Though he will operate out of an office at ARCC Coon Rapids Campus, Jensen is charged with serving six Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) institutions including ARCC Cambridge Campus, ARCC Coon Rapids Campus, Anoka Technical College, Century College, Hennepin Technical College and North Hennepin Community College as well as 11 additional private campuses.

“My position was primarily established to create a network of on-campus and community resources for returning veterans,” says Jensen. “I will work with campus county, state and federal resources, resources, train staff and faculty and work with the veterans themselves.”

The door to Jensen’s office will always be open to veterans and anyone else interested in helping veterans, but his primary duty will be assisting each campus in establishing a veterans’ resource center and ensuring they are fully prepared to serve the veterans that visit them. He will begin with the MnSCU institutions which, as state agencies, are required to have veteran resource centers.

ARCC Coon Rapids Campus opened doors to a veterans’ resource center in January 2007, ahead of many other higher education institutions in the north metro region, to facilitate veterans’ re-entry into civilian life and welcome them to higher education with services and resources. The designated veterans’ area, is staffed part-time by a veteran-student and, according to Jensen, serves two functions: provides an information resource center with a computer and phone and, equally as important, provides veterans a place to socialize.

“Veterans’ are much more likely to share an issue or recognize an issue in another veteran that needs attention in a social setting as opposed to reporting to an official resource outlet,” says Jensen. “The veteran’s resource center facilitates success.”

And Jensen knows about veteran success. With a bachelor’s in science from the University of Wisconsin, he served eight years in the Army National Guard and 13 months in Iraq. Prior to joining the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Jensen worked as Communications Director for a legislative caucus in the Minnesota Senate.

In his new position, Jensen locates services and appropriate resources for staff and faculty and educates them about the benefits available to veterans through various federal, state and local agencies. He also organizes training for campuses about veteran's issues and helps coordinate services. He wants veterans to know he’s here to help them succeed.

“Whether you think you need help or not, there’s something here for you,” Jensen says when asked what he would like fellow veterans to know. “There’s a chance to talk to other veterans and get information on benefits that you may not know about. For instance, any veteran can qualify for in-state tuition. Not every vet knows that.”

Jensen is located at Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids Campus and can be reached at 763.433.1632 or by email. For information about other programs at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu or call 763.433.1100.