecting veteran services are made with transparent input from veteran and military-affiliated students.
- Recognize and preserve the self-governance of the SVA, free from external administrative control.
- Hold accountable any administrative offices that bypassed shared governance and disregarded the community’s voice.
We urge UT Austin and State of Texas leadership to act swiftly to protect the legacy, mission, and autonomy of veteran support services on our campus.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 21, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
July 10, 2025
47 Comments
I served as president of this SVA and the support was outstanding. Not sure why this knee-jerk reaction is taking place. It’s sad to see an institution treat veterans so poorly when they use to provide so much support for student veterans. Sad to see veterans treated like this.
As the former Director of VMAS and the Adviser of the SVA for the last 12 years, it pains me to see what has been done by a select few bad actors at UT to diminish the 15 years of work that went into making UT #1 in Texas for veterans. University leadership has an obligation to serve this community that sacrificed so much for this state and the nation. They are failing that obligation
Rising Sophmore at UT, and Army National Guard soldier. Ensuring veterans and military affiliated students get access to proper resources is crucial, and forcibly relocating VMAS’s space without any consultation is a slap in the face to the organization and students.
While the university continues to create state-of-the-art facilities for our sports teams and remodel the Tower, it seems a second thought couldn’t be given to the student veterans on campus when it comes to a dedicated space.
Having space for VMAS and SVA has given a lot of veterans, dependents, and affiliates the inclusion, wellbeing, morale, and relations we’ve gone through in the military. It is a safe space of well-rounded individuals who’ve served or were affiliated with the military. We ask you to give our space back or give us a space similar to that of what we’ve had. Thank you for your consideration
As an active duty military member, going to college in my 30’s…”non-traditional” doesn’t even fully capture the experience for others like me. This space was a haven for us. It was a space for us to relate to others as much as it was for them to relate to us. The staff was able to assist us with the unique difficulties we encounter. We don’t need special treatment, but we deserve the same equitable treatment as any other student on campus that has unique needs for their educational pursuits.
My husband was in the Army and did a tour in Vietnam. Knowing how these veterans were treated on returning to the US he would be appalled and so angry that this was happening. And so am I. Shame on UT for doing this and shame on us if we let it happen.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
What’s Happening:
- VMAS has been relocated from its longstanding office and student lounge on the 4th floor of the Student Services Building (SSB) to the Flawn Academic Center (FAC) — without any meaningful student consultation or replacement of the critical community space.
- VMAS staff have been removed to a location with no functional service area for students and no plan to create one. This will lead to diminished advocacy for all military affiliated student needs.
- SVA autonomy is under threat. Dean of Students Katie McGee, with support from Registrar Brenda Schuman, is attempting to assert control over the SVA through a "co-sponsorship" model, despite SVA leadership’s explicit opposition. This undermines 14 years of successful, student-led programming by VMAS staff who understand and represent the military-affiliated community.
We are asking the University to:
- Restore VMAS’s dedicated student space in the Student Services Building or an equivalent accessible, centralized location.
- Reinstate full advising and operational oversight of the SVA under VMAS, not the Office of the Dean of Students.
- Ensure all future decisions affecting veteran services are made with transparent input from veteran and military-affiliated students.
- Recognize and preserve the self-governance of the SVA, free from external administrative control.
- Hold accountable any administrative offices that bypassed shared governance and disregarded the community’s voice.
We urge UT Austin and State of Texas leadership to act swiftly to protect the legacy, mission, and autonomy of veteran support services on our campus.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 21, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
July 10, 2025
47 Comments
I’m not a veteran, but I stand with those who are. Spaces like the Veteran Services Center are essential for healing, community, and support. Moving it isn’t just a logistical change — it’s a disruption to a lifeline. Please protect this safe space for those who’ve already sacrificed so much.
I served as president of this SVA and the support was outstanding. Not sure why this knee-jerk reaction is taking place. It’s sad to see an institution treat veterans so poorly when they use to provide so much support for student veterans. Sad to see veterans treated like this.
As the former Director of VMAS and the Adviser of the SVA for the last 12 years, it pains me to see what has been done by a select few bad actors at UT to diminish the 15 years of work that went into making UT #1 in Texas for veterans. University leadership has an obligation to serve this community that sacrificed so much for this state and the nation. They are failing that obligation
Rising Sophmore at UT, and Army National Guard soldier. Ensuring veterans and military affiliated students get access to proper resources is crucial, and forcibly relocating VMAS’s space without any consultation is a slap in the face to the organization and students.
While the university continues to create state-of-the-art facilities for our sports teams and remodel the Tower, it seems a second thought couldn’t be given to the student veterans on campus when it comes to a dedicated space.
Having space for VMAS and SVA has given a lot of veterans, dependents, and affiliates the inclusion, wellbeing, morale, and relations we’ve gone through in the military. It is a safe space of well-rounded individuals who’ve served or were affiliated with the military. We ask you to give our space back or give us a space similar to that of what we’ve had. Thank you for your consideration
As an active duty military member, going to college in my 30’s…”non-traditional” doesn’t even fully capture the experience for others like me. This space was a haven for us. It was a space for us to relate to others as much as it was for them to relate to us. The staff was able to assist us with the unique difficulties we encounter. We don’t need special treatment, but we deserve the same equitable treatment as any other student on campus that has unique needs for their educational pursuits.
My husband was in the Army and did a tour in Vietnam. Knowing how these veterans were treated on returning to the US he would be appalled and so angry that this was happening. And so am I. Shame on UT for doing this and shame on us if we let it happen.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 500 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
I’m not a veteran, but I stand with those who are. Spaces like the Veteran Services Center are essential for healing, community, and support. Moving it isn’t just a logistical change — it’s a disruption to a lifeline. Please protect this safe space for those who’ve already sacrificed so much.