News

What does it mean to serve the United States, and who should be required to do so?

Recent news pertaining to military and higher education.

Belonging is an important factor for any new college student's identity, but it is especially important for student veterans.

This recent study compares the perceptions of student veterans attending campus orientation sessions with, and without, veteran focused sessions.

Transitioning from the military and finding civilian work is challenging and competitive. Here's what you should know when including your military experience on your resume.

When financial resources and time are limited, small teams may be the only way forward in reaching various initiatives. Small teams can still make a big impact. There are three essential steps you can take to overcome your first obstacles as a small team.

The bill is being hailed by those who are concerned about veterans and service members being taken advantage of by for-profits.

Cadets training to be officers in the U.S. armed forces have faced unique challenges due to COVID-19. Some colleges are finding creative solutions to these challenges.

Register for the upcoming virtual panel discussion for military and veteran law students. Panelists will discuss how they used their military experience and the opportunities available in the legal field.

Camaraderie, one of the most meaningful aspects of military life, is missing from university life. This absence of camaraderie has a negative influence on student veterans.

The new scholarship supports undergraduate and graduate studies. Current UW veteran students are using scholarships to make a real difference for the veteran community.

The military and veteran affinity group at Penn State aims to enhance the professional and personal advancement of those with direct and indirect military affiliations.

Ongoing concerns for student veterans due to COVID-19 include mental health, recruiting by for-profits, and issues with GI Bill stipulations.

The new Military and Veteran Advisory Committee will serve veterans and service members both attending and working at UD.

A military veteran, with nearly 10 years of soldiering behind her, is using her own transition to student life after military service to create a new campus group.

According to a new study, it pays to be a veteran. In all states, except one, veterans earn more on average than non-veterans. 

Our university and college campuses are diverse communities that often have many informative and meaningful events taking place on campus (and now virtually). Engaging the larger campus community in these events is essential for our diverse communities to interact and learn from one another. In this month's Higher Ed Careers interview, in honor of November being National Veterans and Military Families Month, we focus on how to best engage the larger campus community in military-connected events.

This study highlights how the complexity of identity can complicate our understanding and support of female student veterans on campus.

A multimillion-dollar gift, from Joseph P. Healey, will help Brown University reach its goal of doubling the number of U.S. military veterans enrolled as undergraduates.

The new National Native American Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., opened on Veterans Day.

A qualitative study on identity and negotiation of identity for community college student veterans who have been in combat.

With ongoing efforts to increase veteran enrollment at highly selective colleges, here's a breakdown of the number of student veterans per institution in 2020.

"Thank you for showing up each day - in the classroom and on the ground - giving us all the opportunity to learn by your example and your experience."

From military to medicine, at WSU's Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, 10 percent of the current first-year medical students were service members. 

The grant supports National Guard members, active-duty U.S. military members, and reservists, as well as military spouses and dependents.

When military culture is foreign to civilians who haven't served, it is imperative to train faculty and staff in military cultural competence.

DeVry University is offering employers complimentary access to their Green Zone-Elite training program, which assists supervisors, managers, and other HR professionals with veteran hiring and retention.

A team of students who serve as veteran community advocates work in student life, disability services, career services, the college of medicine, athletics, and other departments to support the university’s veteran students.

The broader university community benefits from military service members and student veterans who bring a diversity of ideas and experiences to campus. 

Green Zones are safe places for UNG student veterans. Spaces marked with Green Zone stickers indicate which faculty or staff member has been trained to assist student veterans. 

How the SkillBridge program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University helps service members translate their military experience into a civilian career.  

Student veterans are often navigating new lives as civilians and differ from traditional students in age and maturity. It is imperative that faculty encourage student veterans’ peer-group interactions.

In order to better serve military students, The University of Southern Mississippi has created its first military student app called USMEagleVet.

Researcher Maggie O'Haire is using quantifiable data to show how service dogs are helping veterans experiencing PTSD and the people around them.

The University’s ninth annual Military Appreciation Week will take place virtually and include special events and programming. 

