Identification of Student Veterans

As mentioned previously, it is difficult to serve a veteran population’s specific needs if you don’t know which of your applicants or enrolled students are actually veterans. Including a question on all campus admissions forms (including graduate programs) can be very helpful in following up with veterans as they progress through school–and in communicating how admissions and financial aid policies affect them.

The phrasing of the question can be delicate. But regardless of how the question is asked, it is important to let the student veteran know why you are collecting information on veteran status. Explaining that this will help keep the student in the loop with regard to veterans-only events, updates to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and other benefits and policies will demonstrate your commitment to communication.

For more tips on how to phrase application questions to help veterans self-identify, see the section on tracking students in Create a Successful Program.