Colleges eagerly welcome war veterans

updated 6:21 p.m. ET Aug. 27, 2007

SAN DIEGO - On the giant state university campus in this military town, veterans have long been marbled into the student body. For many, anonymity is part of the appeal.

But as service members return from Iraq and Afghanistan, some at San Diego State are raising their heads and making themselves more visible. They’ve started a veterans’ organization that is one of the most active in the country. The group, which lines up support services for veteran students, lobbies for benefits and hosts social events, is fielding calls from other campuses interested in copying the idea.

Students like Nathaniel Donnelly, a former Marine who served in Iraq, insist they don’t flaunt their military service but are happy to talk about it in social settings or classrooms. Many transform their leadership training from the military to campus organizations. Gary Hirsch, a former Marine who graduated last spring with a top academic award, was involved in no fewer than nine different extracurricular groups.

“If I could have 50 percent of our student body be veterans, I would,” said Sandra Cook, executive director of enrollment services at San Diego State, which gives veterans special consideration in admissions. “Maybe they didn’t shine in high school, but they have that experience.”

Financial aid an incentive
Veterans have been a presence on many college campuses since right after World War II, thanks to the GI Bill of Rights. But their visibility and influence hasn’t always reflected that. The Vietnam War and the current Iraq War have been sharply criticized by academics and soldiers haven’t always felt welcome. Student veterans are often eager to signal a new identity, so they keep their heads down.

But these days colleges are eager to welcome veterans. One reason is the financial aid many carry, but they’re also seen as students who have a lot to contribute to the community. New education benefits for veterans have been proposed in at least 32 states this year alone, and signed into law in at least 11, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Programs such as the Minnesota National Guard’s “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” program promote education as a way to help Guardsmen reintegrate into civilian life. California’s “Troops to College” initiative is working to coordinate services and recruiting efforts at colleges and universities here. The 23 campuses in the Cal State system are trying to boost the number of enrolled veterans from 2,700 to 4,800 by the end of the coming academic year.

In many places, the growing numbers amount to a critical mass. Veterans are more visible in the classroom and — they say — more comfortable. They can pursue a relatively normal college life but also have a real community of older and more empathetic friends.

“I have my civilian friends and it’s good, but you still need your veteran friends because they know what you’ve been through,” said Hirsch. “You’ve got that bond that most students don’t have.”

It’s hard to say how many veterans attend colleges and universities, since the veteran community includes former active-duty soldiers and airmen on the GI Bill, current National Guard members and reservists. There are also some active duty service members enrolled in college, along with former service members who aren’t eligible for education benefits.

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