Women veterans leverage their leadership skills, authentic selves, and enhance their personal and professional networks in this one-of-a-kind leadership program. 

Why executive leaders in higher education, looking for creative ways to keep veteran employees engaged, should consider establishing veteran employee resource groups.

Student veterans often bring multiple assets to writing classrooms. Read some of the special considerations instructors should note when working with student veterans.

One of the main ways higher education institutions can help student veterans is by implementing strong veterans' programs on college campuses.

1. Finances 2. Structure and Clear Points of Contact 3. Veteran Specific Services 4. Transfer Pathways 5. Cultural

Veterans Day on college campuses will look a bit different this year. See how Student Veterans of America plans to host meaningful events.

As higher education institutions adapt to new normals of all-virtual or hybrid instruction, more are increasing online assistance for student veterans. 

The 2021 Association of Veterans Education Certifying Officials (AVECO) Annual Training Conference will be held July 26 - July 29 in St. Louis, Missouri. 

From a means to an end to a transformative experience, how this Navy SEAL who was deployed three times during his college studies, found the value in higher education.

On October 1, the third major piece of legislation of the Pandemic Assistance for Student Veterans Act was introduced. The act aims to ease the uncertainty COVID-19 has created for student veterans, service members, their families, and survivors using VA educational benefits. 

Why institutions need to eliminate academic, financial, and social barriers on campus for student veterans. 

The 2021 NASPA Symposium on Military-Connected Students will be held virtually February 25 - February 27. The early registration deadline is December 4, 2020. 

Why higher education institutions should report uniform metrics like graduation rates, employment outcomes, and debt-to-income ratios, to better serve not just veteran students, but all students. 

Student veterans at a small midwestern community college collaborated to develop engaging programs and resources for veterans transitioning from soldier to student. The veteran group worked with college administration, veteran organizations, and community partners to develop a Veterans Resource Center (VRC) on campus.

What Arizona State University is doing to help veterans and elite athletes adjust to civilian life. 

Strategic crisis planning for higher education, three key tips from the military. 

This research study identifies student veterans' perceptions of the strengths they can bring to a university and how their strengths affect academic performance.

Panelists will discuss some of the challenges faced by higher education professionals as they work to navigate the acceptance and application of military learning to program requirements. Policy ideas to support military learners and student veterans will also be discussed.

The conference will bring together experts to inform and educate Indiana professionals on critical issues facing Indiana’s military families.

Four questions for Chris Mayer, associate dean for strategy and initiatives, an associate professor of philosophy at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and a colonel in the U.S. Army.

Be transparent, what we need to do for veterans using financial assistance granted by the GI Bill in higher education. 

Have you ever reflected on the course of your career and the seemingly inconsequential moments that have made an impact? Such slight changes in the direction of a life, when played out over a longer period, have the potential to radically change who we are, what we do, and where we do it. What micro-mentors have made a difference in your path?

Many have said the divide between faculty and administrators continues to grow. In the last few years, budget cuts, shared governance issues, and now COVID-19 and its impact have exposed this rift. So, how can senior leaders help bridge this trust gap? Let's explore a few efforts that have helped campus leaders around the country to increase understanding and communication with faculty at their institutions.

Six Triple Eight, the only all-Black Women's Army Corps unit to serve in Europe during World War II.

Currently, there are lawsuits alleging bias by Harvard and Yale in undergraduate admissions. They claim that affirmative action on behalf of Black candidates is discriminatory. It will be up to Harvard and Yale to mount their arguments in court. However, in the meantime, let us consider the uses of affirmative action, i.e., the consideration of characteristics other than class rank and SAT scores, in college admissions.

Veterans are an asset to any institution with their leadership talents, drive, and desire to serve. It is important to integrate these aspects of their lives and service into their education.

The university is partnering with Service to School to prepare servicemen and veterans for higher education. 

The Air Force’s first female African American fighter pilot is now making her mark on future officers at the Air Force Academy. 

The scholarship of $25,000 per year complements educational benefits available to veteran graduate students in five schools at Vanderbilt University. 

