2 lists; [student veterans] are walking away with the top marks in all of their courses. Far from being an educational problem, the veteran has become an asset to higher education.” Even the President of Harvard eventually stated, “for seriousness, perceptiveness, steadiness, and all other undergraduate virtues," the student veterans of World War II were ‘the best in Harvard's history.’” This was just the beginning of a long, continuing legacy of exceeding expectations. Throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, veterans continued to transition to campus following their military service, albeit in smaller numbers. The revised Montgomery G.I. Bill was offered as a recruitment incentive for the allvolunteer force. Some of the local student veteran groups that formed on campuses after conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, like those at Northern Illinois University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, still exist today. Following the attacks of September 11th, 2001, the United States declared the global war on terror and a new generation of Americans was called to arms during a time of war. As veterans of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) returned home to pursue their education using GI Bill benefits, they found that their campuses did not provide adequate support services to assist student veterans as they worked towards their educational goals. As adult learners, many of these student veterans found campus turned to each other through on campus student veteran organizations and clubs to find solutions to the challenges they encountered. The advent of social media made it possible for these initial leaders to assemble on their own campuses and across the country for the first time. They began to share best practices and success stories, providing support to one another to strengthen their community. Members from 20 independent student veteran organizations formalized this grassroots movement and Student Veterans of America was officially born on January 23, 2008 following our first National Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Concurrently in 2008, SVA and a number of Veteran Service Organizations were tirelessly advocating for an overhaul of the Montgomery G.I. Bill to address the needs of 21st Century student veterans. Six months after SVA’s founding, President George W. Bush the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill into law. Since then, our mission has remained focused on providing programs, resources, and advocacy to the ever-evolving network of local student veteran organizations that we call SVA Chapters. One common thread throughout this mission is inclusivity. While military status often plays a pivotal role in a student’s experiences, it is not an exclusive identity. As veterans transition back to civilian life, their identity tends to shift to that of a student first and foremost, along with the wide variety of individual experiences very student brings to the classroom. SVA has consistently sought to expand its role in national and global conversations impacting first-generation students, minority students, adult learners, non-traditional students, students with disabilities, and many other identity groups. We strive to be one of the most inclusive student organizations in the world. In the years since the founding, SVA has grown its membership from our 20 Founding Chapters in 2008 supported by a small volunteer staff to over 1,500 Chapters representing over three-quarters of a million student veterans in 2020 with a National Board of Directors, Executive Team, and full-time staff. The primary functions of your National Headquarters include our departments focused on supporting you as a Chapter Leader, including Programs & Services, Research, Government Affairs, Communications & Marketing, and Development. Today, SVA is the premier organization for veterans in higher education, inspiring tomorrow’s leaders to achieve their greatest potential.
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