A variety of resources is provided here to help allies learn more about military and veteran students. We'll do our best to keep this page updated, and if you're aware of a good resource we're missing, please contact us and let us know!
Important References for Allies
- NDSU Policy 146 on Military Leave for Students
- NDSU Policy 333 (Class attendance policy; includes excused absences for military duty)
- Optional instructor notification assistance for absences due to unexpected military duty from the NDSU Dean of Students office
- A "Dos and Don'ts" Guide for engaging with student veterans (from Kognito.com)
- Undergraduate Military Learners: Exploring Differences Between Military Learners' Experiences in Higher Education (2023) from the American Council on Education.
- Priority/Early Registration for veteran/military students: Contact the Military & Veterans Certification office, (701) 231-7985, or ndsu.veterans@ndsu.edu
Role-based Training from the PsychArmor Institute
The PsychArmor Institute offers concise, free, role-based online training modules to empower civilians unfamiliar with military culture and processes to engage effectively with the military veterans they serve. Each module is presented by a subject matter expert in their field, and is very professionally done.
If you're a civilian educator, healthcare provider, employer, or family member of a veteran, these short (15 - 30 min), informative presentations can teach you some of the key concepts about military life and veteran experience to help you in your engagement with veterans.
We recommend starting with the introductory course "The 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know", and see where your interests take you next!
Signing up for an account is optional, but free, and will allow you to track your progress as you complete modules based on your role, or just take à la carte courses in which you're interested from their course library.
NASPA Symposium on Military-Connected Students Presentations
Each year, NASPA, the national professional association for Student Affairs professionals, hosts a Symposium on Military-Connected Students (SMCS). This symposium is focused on developing and sharing research-based best practices for supporting military veteran students in higher education.
Presentations from the 2024 SMCS
Presentations from the 2023 SMCS
Presentations from the 2022 SMCS
VITAL Program Webinars
The US Department of Veterans Affairs VITAL Office (Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership) had been conducting two free webinars per semester designed to educate college faculty and campus staff on issues relating to student veterans. These events have not yet resumed following COVID.
Recordings of past webinars will be posted here when we're able to get them, along with any materials or handouts from each session.
- November 2020: "Moral Injury Among Veterans". Moral injury is the psychological distress a military veteran (or anyone!) may be struggling with after actively participating in (or failing to intervene to prevent) actions that conflict with their moral or religious beliefs. Outcomes of this webinar include defining the psycho-social challenges associated with moral injury, and exploring evidence-based approaches to mitigating its effects among student veterans.
- Presenter: Dr. Jason Nieuwsma, clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Nieuwsma also serves as the Associate Director for VA Mental Health and Chaplaincy, and is a respected expert on addressing moral injury in clinical practice. Click here for the recording and here to download the presentation slides