The Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families at The University of Southern Mississippi will host its open house at its new location Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Hattiesburg’s campus at 3503 Morningside Drive.

The open house’s purpose serves to reveal the center and offer information about the support program for veterans, active service members, families and survivors. The program gives them opportunities to attain a degree at USM. The open house will feature tours as well as refreshments, allowing for an inviting atmosphere.

“By having the open house, we will increase the exposure of the center since we’re not in the middle of campus,” said Sr. VA Certifying Official at the Center for Military Veterans Michael McGee. “We will also show students and others the impact that the center has on the university.”

The Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families has allowed USM to be named a 2015 Top University by Military Advanced Education and has also been awarded by Victory Media as a 2015 Military Friendly School. The university has reached certain guidelines needed to attain the “military friendly” status.

The center is set to host various events such as the April spring fling and gives student veterans scholarship opportunities. The open house’s primary role will serve to educate community members involved with the military as well as student veterans.

“Our location is off the path and we want all student veterans to know where we are and to know the additional services we provide other than certification,” McGee said.

McGee expects at least a tenth of the 1,023 veterans at USM to attend the open house and said even if a person is not a student veteran, which is the program’s primary focus, anyone is welcome to attend, including faculty and staff at USM without having to meet any criteria.

“No one will say ‘no’ because our university is military friendly not only for the military, but for everybody in general,” McGee said.