Colleges and universities often struggle to support service members and their families as they transition into college life and pursue fulfilling careers. Traditional campus services typically do not address the specific needs of military-connected students, who are usually older, used to a structured environment, and often have families.
Military-connected students bring dedication, valuable experience, leadership, and diverse skills. Unfortunately, these qualities are often overlooked.
The National Veterans Leadership Foundation (NVLF) partners with colleges and universities nationwide to enhance the higher education experience for military-connected students. Dedicated to improving their transition, NVLF equips students to excel academically and professionally by strengthening veteran support offices, fostering leadership opportunities and creating campus-to-career resources. Through innovative programs and comprehensive support, NVLF advances academic success, career readiness and a strong sense of belonging for military-connected students.
LEADERSHIP THAT DRIVES CHANGE
NVLF uses an integrated strategy to improve the higher education experience for military students.
EMPOWER STUDENTS AS LEADERS
The NVLF empowers military-connected students to lead and drive change on their campuses through initiatives like the Military Community Advocates (MCA) and Leadership Fellows program. By leveraging their dedication, these Advocates develop programs and events that support and engage military-connected students, acting as “force multipliers” for the Military & Veteran (mil-vet) office. By enhancing the college experience, NVLF Advocates positively impact thousands of students who have served their country.
ENGAGE CAMPUS LEADERSHIP
NVLF partners with more than 70 institutions of higher learning to develop best-practice programming and shared knowledge that contributes to the success of military-connected students. NVLF also offers a Digital Resource Hub, an online database of ready-to-use resources for military-veteran offices designed to support the replication of high-impact military-veteran programs.
GROW COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The NVLF helps universities build greater support for military-veteran students within their local communities, fostering connections and increasing financial support. The Leadership Forum is an annual event that brings together campus teams, including mil-vet directors, development officers, marketing, and career resource leaders, to grow both internal and external support for military-veteran students. The Advancement Awards provide seed funding for events and activities that increase the visibility of military students on campus while also bringing community leaders and supporters to campus.
BUILD CAREER PARTNERSHIPS
We provide resources to help military-connected students transition from campus to career. This includes an online job bank — Service Gradlign — that matches skills and education with job openings. Our Career Pathway programs focus on industry knowledge, career opportunities, networking, mentorship, and coaching. Advocates also recruit other military-connected students, enhancing the military-to-career pipeline.
REACH AND IMPACT
Our collaboration with colleges and universities enhances campus and career opportunities for our military-connected students,
enabling them to make a significant impact in both their workplaces and communities.
