SDSU Military and Veterans Program - Impact Summary FY2021-22

Fiscal Year 2021-2022

Military and Veterans Program Impact Report

Military and Veterans Program (MVP)

ACADEMIC YEAR (AY) 2021-22 POINTS OF PRIDE Message from Faculty

Our military-connected students’ characteristics exemplify tenacity, resilience, and commitment to their education. Many of our students encounter adversity during their educational journey. Despite these barriers, they show up on campus and continue to invest in their education and future.

SDSU

Thank you for your generosity toward the Military and Veterans Program. Staff and students are thrilled to have your support. Because of your gift, we have been able to continue to serve those who have served and their families by providing them with educational support and resources that enable them to thrive in higher education. At MVP, we are dedicated to continuing working towards serving a diverse militaryconnected community, both on and off-campus, through expansive support services designed to foster student success, reduce barriers, and support inclusive ventures within the SDSU population, across the region, and at the national level. You truly make the difference for our militaryconnected population, and we are extremely grateful!

Elisa East Interim Director SDSU Military and Veterans Program Division of Student Affairs & Campus Diversity San Diego State University

Student Affairs +

Campus Diversity

LARGEST MILITARY POPULATION OF ANY CSU San Diego State University has the largest resident military population of any CSU campus STUDENTS IMPACTED BY MVP PROGRAMS 4,500 Military-connected students are provided support each year through the Military and Veterans Program.

4,500

646

TOTAL VETERAN GRADUATES Graduated 646 veterans from Spring 2020 through Fall 2021, AKA “COVID years.”

Student Demographics

Military-connected students make up 12% of SDSU's student population Female veterans make up 22% of the veteran population 32% of our military-connected population are considered adult learners (25 or older) 63% of veterans are considered adult learners 46% of our adult learners are using a federal VA benefit MVP processed over 4,024 federal and state benefits (SU numbers not calculated) 85% of all military-connected students are full-time students (Veterans 79%, Dependents - 88%) 70% of new students were commuters 73% percent of veteran-students are transfers 34% percent of all military-connected students are underrepresented (Veterans - 39%, Dependents - 33%) Average GPA

Veteran: 3.29 Military Dependents: 3.27 Campus Overall: 3.35

Military-Connected by College

College of Arts & letters: 14% Fowler College of Business: 17% College of Education: 5% College of Engineering: 12% College of Health & Human Services: 13% College of Sciences: 18% Undergraduate Studies: 5% College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts: 16%

Impact on Military-Affiliated Student Success

Higher Education Outreach

Quality higher education outreach efforts allow for military-connected individuals to make informed decisions about their academics.

Academic Success

Proactively engage with our students’ success through on-campus and virtual modalities to ensure they are supported and provided with top-tier services.

Professional Development

Provide strategic and practical support to students in order to prepare them for productive, fulfilling careers.

Community Engagement

Establish new and maintain existing unique and innovative relationships with federal and state agencies, local military installations, civic offices, and non-profit organizations across SDSU and other entities to further foster the enhancement of our core mission, advance military scholarship, and further increase awareness of our military culture and lived experiences. MVP invests in efforts that reinforce unity and inclusion by countering deficit narratives and mitigating barriers that impede the success of our service members, veterans, and their families.

Research

In alignment with SDSU’s HSI research institution aspirations, MVP embraces opportunities to present our military-connected students and colleagues with the latest development across the spectrum of research. We support efforts to establish and expand robust, engaging, and creative research endeavors that enhance the students' experience, foster scholarly growth, and support multiple stakeholder interests, directly impacting the military and veteran community.

Philanthropy

Making Military to Civilian Life Easier The Land of the Free Foundation has supported MVP through a wide range of programs and services that aided the transition from military to civilian life and created the foundation for productive, fulfilling, and sustainable lives. The foundation also supported educational access and assisted with vital programming for combat wounded, critically ill, and catastrophically injured service members and their families during hospitalization and recovery.

Impact on Military-Affiliated Student Success

Philanthropy

Supporting the Women Veterans Success Program The Leanne Babcock Women Veterans Success Endowed Scholarship will provide scholarship support to a veteran, active duty, National Guard, Reserve, or ROTC student who is pursuing a degree or credential at SDSU and is involved in the Women Veterans Success Program and SDSU’s Student Veteran Organization in the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity. Major Leanne Babcock is an SDSU alumna ('08), United States Air Force Officer, and founding president of the SDSU Veteran Alumni Organization.

I am proud to be a Special Admissions Program scholar. With the help of the Leadership Scholarship Program through Marine Corps Headquarters, I was assisted in finding the right school and program for my higher education endeavors. The atmosphere at the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center has helped my academic journey by providing accommodations such as the Bunker and conference room to study at, as well as a diverse community of fellow veterans.

Hunter Kaucher, Junior, Kinesiology Major; Marine Corps Infantry Veteran

Naomi Gonzalez, Junior, Communication Major; Army Veteran

My occupation of being a soldier had changed to student in two short months. I left the military in June 2021 and started my first semester of college in August 2021. After serving five years in the military, San Diego State University was my introduction back to civilian life. Everything was very different to me; there were no rules I had to live by or structure to follow. Everyone around me seemed free to do what they wanted, but I was struggling to adapt to this same mindset while transitioning out of the military. I didn't know anyone in San Diego, let alone SDSU, so I felt alone and like I didn't belong, and I even had thoughts of going back to the military.

It wasn't until I began to involve myself with the Veterans Center that I began to feel a place of belonging and found my footing in my new civilian life. I was surrounded by other veterans who either shared similar feelings with me or were able to help me normalize my own. It's been a place of familiarity and a safe space for me. Everyone is welcoming and helpful here, which I appreciated a lot through my transition.

As a transfer student from SD Miramar College, I felt lost navigating all the resources available at SDSU. Working at the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center as a student, I was able to learn and understand the resources available, and now I am able to assist other students to navigate the resources available to them. Having access to the resources such as computers and printing capabilities has eased some of the stress of my student experience.

Louis Trevino, Junior, Business Management; Navy Veteran

Impact on Military-Affiliated Student Success

As a military-connected student, I enjoy coming into a space where people speak the same language when it comes to VA education benefits and experience. I also appreciate the ability to work at the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center because of the benefits afforded to me due to my Navy retired father’s service. I have been working at JABVC for 2.5 years and was able to provide support to other students during COVID as a VA workstudy student.

Elise Gary Health Management and Policy, MPH Graduate student; Navy Dependent Through the Special Admissions Program, I had the opportunity to start my education at a 4-year university. I chose SDSU because of its history and experience with assisting veterans pursuing higher education. Through the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center, I was able to connect with fellow veteran-students, which gave me comfort in knowing that I didn't have to experience this unique experience alone.

Raymond Gorospe, Senior Interdisciplinary Studies/ Journalism, Communications and Writing; Navy Veteran

Philanthropy

Impacting Militaryaffiliated Students

Gifts to the Jack McGrory Veterans Program Fund are supporting the ongoing programming of the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center. These gifts have expanded the capacity to create and/or enhance program development, sustain student support services, staff professional development, office supplies and equipment, and other essential needs of the dayto-day operations. Additionally, the Jack McGrory Scholarship for Veterans provides annual student scholarship support for United States veterans. Jack McGrory is an SDSU Alumnus (‘76), veteran, and staunch SDSU supporter.

Thank you for your generous support.

For questions regarding this report please contact DonorRelations@SDSU.edu or call (619) 594-2448.

Donor Relations University Relations and Development San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182-8030 SDSU.edu