UCM Hosts 16 Missouri Colleges and Universities a Part of MOVES to Focus on Military-Affiliated Programming and Training

Countney Swoboda, center, director of Military and Veterans Services at the University of Central Missouri, visits with Harry Roberts, left, Missouri military advocate, and Bryan Steele, military service specialist with the National Guard Bureau, during the Missouri Organization of Veteran Education Specialists (MOVES) training day at UCM.

WARRENSBURG, MO – Continuing its strong focus on serving the needs of the men and women who put their lives on the line for this nation, the University of Central Missouri’s Military and Veterans Success Center in June hosted an in-person training day that brought many military support organizations, colleges and universities together for the benefit of students.

Known as MOVES (Missouri Organization of Veteran Education Specialists), the group was formed approximately two years ago by Courtney Swoboda, director of Military and Veteran Services at UCM. Shortly after joining the university, this Air Force veteran saw an opportunity to increase collaborative efforts among many different institutions and organizations that could be an asset to the work they are doing with students at UCM’s Military and Veterans Success Center and beyond. 

“I was new in my director role and really wanted to connect with my peers at other universities and schools across the state of Missouri,” Swoboda said. “There are many changes and updates that take place with the VA (Veterans Affairs, DoD (Department of Defense) and at the federal and state level, that I felt it was vital for us all to be communicating in order to best service our students.”

Representatives from 16 different public and private colleges and universities from throughout the state attended the training day on June 12 at UCM. Presenters included Missouri Military Advocate Harry Roberts, and representatives of NAVPA (National Association of Veterans’ Program Administrators) representatives, Missouri State Approving Agency, Whiteman Air Force Base Education Office, ArmyIgnited, and the Air and Army State Tuition Assistance Office. David Pearce, UCM executive director for governmental relations, and Phil Bridgmon, provost and vice president for academic affairs, welcomed and spoke to the gathering, and there was a tour of the Military and Veterans Success Center on the lower level of the Elliott Student Union.

“The group will meet virtually throughout the year with an in-person meeting held during the summer," Swoboda said. “The meetings consist of training from different organizations which equip School Certifying Officials and school representatives with training that they need to navigate the different benefits and programs needed for military-affiliated students.”

As part of her role at UCM, Swoboda will continue to keep the university engaged in planning future MOVES events. The next virtual meeting will take place in September and the next in-person session will be in the summer of 2024 at Missouri State University in Springfield.

Institutions of higher education represented at the most recent MOVES meeting were: UCM, State Fair Community College, Drury University, Columbia College, Park University, Metropolitan Community College, University of Missouri - Kansas City, University of Missouri – Columbia, St. Charles Community College, Missouri State University, Jefferson College, Northwest Missouri State University, Ozark Technical Community College, Southwest Baptist University, Missouri Western State University, and Nazarene Theological Seminary.

Individuals who want to know more about MOVES or other opportunities at UCM for active duty military members and their dependents and veterans are encouraged to contact Swoboda at 660-543-8848 or cswoboda@ucmo.edu.