Supporting Veteran Students Beyond Enrollment: VeteranDegrees at Westcliff University's Professional Weekend

Our onsite visit highlighted practical ways to assist veteran students with transportation, lodging, and community support throughout their education.

Professional Weekend at Westcliff University

Recently, the VeteranDegrees team visited Westcliff University during its Professional Weekend. Positioned near the entrance of the event space, our table featured a VeteranDegrees banner, printed brochures, a visitor sign-in bowl, and QR codes linking to our student referral program and online community. This straightforward setup aimed to facilitate conversations—an essential focus of the day.

Our objective was to connect directly with veteran students, gather insights about their experiences, and identify how we can enhance support throughout their academic journey.

While helping veterans choose a program is important, events like this emphasize that a student’s experience extends well beyond admission. Engaging in person allows us to hear perspectives that intake forms do not capture.

Practical Support for Veteran Students

For many veterans, returning to education involves managing work, family, and the transition to civilian life. Onsite weekends introduce additional demands, requiring travel and coordination within already full schedules.

Sometimes, practical support such as sharing rides or companionship can significantly ease these challenges, a theme that emerged repeatedly during conversations.

Three key areas of support were identified:

• Coordinating carpools to facilitate easier commutes
• Connecting students for shared lodging to reduce travel costs during onsite weekends
• Fostering community-building opportunities where veteran students can connect, share experiences, and establish enduring support networks beyond academics

Why It Matters for Universities

For our partner institutions, these considerations matter because students with strong support systems are often better able to remain engaged in their studies. While logistical and social supports may seem secondary to academics, they can be critical to managing demanding schedules.

Universities that welcome support service providers on campus, as Westcliff University graciously did, create valuable opportunities to understand and respond to students’ needs.

Looking Ahead

At VeteranDegrees, our commitment goes beyond helping veterans choose a program; we aim to support their success once enrolled.

We appreciate the opportunity to take part in Westcliff University’s Professional Weekend and thank the veteran students who shared their perspectives with us. We will continue to listen and collaborate with partners to advance these efforts.

Interested in partnering with VeteranDegrees?

We welcome collaboration with universities, VSOs, employers, and community partners who share our mission of empowering veterans through education.