By Dr. Timothy E. Moore, Indian River State College President
When I took office as a college president, I made a promise鈥攏ot just to our institution, but to every veteran who has worn the uniform of our nation’s armed forces. That promise聽was simple: we would never treat our veterans as an afterthought.聽
As we approach Veterans Day, I’m reminded of my own journey through higher education as a veteran. Too often, veterans’ services were tucked away in forgotten corners of campus, under-resourced and undervalued. The message was clear: institutions wanted our tuition dollars but weren’t prepared to provide the support we had earned through our service.
This cannot be our legacy.
Today, our college serves more than 400 student veterans and military family members this fall semester alone鈥攎ore than 1,300 throughout the year. But numbers tell only part of the story. What matters most is how we serve them.
Our designation as both a Florida Collegiate Purple Star Campus and a Gold Status Military Friendly庐 School represents more than recognition鈥攊t’s an exclamation point affirming we’re doing it right. Yet I view these honors as waypoints, not destinations, on our journey to become the institution our veterans deserve.
The transition from military service to civilian life is profound. Our veterans leave an environment of structure, purpose, and camaraderie to navigate a world that often doesn’t understand what they’ve experienced. Many carry visible and invisible wounds from their service. They need more than just academic instruction鈥攖hey need community, understanding, and support from people who recognize when they’re struggling and know how to help.
This is why we established a Military and Veterans Services department housed at our Veterans Center of Excellence, where veterans can access all available services. It’s not hidden away or difficult to find. It stands as a visible commitment to placing veterans front and center in everything we do. From initial application through graduation, our Military and Veterans Services team provides comprehensive support鈥攁dmissions assistance, VA benefits certification, academic advising, and emergency financial support. As our Veterans Coordinator and fellow Army veteran puts it: “We take the worrying out of the process because these students have already sacrificed enough.”
The results speak for themselves. More than 250 of our veteran students maintain GPAs of 3.5 or higher. They’re not just attending鈥攖hey’re excelling and contributing meaningfully to our campus community. Our recent 99.99% compliance rating from the VA reflects our commitment to properly administering the benefits these students have earned.
But academic excellence is only part of our mission. We’re also cultivating something equally important: a culture of respect and gratitude. I watch our students daily鈥攚hen they discover a classmate has served, they thank them immediately, understanding that person has done something beyond self. This is the atmosphere we must nurture: one where the next generation appreciates the sacrifice of those who came before.
The freedoms we enjoy as Americans are paid for daily by our veteran population. These men and women sacrificed their freedom, time with family, holidays and weekends to serve a higher cause. They were willing to give everything for our nation. The question we must ask ourselves is simple: What are we willing to give them in return?
Education is the great equalizer in America. It’s the pathway to high-paying civilian careers, stability for families, to contributions that strengthen our communities and nation. When we support veterans through higher education, we’re not just keeping a promise鈥攚e’re investing in leaders who have already proven their commitment to something greater than themselves.
This Veterans Day, I challenge every higher education institution to examine their commitment to military-connected students. Are your veterans’ services prominent or hidden? Adequately resourced or struggling? Do your faculty and staff understand the unique challenges veterans face? Does your campus culture honor their sacrifices?
At our institution, we’re committed to continuing to grow our veteran population, expanding our support services, and ensuring every veteran who walks through our doors transitions to a successful civilian career. This isn’t charity鈥攊t’s our sacred duty.
To our veterans: you served us. Now let us serve you. Your transition from uniform to civilian life should be smooth, respectful, and supported every step of the way. You’ve earned it.
To our fellow educators: veterans aren’t just students seeking degrees鈥攖hey’re proven leaders with invaluable experience. They will elevate our institutions if we give them the support they deserve.
And to all Americans this Veterans Day: gratitude without action is hollow. Let us honor our veterans not just with words, but with the comprehensive support systems that transform their sacrifice into lifelong success.
That’s the promise we keep at our institution. That’s the standard we must set for the nation.
Dr. Timothy E. Moore is President of Indian River State College and a United States Army veteran.
