As universities nationwide work to better serve military-connected students, a growing number of programs are placing them at the center of campus innovation. From dedicated first-year courses to hands-on sustainability initiatives, three campuses are demonstrating what it means to invest in student veteran success.
At the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), a newly launched course is helping veterans transition from military to college life with greater confidence. The Academic Introduction & Strategies (AIS) class, designed specifically for first-year student veterans, offers a tailored version of UTSA’s broader first-year experience curriculum. The new section emerged after student veterans voiced concerns about relating to younger classmates in standard AIS courses.
“Veteran students often find themselves in a different stage of life, which can make it difficult to connect with peers who are just beginning their college journey,” said Brian Rendell, senior director of academic credentialing and a retired Air Force colonel. Rendell, who teaches the new veteran-focused course, added, “This new AIS course will offer a classroom environment where veteran students can learn how to capitalize on their military experiences and connect with others who share similar backgrounds and life aspirations.”
The course is part of UTSA’s broader commitment to serving its sizable military-affiliated student body, which makes up nearly 16% of enrollment. The university has been recognized as a top military-friendly institution in 2024.
At Fordham University, support is expanding in both scale and scope. In May, the institution announced a bold commitment to double its enrollment of veterans and military-connected students over the next five years through the Fordham Veterans Initiative.
“Veteran students often find themselves in a different stage of life, which can make it difficult to connect with peers who are just beginning their college journey.”
Brian Rendell
“Simply put, you are our finest students, and we want more of you,” said Fordham President Tania Tetlow during the announcement at the university’s annual Yellow Ribbon Medallion and Victory Bell Ceremony. “From hands-on guidance through admissions to career placement and community connection, we are building a network that fosters belonging, honors sacrifice, and supports success at every stage.”
As part of this effort, Fordham will expand its Office of Military and Veterans’ Services, enhance career development resources, and open a new Military Family Center at its Rose Hill campus. This facility will mirror the successful model already in place at Lincoln Center, providing a hub for community and support in the Bronx, where nearly 24,000 veterans reside.
Fordham has also lifted its caps on the Yellow Ribbon Program, ensuring eligible veterans and dependents can attend tuition-free under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. The changes have already had an impact—enrollment increased 131% last fall, with more than 470 student veterans, active-duty service members, and military family members now part of the university community.
Meanwhile, at Ohio State University’s Marion campus, two Marine Corps veterans are transforming both the landscape and student life through an innovative beekeeping project. Todd Lee and Eric Bailey, who met through the Central Ohio Beekeepers Association’s Veteran Beekeeping School, installed two beehives within the campus’s 11-acre prairie restoration site this spring.
“Todd had brought up the idea of, ‘why don’t we have bees at the prairie?’ The idea kind of took off from there,” said Bailey. The project quickly evolved from a class outreach idea to a sustainable initiative with both environmental and personal benefits.
“Each person faces unique struggles and challenges, and bees can impact these differently,” said Lee. “For me, I can say that confronting and overcoming my fears gives me a sense of confidence. Once you realize that you can tackle something again, you begin to rebuild your confidence and boost your self-esteem.”
The two hope the program can eventually be scaled up, producing honey for local use and creating hands-on learning opportunities for students across disciplines. They also see it as a long-term resource for fellow veterans.
“We want to incorporate as many veterans as possible who are interested in engaging with bees and learning about beekeeping,” said Lee. “It’s something that we can use as a platform to help multiple people who may be struggling.”
Together, these three programs reflect a shift in higher education. Through academic support, community-building, and student-led innovation, campuses across the country are recognizing the value student veterans bring and ensuring they thrive in their post-service journeys.
