North Columbus News

Ohio's public universities are focusing on how to best serve veteran and military-connected students. This was the focus of the Inter-University Council's second Military Connected Student Symposium held at the Ohio Statehouse. The event brought together lawmakers, experts, and higher education leaders to discuss strategies for supporting these students and their families.

"Let’s engage, share ideas and work together to ensure that Ohio remains the best place in the nation for veterans and military-connected students to succeed," said Laura Lanese, IUC president & CEO.

Ohio State University President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr., who served as a vice admiral in the U.S. Navy for 38 years, emphasized his commitment to making Ohio State a leading institution for military-connected students. "Even if this wasn’t something that was close to my heart, I’d still be advocating for us as higher education leaders in Ohio to make our military leaders a priority," he stated. He noted the significant contribution these students make due to their service orientation, leadership skills, character, and work ethic.

Ohio State is home to over 2,300 military-connected students, including more than 500 veteran students. Senior Vice President for Student Life Melissa Shivers joined a panel discussion with State Rep. Andrea White and Kevin Cullen from Ohio State’s Military and Veteran Services department. They highlighted the unique needs of military students compared to traditional college-aged peers. "We spend a lot of time sitting down with our military students wanting to understand what are the issues that they are facing," Shivers remarked.

The symposium also included an award ceremony led by Mike Duffey, chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education. It recognized colleges and universities in Ohio that support military-connected students. State Rep. Andrea White received the Legislator of the Year Award while State Rep. Brian Stewart was honored as the Ohio Military Connected Alumnus of the Year.