Syracuse University should continue to improve veterans affairs and place a special focus on helping student veterans adjust to the social aspect of college.

The university offers strong education programs for veterans, such as the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities program, which educates post-9/11 veterans with disabilities in entrepreneurship and small business management. But the university should also focus on how to help student veterans adjust to college life after the military.

In Chancellor Kent Syverud’s inauguration address last April, he said he wants to restore SU’s reputation as a top school for veterans.  Syverud has since appointed a vice chancellor for veterans and military affairs, who is now working to make improvements to veteran affairs at SU.

As the university continues to work toward helping veterans, it should continue to look at different ways to make student veterans feel included and accepted. Student Association should consider adding a student veteran representative to its assembly. Although there is a Student Veterans of America group at SU, having an SA representative would give student veterans an active voice on campus issues. There could also be a student veteran representative on the Committee on Student Life in University Senate.

To make veterans feel more comfortable in their classes, these students should have the option to fill out a form identifying themselves as veterans to their professors. Though not all student veterans will want to identify themselves, this could help those with special circumstances feel more comfortable.

SU should also continue to build its relationship with Fort Drum, a military base located about an hour and 15 minutes north of Syracuse. If the university has a close relationship with the base, it could help veterans from Fort Drum feel more comfortable coming to campus. It could also help the university better understand veterans and the environments they come from.

As the university places improving veteran’s affairs at the forefront, it should continue to consider ways it can help student veterans adjust to all aspects of campus life.