A Vassar Tradition

Vassar has had a long history of supporting our nation’s service members, beginning in 1946 when the College welcomed World War II veterans. From 1946 to 1953, about 170 veterans enrolled at the College.

Fast forward to 2012, when Vassar became the first higher education institution in the U.S. to partner with The Posse Foundation—a nonprofit that pairs people with strong leadership qualities to their ideal colleges—to recruit veterans for enrollment.

In 2022, the Vassar Veterans Initiative, or VassarVets, replaced the College’s relationship with The Posse Foundation and expanded Vassar’s outreach to service members and veterans in every branch of the military. Through VassarVets, the College supports veteran students’ success at the College starting with assistance navigating the admission process and offering specialized advising and opportunities to build community on campus.

Strengthening VassarVets

From application to graduation, the VassarVets program is committed to ensuring our nation’s service members receive a world-class liberal arts education with attention to their unique expectations and needs. While the program is young, it has room to further develop and excel with the hope of helping more veterans reach their post-service goals.

As of August 2024, Vassar has 22 student veterans—representing the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

The VassarVets Initiative needs donor support to attract additional students and expand programming and assistance for current military-connected students.

Fostering a Smooth Transition

Through personalized advisement, tailored support, and maintaining the Veterans Center as a safe haven for learning and collaboration, the VassarVets Initiative is dedicated to creating a unique and supportive experience for every student veteran transitioning from military service to college life. However, with the generous support of donors, the program can further expand its reach and better meet the diverse needs of our veteran students.

Supporting Veterans

The College’s commitment to veterans begins during the application process. As a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program, Vassar will match funding with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to cover the difference in costs between the College’s tuition and fees and those of the highest public in-state institution. The College also waives all application costs and guarantees an admission interview.

Director of Veteran Students Outreach and Support Colleen Mallet meets with each veteran individually to advise them through their integration into the campus community and discuss any challenges they may be facing, whether they be academic, social, financial, or other matters.

Once on campus, students have access to the Veterans Center where they can study or relax in a calm and comfortable space filled with reference materials, a lending library of Vassar textbooks, and leisure activities, including a pool table and flat-screen TV. Their dedicated lounge provides printer paper, toner, paper products, cleaning supplies, and other basic school supplies. The space is also stocked with snacks and drinks.

VassarVets partners with multiple non-profit organizations, including Service to School (S2S)—an organization providing free college application counseling, peer-to-peer guidance, and networking support of all U.S. military service members and veterans at no cost to the applicant with a goal of empowering each and every veteran to find the college that best fits their needs.

—Ann Wilthew ʼ25, United States Air Force veteran

Mallet and a group of student veterans attend the Service to School Summit annually, giving them opportunities to teach and learn from others through discussion panels and presentations. While S2S often sponsors two students to attend, funds from VassarVets are used for airfare and hotel accommodations for any other attendees.

Housing for Veterans and Their Families

Funding for student veteran housing at Vassar is essential due to the unique needs of this group. Although Vassar provides single-room on-campus housing, veterans—who range from their early 20s to their early 40s—often find their living expectations and needs are different at this stage of their lives and would prefer off-campus lodging.

Veterans with families face even greater difficulties, as Vassar does not offer on-campus family housing. They must find affordable rentals in the community, where options are limited. Additionally, veterans’ housing allowances only cover the seven months of school and do not cover summer and winter breaks, adding to the financial strain.

As Mallet notes, prospective veteran students frequently ask about family and off-campus housing, only to learn that it is unavailable, unlike at several peer institutions. Increased funding is needed to address these housing challenges and better support our student veterans.

Fueling Success for VassarVets

Gifts to the VassarVets Initiative will help this vitally important program grow and flourish. With additional funds, the College can expand the program and provide the necessary resources to give veterans the means to succeed at Vassar.

For further information about supporting VassarVets, contact contact Gregg McCarty at gmccarty@vassar.edu or (914) 227-8985.