5 Top Programs Winning the Student Veteran Support Game
Student veterans seek higher education programs that align their academic goals with the benefits they’ve earned through their service. Institutions that offer credit for military service, thriving veteran student organizations, and access to veteran counselors are also highly sought after.
Veterans services departments help to support students, aim them right direction, and allow them to make their academic transition smooth and successful. Below are five programs that are doing a great job of all of the above:
University of Washington
The University of Washington has a robust Student Veteran Life (SVL) unit mobilized. Established in 2015 as a unit for student veterans founded by student veterans, the office sees 20-30 veterans per day who drop by for student resources, a place to study, grab a coffee, or engage informally with other veteran students.
A team of experienced and diverse veterans leads Student Veteran Life. According to their “About SVL” pillars, they admit, "Having former military service members who understand the transitional needs of student veterans is paramount to our success as a unit. Transitioning student veterans need to have access to someone who has shared their unique experiences and has successfully navigated from service in the military to service as a civilian."
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame has a booming Office of Military and Veterans Affairs (OMVA). They offer a Service to School VetLink Collegiate Partnership, military-connected student events, professional development events, military appreciation sporting events, and participate in the Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP) — a two-week boot camp type of summer intensive to get veteran military members ready for the demands of college life.
Notre Dame's OMVA also has a Host Family Program that connects military students to local families living in the South Bend region to help establish support systems. Additionally, OMVA provides a Military 101 training workshop to educate faculty, staff, and students about the unique strengths and challenges facing student veterans and military service members.
University of Maryland Global Campus
The University of Maryland offers more than 125 degrees, specializations, and certificates to successfully help student veterans transition to civilian careers. Courses are available online or in a hybrid format at 175+ global locations and military installations worldwide. While the campus is global, its focus is personal. The University of Maryland offers helpful online booking with Military Advisors in person and online across various U.S. regions.
At the University of Maryland Global Campus, affordability is their mission. From hybrid courses that allow students to maximize housing allowances, interest-free monthly payment plans, and no-cost digital resources that have replaced textbooks to a flexible transfer credit policy allowing students to receive up to 90 credits for on-the-job learning, U of M prioritizes students utilizing their educational benefits to the fullest.
Columbia University
Columbia stands out with the extra care taken to thoroughly aid its students in successfully navigating the housing situation with their Navigating Housing Packet and their G.I. Bill® Landlord Letter.
Their Veterans Concerns at Counseling and Psychological Services has a staff of six counselors with experience working with veterans. They offer same-day support services, a network of support groups, and ongoing counseling services. Columbia University has an active MilVets Student Group, Artist, Medical, and Law Veterans groups. The CU Center for Veteran Transition and Integration has created a helpful course on Veteran Transition: Academic Excellence and Career Readiness, available on EdX.
San Diego State University
San Diego State University's Military and Veterans Program (MVP) covers all student veterans' general needs and concerns related to admissions, education benefits, and student support services. They shine in their individualized programming specific to the engineering field.
The Troops to Engineers (T2E) Program is a unique program currently offered only at SDSU for veteran students in undergraduate and graduate engineering programs. This program provides custom career assistance for students seeking to improve their professional development skills, find paid internships and secure an engineering-specific job upon graduation from SDSU. T2E Program is funded by Boeing and Northrop Grumman and has been successfully growing since 2011.
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