The university will receive $261,888 per year for the next five years beginning September 1.

After retiring from the military, Ray Mobley now serves in a different capacity, as an admissions counselor at Evergreen State College. 

This virtual hiring fair for student veterans will take place September 9, 2020.

Amazon, in partnership with City University of Seattle, is offering an online certification program for military veteran employees. 

PAVE is a peer support program that connects incoming student veterans on college campuses with student veterans who are trained as Peer Advisors. 

PAVE operates at 46 colleges across the country with advisors that help newcomers learn the ropes and find solutions to challenges, camaraderie, and support on campus. 

The college of Adult and Professional Studies is offering active military members a $250 per credit tuition rate. 

As IT companies are increasingly dropping the college-degree prerequisite, how can higher education institutions serving veterans adapt? 

The Student Veteran Services center at UT-Austin offers training every semester on military culture and academic advising for faculty and staff. 

Some recruiting tactics may be using the pandemic to mislead students veterans. 

The phone campaign, called Operation Buddy Check, will reach out to student veterans on campus this week. 

Colleges with online offerings predominated among institutions with the most students receiving Post-9/11 GI Bill or Department of Defense Tuition Assistance benefits in 2017-18.

While online learning is common for military students, faculty and staff should acknowledge how abrupt transitions may leave some less confident in an online learning environment.

The Fostering Leadership and Inclusion by Growing HBCU Training (FLIGHT) Act has been passed by the Senate. 

Use the Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with open civilian jobs. 

The Texas A&M University System, Texas Workforce Commission, Combined Arms, Wal-Mart Foundation, Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Texas Veterans Commission, and others have teamed up to create the new all-inclusive experience for military veterans and their families. 

Despite high unemployment in some areas and a health pandemic, veterans stress the importance of networking veteran to veteran when finding jobs. 

To be veteran ready, higher education institutions need to break down barriers and stereotypes and have a deeper understanding of veterans in the hiring process.

From 2012, this report highlights data from 690 higher education institutions and the state of their programs and services for veterans and service members on campus.

For no cost, the Providence Clemente Veterans’ Initiative is an opportunity for veterans to experience a college classroom and earn six transferable credits. 

Military training, personal characteristics, work ethic, and steadfast commitment make student veterans a valuable part of the campus community. 

After a distinguished military career, retired Lt. Gen. Hawkins will be the next president of Angelo State University. 

Representatives from each state have shared their most underused benefit for veterans. 

The free intensive weeklong virtual program focuses on college preparation experiences for recent veterans and current military.

The scholarship recognizes Professor Lenarcic’s and Professor Ruff’s lifelong dedication to veterans’ rights and causes.

A free virtual career fair for veterans on July 28, 2020. 

The proposal faces a long legislative road, but would change how for-profit schools retain and recruit troops. 

See the employment situation for veterans in June 2020. 

Doctors and nurses with the Air Force Reserves share warnings for the public not to underestimate the continued threat posed by COVID-19, as many returned home from New York City during the height of its pandemic. 

As hundreds of service members are on the frontlines of COVID-19 a commitment to preparing service members for the job market after the pandemic is essential. 

To be held September 25, 2020, this statewide network seeks to make military-connected students as successful as possible in Michigan’s higher education landscape. 

Described as an 'essential text' this book draws attention to the unique needs of student veterans in higher education.

Military experience provides veterans with everything they need to be successful in higher education. Identifying how those experiences fit into education is key. 

Higher education institutions should make sure they are offering necessary support for their student veterans on campus. 

Veterans and active military service members may face varying obstacles in completing their degrees. Learning more about these obstacles is the first step in helping more students complete their degrees. 

Supporting education opportunities for military families, the Corvias Foundation kicked off its 13th annual orientation virtually for its incoming class of scholarship recipients.

Working in higher education allows veterans to utilize the skills they have developed while serving in the military.

Serving in World War II gave Kurt Lang a new outlook on the military, politics, society, and higher education.

ACE and the Department of Defense will continue working together to foster success in higher education for veterans and service members. 

