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10 VSO Priorities That Impact Higher Education and Veterans
HigherEdMilitary
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Various veteran service organizations (VSOs) are advocating for policies that would better serve the military-affiliated population. A majority of these organizations serve the greater good for veterans, and some of their priorities include those that would impact higher education. The following priorities could help veterans and military-affiliated students graduate, be successful, and feel included on our campuses. Institutions behind the curve are risking compliance and student disservice. The institutions that are already implementing these policies are building veteran/military-ready systems. This list is not extensive and only looks at current priorities. All policy priorities that have already been implemented in years past are generally not listed here. Those who are able to make changes to your institution's policies should look at the Student Veterans of America's past priorities to see how your current policies align.
10. Eliminating "Delimiting Dates"
The "Forever GI Bill" removed the 15-year expiration for those who served after 2013, however many veterans are still subject to a "use it or lose it" deadline. This would retroactively remove these dates for all generations, allowing veterans from any era to utilize their earned benefits at any point in their lives.
Top 3 Advocates: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), The American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
9. Strengthening the 90/10 Rule
This priority would safeguard against predatory recruitment. It eliminates the counting of GI Bill® funds as "private" revenue. By enforcing the rule that schools must demonstrate market value by attracting at least 10% of revenue from non-federal sources, it prevents veterans from being targeted solely as "walking dollar signs."
Top 3 Advocates: Veterans Education Success(VES), The American Legion, and VFW
8. VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) Expansion
Expanding the VA's VSOC program, which places vocational rehabilitation counselors directly on college campuses, provides "one-stop" support for academic and disability-related needs. The expansion would include moving beyond large state schools to include more community colleges.
Top 3 Advocates: DAV, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), and SVA
Some Implementing Institutions:
Florida State College at Jacksonville
7. Increased Funding for School Certifying Officials (SCOs)
This priority would increase in the reporting fees the VA pays to schools per veteran student. This funding is earmarked for veteran offices to hire more staff or support programs for veterans, reducing certification delays that can cause late housing and tuition payments.
Top 3 Advocates: National Association of Veterans Program Administrators (NAVPA), SVA, and VFW
6. Mental Health Integration
This priority includes expanding the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership (VITAL) program to provide on-campus mental health support, linking campus communities with local VA Medical Centers, and provide suicide prevention training.
Top 3 Advocates: DAV, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)
Some Implementing Universities:
5. Standardized Credit for Prior Learning
A national standard to translate military experience into degree-applicable credit rather than just elective credit. By requiring schools to map military occupational specialty (MOS) to core requirements, veterans can graduate faster and save months of GI Bill® entitlements.
Top 3 Advocates: American Council on Education (ACE), SVA, and The American Legion
Some Implementing Universities:
Thomas Edison State University
4. Mandatory Veteran Resource Centers
This priority focuses on legislation or accreditation standards that require institutions to provide a physical, dedicated space for military-affiliated students. These centers are proven to increase retention and graduation rates by providing a safe-space on campus where veterans can network and access transition resources in a culturally familiar environment.
Top 3 Advocates: SVA, WWP, and VFW
Some Implementing Universities:
3. Data Transparency and Outcome Tracking
Advocates are calling for the College Scorecard and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) GI Bill Comparison Tool to have more granular data, specifically for veterans. This includes veteran-specific graduation rates, post-graduation debt, and graduates' median earnings. The goal is to provide prospective veterans with the data they need to avoid "degree mills" and choose institutions with a proven track record of veteran success.
Top 3 Advocates: SVA, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and VES
Some Implementing Universities:
2. Guard and Reserve Benefits Parity
This priority advocates that National Guard and Reserve members earn Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility for every day served on orders, excluding training and state mobilizations. Calling for the same educational equity as active-duty, arguing "duty is duty."
Top 3 Advocates: National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), Reserve Organization of America (ROA), and SVA
1. Online Housing Parity
Elimination of the monthly housing allowance (MHA) disparity for online learners. Online students receive half the national average allowance. The majority of veterans require online flexibility. This priority demands housing rates based on the student's residency location to prevent financial hardship.
Top 3 Advocates: SVA, VES, and VFW
Some Implementing Universities:
5 More Honorable Mention Priorities:
Priority Registration for Veterans
Organizations are advocating for state-level and institutional mandates that allow veterans to register for classes first because the GI Bill® has a limited window of eligibility, and any delay in taking a required course can result in a veteran running out of VA funding before graduation.
Some Implementing States: California, Florida, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington
Universal In-state Tuition
Advocates of this priority are pushing to remove all location-based restrictions. The goal is for any veteran or eligible dependent to receive in-state tuition at any public university nationwide, and ideally private institutions as well, regardless of when they left the service or where they currently reside. *Federal Mandate
STEM Scholarship Extension
The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship provides extra funding for veterans in science and tech degrees. Advocates are looking to increase funding and broaden eligibility, as many STEM degrees take longer than the standard 36 months of GI Bill® benefits to complete.
Support for Caregiving Student Veterans
This priority is pushing for childcare subsidies and the inclusion of "caregiver status" in university equity and inclusion policies. This ensures that veterans, many of whom are nontraditional students with families, aren't forced to drop out due to the high cost of childcare or lack of institutional flexibility.
VA Work-Study Modernization
This priority focuses on modernizing the VA Work-Study Program, which has not seen significant updates in decades. Modernization would include expanding eligibility to part-time students and broadening the types of approved positions to include roles that align with a veteran's academic and career goals.
Article Topics
Military Educational Benefits
Military Friendly Institutions
Policy News
Research on Student Veterans
Serving Military in HigherEd
Veterans Academic Success
