Every year Wick Sloane compiles a survey of the most selective U.S. Colleges totaling the number of undergraduate veterans and the initiatives those colleges are undertaking to support their veteran students. Generally, Sloane is not impressed. This year, he visited Syracuse University to discuss all the initiatives the University has to support veterans. Sloane spent two days on campus interviewing many, including Chancellor Kent Syverud, Vice-Chancellor and IVMF Executive Director Michael Haynie, and OVMA Executive Director Ron Novack.
Sloane learned all about Syracuse University and the numerous ways it supports its veterans including overcoming some of the major problems veterans and universities face.
“The worst I have seen is a severely wounded veteran who had not recovered from surgery in time for the next semester. Veterans not in school cannot receive GI Bill benefits. If this veteran had not had family nearby? He said he would have been homeless.
Not a problem at Syracuse, I learned in my first meeting. The university built a relationship with the head of the nearby VA hospital. If a veteran has a problem, Syracuse staff know whom to call to solve the problem.”
Sloane understandably addresses some powerful points and issues on how other prestigious universities cannot support their veterans compared to Syracuse University stating:
“As a fiscal benchmark, the Syracuse endowment is approximately $1.33 billion. Williams, my college and a leader in reasons and excuses for enrolling few veterans, reports an endowment of $2.8 billion. Syracuse, again, has 140 undergraduate veterans this fall. Williams has fewer than 10.”
Read the full story by Wick Sloane on how Syracuse University is the best place for veterans.