Thanks to the recent donation, the university is now developing a new Veteran-to-Executive Transition program (W&M VET) that will prepare veterans for excellence in civilian leadership roles.

When serving veterans at higher education institutions, keeping the veteran's family in mind is a key factor in providing useful support.

Understanding the realities of female veterans, both in and out of the military, can help us better serve female veteran students.

The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the GI Bill, has not always supported Black veterans. 

Exclusively for U.S. Army veterans, applications for The Patriot Scholarship are now being accepted. 

After suspending GI Bill Benefits for 5 universities in March, VA is now lifting those suspensions with several advocates now addressing potential legal issues.

Addressing the subculture of being a military service member, Kellin Hardin seeks to counsel veterans and stresses the importance of higher education.

When it comes to serving military-connected students, there is not a one-size-fits-all system. There are important differences to consider when serving veteran students. 

Increased outreach efforts aimed at potential students currently serving in the military means Harvard College has admitted more veterans and ROTC candidates to the Class of 2024.

Why and how America’s military veteran community can fill higher education's leadership roles.

In recognition of their service and leadership potential, 60 U.S. service members, veterans and military spouses have been chosen as 2020 Tillman Scholars. The scholars will receive scholarship funding to pursue higher education.

The "Breakfast Circle" now the "Talking Circle" is being held online using Zoom. Every 2nd Saturday of the month. The next meeting is July 11, 2020.

Hear from senior director for Veterans Affairs and Services at Penn State on the future of veterans affairs.

Check out the Military Family Research Institute's "Appreciating the Realities of Military Service: Higher learning institution policies regarding deployment and GI Bill benefits" report.

Colleges and Universities are missing the opportunity to serve veteran and military students. Using a broader approach, restructuring higher education institutions to better serve these students will better serve all students.

See how Duke University is supporting and honoring the U.S. military in research and in the classroom.

Read the Military Family Research Institute's "Honoring Those Who Serve: Raising Campus and Community Awareness" report.

What are the 8 keys to veterans' success and which universities have committed to serving them?

COVID-19 is affecting millions of veterans and military-connected students in higher education. Some recommendations on going forward.

Creating a collective and collaborative network can bolster knowledge and access to education for student veterans. How one veteran is leading the way.

As a job applicant, there is no doubt you've thought about following up with a potential employer at some point. However, the following thoughts may have also crossed your mind: Is it acceptable to follow up? How soon is too soon? Who should I contact? The answers often depend upon your reason for following up and how you go about doing it. Consider these rules of thumb next time you're tempted to send a follow-up note.

LeNaya Hezel is the director of the Veterans Office at Georgetown University, where she helps military-connected students access and thrive in higher education. In this month's Higher Ed Careers interview, Hezel and Andrew Hibel discuss how attributes of the military-connected community translate to higher education, how schools can make sure they are inclusive of veterans and service members, and what faculty and staff need to know to effectively serve military-connected students.

"Can you remind me why you are so great, again?" If you receive a similar request from a former manager or colleague you've asked to be a reference, don't be offended. Your achievements may not be top of mind for them, especially if you haven't worked together in years. Instead, help them prepare to give you a good reference by reminding them of former duties and notable achievements, sharing your resume or CV, and filling them in on the desired job.

No matter what type of position you're interviewing for in the higher education field, it's important to communicate clearly during one-on-one interviews, at meals, with campus administrators, and during all other interactions throughout the interview process. In fact, effective verbal communication is one of the most sought-after skills by employers these days. So how can you practice and enhance this critical skill in advance of your next big interview?

The objective of the job interview is to determine the right fit. You wouldn't have made it this far without having a resume or CV that is compatible with the job description, so the pivotal questions asked during the interview are the ones that glean more abstract information to find the perfect match.

Congratulations on your new job! Usually the conversation where you accept the offer and confirm your salary and start date is busy enough. It doesn't present the chance to pose those nitty gritty questions such as: Where do I park on my first day? What is the office dress code? How do I navigate campus? Where do I eat lunch?