Resources: Military and Veteran Student Orientation

Military and Veteran students benefit from having a tailored orientation session. The goals of offering new student orientation specific to military and Veteran students include:

• Assisting the transition from a military career into a civilian career.

• Assisting the transition from civilian life into an education that will be used to equip them as they serve in the military. 

• Helping students navigate the complicated and sometimes difficult systems that govern and administer post-secondary education.

• Building a Military and Veteran Friendly Campus (MVFC) community, one that could be there as peer support, to bring a sense of belonging to the university, and to allow military and Veteran students to see themselves in the success and supports around them.

• Centralized Orientation Office or Coordinator: Some institutions have a centralized orientation office or team that plans the general orientation and administers its delivery. Work with existing centralized teams to help deliver a customized orientation experience that meets the needs of military and Veteran students.

• Faculty/Department/Program Coordinators: There may be faculties/departments/programs with greater numbers of military and Veteran students. Many decentralized units offer a specific orientation for their student cohorts and you can work with these coordinators to help deliver a customized orientation experience that meets the needs of military and Veteran students.

• Student-Driven Orientation Coordinators: Student Associations, fraternities/sororities, associations, and clubs will often host orientations, tours, and welcome parties. Check-in with the larger organizations and those that may be of interest to military and Veteran students to ensure their new student events are relevant to meet the needs of these students. 

• Online Learning Management Platforms: Develop permanent evergreen orientation resources via your institution's Learning Management platform (e.g., e-Class) to be provided as a reference for military and Veteran students.