Abutting the first-floor hallway of Montana State University’s Romney Hall, the Travis W. Atkins Veteran Support Center resembles a typical campus study space. But through the center doors is much more. Equipped with rows of tables, printers and grab-and-go snacks, the center dedicated to supporting MSU’s military population provides a comfortable place for veterans and their family members to study, relax and find community.
Started in 2011, the Veteran Support Center has consistently invested in the success of MSU students, faculty and staff connected to the military. And this year, its work earned MSU national recognition as the country’s top school for veterans, military spouses and military dependents.
For the first time, MSU earned the No. 1 ranking in both categories of military-friendly school and military-friendly spouse school The university has consistently placed in the top 10 for military-friendly schools the last six years, and in the top 10 for military-friendly spouse schools the past four years. The national rankings are conducted by militaryfriendly.com and are based on metrics such as scholarships available to veterans and retention rates.
Todd Bucher, director of the Veteran Support Center, explained why supporting the 440 or so spouses and dependents of veterans at MSU is just as important as supporting the veterans themselves.
“Behind many veterans and service members is a spouse who has also made significant sacrifices, putting careers on hold, relocating frequently, managing households during deployments and constantly adapting to uncertainty and change,” Bucher said.
He added that many of these students have attended multiple colleges or universities over the course of their academic journey, which can create setbacks in transferring credits and meeting residency requirements.
At the same time, military-connected students are often balancing coursework alongside managing households, raising children and outside employment, while seeking a degree to increase their professional opportunities.
“Pursuing a degree is rarely their only responsibility,” Bucher said.
He added that military spouses are often non-traditional students who may be older and navigating different life experiences compared to traditional college students. He said that without intentional support, it can be easy for these students to feel disconnected.
The Veteran Support Center aims to provide that intentional support, serving as a central hub for guidance and connection, and helping students navigate admissions, residency requirements, financial aid, scholarships and Veterans Affairs education benefits. The center also connects students to additional MSU support resources including advising, counseling services, tutoring and career services.
“The Veteran Support Center provides a welcoming space where military-connected students can study, decompress, build relationships and connect with others who understand the realities of military life,” Bucher said. “We want military spouses to know they are valued members of this university community and that their goals matter here.”
One student who has positively benefitted from the Veteran Support Center during her time at MSU is Loise Mutugi, whose husband, Joseph, served as a medic for the U.S. Army. He was stationed in the U.S., Korea and Germany before moving to Bozeman for school and is now completing his master’s degree in Texas.
Loise, who is originally from Kenya, came to MSU in 2025 from Sweden to pursue a career change to nursing while also caring for her 5-year-old son. She is about to start the accelerated Bachelor of Science in the nursing program on the Bozeman campus. Her professional background is in working with sustainability and nongovernmental organizations.
This spring, Mutugi won the Carol Clarke Smith Scholarship for Veteran Spouses, an opportunity she learned of through the Veteran Support Center. The $2,000 award, funded by Carol Clarke and administered by the MSU Alumni Foundation, will help offset the financial burden of school for her, she said.
She has also used the center to meet other military spouses at MSU, including through a recent volunteer opportunity helping with the nonprofit Trout Unlimited’s annual banquet.
“It’s really nice because other than meeting with the veterans, I don’t know how else I would make friends, because I’m so busy with schoolwork and being with my family,” Mutugi said. “But through this resource MSU has connected me with people who understand me without me having to say too much.”
The physical space itself is comforting for Mutugi, too.
“Sometimes when I’m feeling overwhelmed, I will just go there to grab a coffee or a snack or just to sit. It’s nice to have that feeling of being home when at school,” she said.
Bucher echoed the same concept that having a culture of support is what makes the difference for military students, beyond offering individual resources.
“To me, being military friendly is about far more than a ranking or a designation. It’s about building a culture of understanding, belonging and genuine support for the entire military-connected community,” he said. “When military spouses succeed at MSU, our university is stronger because of it, and that’s something we take a great deal of pride in.”
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