Concord University’s Veterans Program joins the National Veterans Honors Society

Concord University’s Veterans Program joins the National Veterans Honors Society (NVHS) and other developments to “make student veterans happy”

By: Grace Watson | December 4, 2021

Concord University used to be ranked number #1 in the nation for its commitment to its Veteran students. Concord University was originally ranked the nation’s No. 1 four-year college for veterans by Military Times Edge magazine in its “Best for Vets: Colleges 2011” list, which based its ranking on academic accreditation, central veterans offices, and staff knowledge on veterans issues. While Concord University’s Veterans Program has continued to uphold these requirements and offer its veterans assistance to succeed in college, the failure to apply to the survey has resulted in Concord University not being recognized for its Veterans Program.

There have been many improvements to the program as shown by Veterans Advocate Dr. George Williams, who helps student veterans and their dependents navigate life on campus, and a recent name change to the Veterans Success Organization.

Despite the recent name change to the Veterans Success Organization to highlight their commitment to ensuring veterans on campus get the financial, academic, and mental help they not only deserved but earned through their service to our country. Concord University’s Veterans Program has failed to be ranked #1 for the best college for veterans in the nation. Nonetheless, there have been great strides to ensure Concord University gets recognition for its support of Veterans.

George Williams the Veterans Advocate on campus is an alumnus of Concord University graduating in 2011 and a veteran, himself, with 10 years of service has made it his mission to make our veterans happy. However, there has been a change in veteran culture since 2009 when Concord University’s Veterans Office was established. This change has resulted in a lack of involvement among student veterans with “students not wanting to be known as veterans… some want to leave it in the past and just want to be students.”

Despite being the “most diverse group” on campus with ages ranging from 24-55 and the veteran’s culture is struggling. The veteran’s culture is struggling because as previously mentioned students in the program want to be known and treated as students, not veterans after they leave the service and attend college. Another reason the veteran’s culture is struggling is because of Concord University’s large commuter population meaning many students don’t stay on campus; they commute to and from school; thus, resulting in a lack of association between Concord and its students.

Veterans Advocate George Williams has introduced new and exciting changes in hopes of changing the veterans’ culture, for instance, the recent name change to the Veterans Success Organization. Other developments in the Veterans population on campus include the National Veterans Honors Society (NVHS), partnering with SALUTE Veterans, and the inclusion of the Student Veterans of America as well as Concord University Veterans Upward Bound program.

The National Honors Society was because of Concord University re-joining the Student Veterans of America and partnering with SALUTE Veterans. The Honors Society will focus on veteran students’ academics instead of their service. In regard to membership in the Veterans NHS, “85% of the veterans have a 3.0 GPA and are eligible for membership.”

According to the Veterans homepage, located on Concord University’s website, the “SALUTE Veterans NHS was established at Colorado State University, and currently has over 330 colleges as active chapters encompassing over 17,000 student veterans!”

The Veterans Success Organization acts as an advisor and helps students apply for their MGIB Benefits and seek counseling on campus or with VA counselors. There are also student veteran advocates on-campus that work in the Veterans’ Lounge to help other students make the transition from service to academics by using their own personal experiences to relate to other veterans and their dependents. This shows that student involvement is crucial to the student veteran population on campus because it can help relieve the burden faced by our veterans in regard to making the transition from military service to college life.

For Concord University to be ranked #1 in the nation for veterans again, we must apply to be ranked and take the survey. This survey will encompass and take into account how satisfied students are and the programs offered on campus for student veterans and their dependents.

The program could be number one in the state and even the nation considering we have the programs available to students, the diversity of the veteran population, and funding, but we have not applied for the survey to see how Concord University measures up to other colleges in the nation.

To be ranked number one for veterans in the nation, there must be a radical change in the veterans’ culture on campus. There used to be a strong veteran culture and there is no reason why we couldn’t get back to that, with 33 veterans on campus ranging from 24-55 years old, Concord University may struggle catering to each demographic, but allowing the students to make decisions as shown by the food pantry, which has been taking over by the

Veterans Success Organization will strengthen the veterans’ culture on campus leading to more involvement in student-led programs and a stronger representation through student government organizations; such as Student Government Association(SGA).

George Williams said it best: “make your veterans happy.” If we make the veterans happy, they will be more willing to give back to Concord University as well as see Concord University be ranked number #1 in the nation for its commitment to its Veteran students again.

*This article was written for MCOM 420: SpTop – Mobile Reporting, as a commentary piece.