EDUCATOR RESOURCES

If you are an educator, how do you attract more service members, veterans, and military spouses to your campus? Why is this important both for the students and educational institutions like you? And how can we help here at Soldier for Life?

ENCOURAGE SERVICE

Soldier for Life aims to encourage educators to consider the military as a valuable option for students after earning their high school diploma or GED. Many young adults are not ready to choose a degree path, may lack the qualifications to attend a higher learning institution, or cannot afford it. By presenting the military as an alternative, educators can help their students access educational opportunities while serving, such as military apprenticeship programs, certifications, and higher education benefits.


THE WHY & HOW FOR EDUCATORS


We know the military is a fantastic option for students, but 1) why should educators take steps to attract more service members, veterans, and military spouses to your campus and 2) how do you do it? Here are some tips, resources, and links to organizations and educational institutions that can provide some insight:

  • How Colleges Can Efficiently Attract and Support Veterans – According to UPCEA, veterans are highly motivated and bring diverse experiences that can significantly enhance any campus community. Targeting your marketing efforts and creating veteran support programs are two ways they suggest educational institutions can attract and support military students. 
  • Enrolling and Supporting Student Veterans – The George W. Bush Presidential Center convened a working group to illustrate the value of attracting, enrolling, and supporting veterans and issued recommendations for institutions of higher learning.
  • The Support Military and Veteran Students Really Need from Higher Ed Institutions - According to this article from Harvard Business Publishing, the unique experiences of veteran and active-duty students mean they often have the skills, drive, and perspective to make them assets to any classroom setting, but to cultivate these students’ full potential, educators and administrators need to support them as they transition from military to academic life. 

  • Institute for Veterans and Military Families – Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families offers entrepreneurship, career training, and community service programs for veterans and their families. 
  • Center for Veteran Transition and Integration - The Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration offers free online educational programming for service members to help them transition out of the military into college, the workforce, and civilian life.
  • Council of College and Military Educators – The Council of College and Military Educators is a not-for-profit organization created to promote, encourage, and deliver quality education to service members and their families.
  • Student Veterans of America – Student Veterans of America provides service, research, programs, and advocacy for veterans in higher education.

HOW CAN SFL HELP EDUCATORS?

How can WE help you here at Soldier for Life? Soldier for Life provides guidance on leveraging available resources and tools, collaborating with schools, nonprofits, and organizations to make the military a recognized and viable pathway for achieving higher education and career readiness. 

Connect with us to find out how we can help you bring more valuable veteran and military-connected students to your campus!