Preparing Your Campus for Veterans' Success - Practical Campus Guide

Our review of Preparing Your Campus for Veterans' Success finds it to be a practical, evidence-based resource for higher education professionals who work with military-connected students. Written as the outcome of a university partnership and a congressionally directed grant, the book's single biggest reason to buy is its integrated, program-focused approach that translates research and program development into usable strategies for faculty, student affairs staff, and administrators seeking improved transition and persistence outcomes for veterans.

Key Features

• Integrated approach: Explains how collaboration between teaching centers and disability services can produce coherent campus supports that benefit veterans across academic and student life units.
• Evidence-based orientation: Details a program developed under a FIPSE grant, giving readers confidence the recommendations are grounded in funded research and evaluation.
• Practical materials: Provides development resources and program elements that can be adapted by admissions, health services, and faculty development offices to support veteran students.
• Audience breadth: Written for a wide range of campus roles so that faculty, advisors, and administrators can find concrete ways to contribute to veteran persistence.
• Program case study: Describes the Fides program at the University of South Dakota as an example of how to structure campus-wide veteran supports.

Who It's For

This book is best for higher education professionals who are directly involved with veteran students: faculty who teach them, student affairs practitioners who advise them, disability services staff who coordinate accommodations, and administrators planning institutional supports. It is particularly useful for campus teams looking to design or refine a coordinated program rather than a single-office fix.

Those looking for a quick checklist or a brief pamphlet on veteran benefits may want a different resource; this book assumes readers will engage with program development and institutional coordination rather than one-off tips.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Offers a documented, fund-supported program model that can be adapted at other institutions.
• Addresses multiple campus constituencies so different offices can find relevant guidance.
• Includes practical materials and development ideas useful for workshops and training.

Cons

• Focused on program development and institutional planning, so readers seeking very brief quick-reference guidance may find it more detailed than needed.

Specifications

Title	Preparing Your Campus for Veterans' Success
Authors	Bruce Kelley, Ernetta Fox, Justin Smith
Intended audience	Faculty, student affairs, administration, admissions, health services, faculty development
Program described	Fides program at the University of South Dakota
Funding source	Congressional FIPSE grant
Primary focus	Transition and persistence of military students

Our Verdict

Preparing Your Campus for Veterans' Success is a solid, program-oriented guide for campuses ready to invest in coordinated veteran support. Campus leaders and cross-office teams will find real value in its evidence-based materials and case study, making it a worthwhile purchase for institutions aiming to improve veteran student persistence and institutional practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should read this book?
Faculty, student affairs staff, disability services, admissions officers, health services, and administrators involved with veteran student success.

Is the content research-based?
Yes; the book describes a program developed with support from a congressionally directed FIPSE grant and the partnership between teaching and disability services.

Will it help implement campus programs?
Yes; it offers practical materials and an example program model intended for adaptation by campus teams.