R.O.T.C. cadets at the 102nd Chancellor’s Review this past March.
This fall, Syracuse University’s total military-connected enrollment increased 14% from 1,206 to 1,375, including 96 new veteran and military-connected students. This class marks the highest student veteran enrollment in the post-9/11 era and raises the total veteran and military-connected enrollment to its highest mark in five years.
New veteran and military-connected students were welcomed onto campus at the annual New Student Veteran Welcome Orientation and Resource Fair in August. The event provided 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. Veteran and military-connected enrollment has grown more than 500% since Chancellor Kent Syverud took his position in Jan. 2014.
The University’s historic Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) program is also achieving high participation numbers this semester with 101 U.S. Army cadets and 45 U.S. Air Force cadets presently active and enrolled. Syracuse’s R.O.T.C. program is the longest consecutively-running program in the country. This semester’s class numbers are among the highest for both programs post 9/11.
“The steady uptick of veteran and military-connected enrollment and participation on campus and via Syracuse University’s online offerings is a result of the focused effort and commitment of those across campus working to make Syracuse ‘the best place for veterans,’ their families and other service-connected students,” says retired Col. Ron Novack, executive director of the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs. “This record enrollment is particularly special and noteworthy as the University looks to celebrate its sesquicentennial anniversary and open the doors of the National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) this academic year.”
“It’s almost overwhelming how much everyone wants you to succeed. Instead of going into a university blind with fear of the unknown, you have people reaching out to you, even the vice chancellor. It’s comforting to know veterans have succeeded here” says Harris Krahn ’23, an anthropology major in the College of Arts and Sciences and Marine Corps veteran.
As part of the University’s enduring commitment to veterans, the 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—is scheduled to open in Spring 2020. The new building is one of many initiatives supported by the University aimed at improving the military-connected student experience on campus. Other initiatives include:
Recently ranked the No. 1 private institution for veterans by Military Times, Syracuse University 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.
