NDSU provides several services on campus for military veteran students.
Military veterans will find that NDSU is a welcoming, caring campus with assistance just an arms-length away. A variety of resources are available to help them succeed.
Veterans Educational Training offers a host of free services, like helping vets choose a career path, providing training to refresh academic skills or examining options to pay for school.
The Veteran Alliance Organization, known as VALOR, is an active group of faculty, staff and students whose aim is to improve the campus climate for veterans, active-duty service members, reservists and members of the National Guard.
“Agencies like VET and VALOR are important to our military and veteran students,” said Jim Stoddard, Veterans Educational Training assistant director. “As staff and faculty, we’re familiar with the structure of NDSU and can work on enhancements to services on behalf of veterans so that they can more fully focus on their studies and other responsibilities.”
Stoddard also is the advisor to Bison Student Veterans, a student-led organization that’s a great way to make friends and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow veterans.
“The staff and support of NDSU’s veterans programs have made attending and staying in school so much easier,” said U.S. Army veteran Katherine “K.K.” Swinland, a sophomore majoring in management. “When you are supported and feel that you have the trust of others, you start to trust yourself more, too. I know that, personally speaking, NDSU having these programs has made me believe that I could achieve my goals of getting my degree and being successful.”
According to Swinland, more than 7% of North Dakotans are veterans, so it’s a significant and important segment of the population.
“After the military, most veterans yearn for a sense of purpose and belonging,” said Swinland, who served in the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. “When they have a means of connecting through veteran programs, they are much more likely to thrive and accomplish their goals which sets them on track to give back to their communities.”
To learn more about veteran services at NDSU, visit NDSU’s YouTube page.
