Student Veterans

Tips for Advising

Students who have previously served or are currently serving in the U.S. military bring leadership, resilience, and valuable life experience to campus. Veterans are a diverse population with a wide range of experiences and it is impossible to take a one-size-fits all approach to serving them. Acknowledging the hidden curriculum of higher education is helpful for building confidence in navigating the academic journey. 

These advising tips can help student veterans successfully transition, build community, and thrive:

• Support culture shock: Some student veterans may face invisible hurdles as they adjust from a highly structured, communal environment to campus life that can be more individualized and loosely structured. Advisors can support student veterans by guiding them to resources. 
• Build community: Advisors can refer students to the Student Veterans Association to promote a sense of belonging and shared identity. The Student Veterans Association of Minnesota offers peer support, networking opportunities, and community-building events that ease the transition from military to campus life. 
• Connect to career: Military experience provides student veterans with leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that employers value. Career Services can help translate this experience into civilian resumes, support interview prep, explore internships, and connect students with veteran-friendly employers.
• Clarify academic jargon: Student veterans may not be familiar with higher education terminology. Advisors can support students by clarifying language differences. Terms like "office hours" or "electives" may not have clear military equivalents.
• Bridge procedures: Encourage student veterans to ensure their coursework aligns with their VA benefit. Electives may not be covered. In addition, dropping below full-time or changing their schedule after the term starts can create significant VA debt. Refer students to University Veterans Services before they drop.
• Accommodations: If a student veteran has a service-connected disability or condition, they may qualify for academic accommodations. Advisors should connect students with the Disability Resource Center to promote access and opportunity.
• Acknowledge intersectionality: Veterans may also benefit from receiving advising tips for non-traditional students, student parents, first-gen, and more.