Colorado State University has been named one of the best colleges for veterans in the “Best for Vets” rankings by the Military Times.

CSU placed 16th out of 325 academic institutions across the country in the annual rankings and No. 1 in the central region, which includes Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Known as the largest and most comprehensive ranking of schools for military service members and veterans, the Best for Vets list touted CSU’s reputation as one of the nation’s top public research universities. The ranking also highlighted CSU’s sustainability efforts, noting that the university has earned four consecutive Platinum Sustainability ratings.

ALVS plays key role

CSU’s commitment to veterans runs deep. Adult Learner and Veteran Services — which offers academic and social support to nontraditional students such as parents, adults, caregivers and veterans — is central to this commitment.

“I believe one of the things that earned us the ranking is our commitment to being a leader in the work we do,” said Ben Schrader, director of Adult Learner and Veteran Services at CSU.

Military Times bases its rankings on survey responses sent to all two- and four-year schools and on feedback from student veterans. Institutions are evaluated in a variety of categories, including university culture, student support, academic policies, academic outcomes/quality, cost and financial aid.

CSU has become a leader in its model of serving not only veterans, but also integrating them into a diverse community of other types of adult learners and campus resources. Its leaders call it a “value add” model.

“So many look at veteran services as a deficit model, for instance addressing post-traumatic stress disorder or disabilities. We flip it on its head,” Schrader said. “This population brings in leadership skills, time management skills and life experience. We focus on what they are bringing in and providing for our university, while offering resources and support. People look to us as the cutting-edge model.”

Expanded, renovated space

Part of that model is a space that welcomes all types of adult learners. ALVS recently completed the renovation of its new offices at the Lory Student Center. The expansion, bringing the total space to more than 8,000 square feet, supports increased interaction and collaboration among students and peer advisors and allows ALVS staff to conduct more workshops and trainings in their own space.

“This whole space sets us apart from other campuses, now having an 8,000-square-foot facility,” Schrader said. “We had 2,000 check-ins last year, in a temporary small space. And this year, in just the last two and a half months, we have had 2,700.”

Former Director Marc Barker and Assistant Director Lisa Chandler have given presentations on this model across the country. They recognize that services for veterans on campus have to adapt and continue to work to be more inclusive. CSU continues to rank high on the Best for Vets list in part by bringing together both adult learners and student veterans in the same space, to prevent feelings of isolation on campus.

“We bring in a lot of campus partners,” Chandler said. “We don’t want veterans to think they can only interface with the veterans office. We bring in a career center liaison, WGAC advocates, case workers, student health center representatives and mental health resources. We maximize the whole campus.”

Barker, who has been deeply involved with veterans at CSU for many years and served as ALVS director from 2017-21, explained that ALVS uses an innovative values-based model approach to helping veterans. He noted that the university encourages veterans to also get involved outside of ALVS in key communities and campus partners.

“We understand what it takes to be in the military and decided to tap into the value they bring: their leadership, world view, world travel,” he said. “That’s what we chose to highlight. When we launched it, we saw the success skyrocket. Student veterans were one of the highest achieving cohorts.”

Changing population

“The population is always changing; more veterans are coming in with less combat experience, and from a younger generation,” she added. “We work to build in knowledge around our population to work together with our campus partners and community partners.”

One student veteran says the services have changed his whole perspective on higher education and steered him to his current course of study. Kevin Melchior enrolled in a Colorado university after high school, but felt he had no direction and lacked academic support. He dropped out of college to enlist in the Navy and served as a nuclear machinist mate for eight and a half years.

“I enrolled at CSU with a plan to get a degree in mechanical engineering,” said Melchior, “but with the encouragement of my peers in ALVS, I chose to pursue my passions. I took a poli sci course, and now I’m double majoring in political science and sociology.”

Melchior says it is not just veterans he met at an event put on by ALVS, but also an overall warm and welcoming community among all the adult learners and staff there.

“Coming back to school at 30, I wouldn’t have known about all the resources on campus like the Health Network and mental health support, without the center,” said Melchior. “It’s not just a veteran-focused model, but student parents and other adult learners also. When I got out of the Navy, it’s something I am proud of, but I didn’t want it to be the defining part of my identity.”

Supportive community

The center encouraged Melchior to use his mentoring skills honed in the Navy and helped him get connected with ASCSU, where he is now a senator representing the ALVS.

“The biggest thing is you don’t have to do this alone,” he said. “A lot of students come with a mindset of, ‘I’m older, I won’t find a community.’ There is such a supportive community here at CSU. You can find ways to be involved here and in the greater community. The ALVS office is a great home base for that.”

In addition to support and engagement through ALVS, CSU works on defense engagement and research through the Office of Defense Engagement. The university also supports resource conservation and military readiness through the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands, based in the Warner College of Natural Resources.

“CSU’s unwavering commitment to the success of student veterans and the university’s dedicated support exemplifies a profound understanding of the unique challenges faced by those who have served our country,” said Mitchell Gilchrist, president of Student Veterans of America at CSU and an electrical engineering student veteran. “With deep appreciation, we acknowledge CSU’s tireless efforts in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment and empowering our veterans to thrive academically and personally as they transition to civilian life with confidence and purpose.”

Additionally, research and support for injured veterans and their families is available through the New Start for Veterans Program in the Center for Community Partnerships in the College of Health and Human Sciences, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs works on campus with student veterans to provide health care and benefit support.