As the United States of America marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, communities across the country are reflecting on the people, ideals, and acts of service that have shaped our nation’s history. The semiquincentennial presents all Americans with an opportunity to look back on where we have been, recognize those who have strengthened our nation, and consider how our actions today might shape the future.
For the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA), that reflection spans more than a century of serving those who have served our country. Beginning with SU’s Student Army Training Corps during World War I, expanding through a landmark commitment to welcome returning veterans after World War II, and continuing through decades of military education, research, and veteran-focused programs, the university has continually adapted to meet the changing needs of the military-connected community.
OVMA was founded in 2015 as part of the next evolution in Syracuse University’s legacy of serving veterans. Building on generations of commitment, OVMA addresses the opportunities and challenges facing veterans, service members, and military families after service. The milestones below trace Syracuse’s shared history and continued commitment to those who serve.
A Legacy of Service
1917 – Present
Syracuse University has stood behind its service members for over a century.
The GI Bill: A Syracuse University Legacy
ⓘ Source: “Our Doors Opened Wide: Syracuse University and the GI Bill, 1945–1950” — Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries
“Because of the amount of support that the University provides, it really facilitated an easy transition from the active-duty military into an advanced education.”
Ryan Marquette ’22
Public Administration M.P.A and Law J.D., College of Law and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Why The Legacy Matters
Syracuse University’s commitment to those who serve predates World War I. This service is a tradition spanning more than a century that represents over 40% of the entire history of the United States as a nation. That is not a footnote; it is a foundation.
From training officers in 1917 before ROTC was even officially created, to the creation of the transformative GI Bill, and inside the classrooms that welcomed a generation of returning veterans, Syracuse has never stopped showing up for the military community. It is from these deep roots that the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs was born to continue supporting the military community.
