How Coordinating Veterans Services on Campus Can Increase Satisfaction in Military-Affiliated Students

The authors report outcomes for veteran-friendly initiatives on the regional and main campuses of a mid-sized university in the Midwestern U.S. Across three years, 1270 military-affiliated students were self- or institutionally identified (paid tuition with VA benefits) and invited to complete telephone or online surveys assessing their satisfaction with campus services. Four hundred fifteen (32.6%) students participated. Institutional commitment to add centers for veterans' services, a coordinator of veterans services, a "One-Stop" office for registration and financial aid, and veteran-friendly programs increased student satisfaction with advising, tuition payment, and staff support. Areas for continued improvement identified included transition assistance, academic credit for military experience, and respect for military-affiliated students.