Veterans

Syracuse University’s Veteran and Military-Connected Population Continues to Grow

Monday, January 28, 2019, By Leah Lazarz

Earlier this month, the University welcomed new student veterans to campus at the annual New Student Veteran Welcome Orientation and at the University’s Winter Welcome Resource Fair. These events provide student veterans, military-connected students and their families the opportunity to connect with other students, learn about campus resources and meet the dedicated veteran and military-connected support staff.

This spring, 24 new undergraduate student veterans are enrolled on campus full-time. They join over 50 student veterans who enrolled in the fall and more than 1,000 other veteran and military-connected students at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Syracuse University’s veteran and military-connected enrollment on campus has grown over 500 percent since Chancellor Kent Syverud took his post in January 2014 and identified veteran service among his strategic initiatives.

“We have been able to enjoy continued student veteran growth on campus thanks to a tremendous ‘One University’ team effort and commitment by so many but most importantly to our veteran admissions advisors, who work so hard with our transitioning service members and their families. Syracuse University as a community is truly committed to being the ‘best place for veterans’ and for our military-connected population,” says Ron Novack, executive director of the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs at Syracuse University (OVMA).

A number of benefits and resources are available to Syracuse University student veterans and military-connected students, including:

  • Unlimited participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program allowing Post-9/11 GI Bill recipients to receive additional funding to cover required tuition and fees.
  • Veteran-dedicated staff across campus
  • Dedicated Office of Veteran Success (OVS)
  • Dedicated veteran admission advisors
  • Dedicated veteran career services advising
  • Student veteran career immersion trips to New York City and Washington, D.C.
  • VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) Program
  • Early registration benefits
  • Orange Door Liaison program
  • Peer Advisors for Veteran Education (PAVE) Program
  • Student Veteran Organization (SVO)
  • The Wohl Family Veterans Legal Clinic

Recently ranked the #1 private school for veterans by Military Times, Syracuse is also one of only 15 Pat Tillman Foundation University Partners. In its third year as a partner institution, Syracuse was selected for its innovative veteran services, strong culture of support for military veterans and spouses, and its rigorous academic programs. The Tillman Scholars program, which funds education for student veterans and spouses of veterans, will be accepting applications Feb. 1-28, 2019.

The University is furthering its commitment to the veteran and military-connected population with construction of the National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC), a first-of-its-kind multi-use facility dedicated to advancing academic research, programming and community-connected innovation serving the social, economic and wellness concerns of the nation’s veterans and families. The NVRC is scheduled to open in 2020.