From 2009 to 2013, the student veteran population on college campuses in the United States doubled and has continued to increase faster than the rate of traditional student enrollment. As private colleges have struggled with the demographic changes resulting in declining enrollment, many have sought to recruit veterans and advertise their campuses as “Military Friendly,” though it is unclear how colleges operationalize “Military Friendly” into specific policies, programs, and practices that support the academic success of student veterans. This is particularly important because veterans represent a unique student population, not just in terms of demographics (e.g., older, married, employed full time), but also the potential for physical and mental health problems (e.g., chronic pain, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, social isolation) that could negatively affect their ability to thrive in a higher education setting. For the purposes of this study, service utilization and satisfaction among student veterans enrolled at Daemen College, a small private college in Western New York, will be evaluated.
