New Jans Military and Veterans Center Opens in Health Sciences Building
Entrance to the Jans Family Military and Veterans center, located in the first floor of the new Health Sciences building.
At the start of the Fall 2025 semester, Elmhurst University opened the new Health Sciences building, which features the relocated Jans Family Military and Veterans Center—a dedicated lounge for veterans located on the first floor.
The lounge, previously established in 2021 and tucked away in the Frick Center, has emerged as a more visible and spacious hub for veterans, equipped with additional resources. The center has an upgraded kitchenette, desks for studying, and couches for socializing or watching TV.
The Student Veterans Association can also use the space to hold chapter meetings and host programming events. While the center continues working toward full staffing, Veterans Support Coordinator Nathan Bradshaw outlined several new benefits he hopes to offer soon.
“Ideally, we will have a student worker here daily and somebody who can answer questions about VA benefits or any questions they might have. This person would also explain opportunities for veterans on campus, such as the Student Veterans Association,” said Bradshaw.
Bradshaw emphasized that the lounge, which houses his office, a recreational area, and a third room currently being set up, is meant for veterans to take ownership of to shape its purpose over time independently.
“I’m hoping that, as we get more veterans in here, we can better define what the space is and how it’s used by letting them dictate that,” said Bradshaw. “The goal is to bring them in and decide: What should we use it for? How can we use it better? Is the furniture set up in a way that works for how we want to use it? What do you want out of this? What are your goals?”
Student veteran Nathan Mesa described the social disconnect he and other veterans sometimes feel in classrooms as nontraditional students.
New seating in the Jans Family Military and Veterans Center. The new area opened with the Health Sciences building this fall semester.
“It’s a little bit weird to be in classes where most of your peers are definitely younger than you. We try to establish a very comforting and friendly environment here at the [center], because—I’ve already discussed this with a couple of veterans—it’s hard to connect with peers in class,” said Mesa.
Reflecting on the challenges veterans face both in and out of the classroom, Bradshaw explained why having a dedicated space is essential.
“There are lots of unique challenges veterans can face, from health care to trying to use the benefits they’ve earned while serving,” said Bradshaw. “What we hope to do is to be a location for information and community.”
“There have been studies that have shown students having a place on campus where they feel like they belong makes them more likely to persist in their degree and graduate,” Bradshaw added. “We want to really create an environment that makes them feel welcome and feel like this is where they’re supposed to be if they want to be.”
The funding came from EU’s largest-ever donation made in 2021 by Robert Jans and Timothy Jans (‘74). Their $3.4 million gift aims to support veterans on campus and bring more STEM students into military careers.
In addition to the Jans Military and Veterans Center, the donation established the Jans Family Endowed Internship Fund and the Jans Director of Military and Veterans Affairs.
