Programs

Service to School (S2S) is a non-profit organization devoted to providing free application assistance to active duty service members and veterans to ensure that they gain admission to top-tier universities after their time in the military. S2S established VetLink in June 2015 to identify qualified U.S. military veterans, to introduce them to partner colleges, and to mentor them throughout their college search and admissions process. The University of Notre Dame launched a collegiate partnership with S2S VetLink in August 2017. For more information on Service to School VetLink and the University of Notre Dame Undergraduate Admissions, please visit their respective websites here and here. 

For many military veterans, despite the challenging experiences they have faced while enlisted, stepping foot into an academic environment can nonetheless be intimidating because of the foundational academic skills required to be successful in college. The Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP) was established as an introduction to the demands of college life, offering a free, immersive academic boot camp for current and former military service members who wish to pursue higher education. As a WSP partner university, Notre Dame welcomes 30 active or veteran military members for two-weeks each summer to help prepare them for enrollment at colleges and universities around the country. 

The Host Family Program is designed to help establish a support system for military-connected students at the University of Notre Dame. We want to provide a warm, comfortable, and welcoming environment for student veterans, ROTC, military service members, and their families as well as to establish strong mutually beneficial relationships between students and members of the South Bend community.

All military-connected students enrolled at the University of Notre Dame or families living within the South Bend region are invited to register here.

To learn more, please review the OMVA Military-Connected Student Host Family Program Guidelines.

Organized by the Notre Dame Vets Club, the ND Mendoza College of Business Vets Preview Weekend takes place during a football weekend (Thursday through Sunday) each fall. Military enlistees or veterans who have earned a bachelor’s degree and are interested in business school are invited to this free event. The weekend features veteran alumni speakers, class visits, a presentation on financial aid and the GI Bill, a career services overview, a campus tour, a Notre Dame football game, and Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. 

Student veterans represent a growing population on campus and are diverse in terms of demographic characteristics and service backgrounds. These students add great value because they bring global experiences, leadership skills, discipline, and focus to the classroom.  However, most veterans are entering college for the first time or returning after many years away. The purpose of this workshop is to educate faculty, staff, and students about the unique strengths and challenges facing student veterans and military service members.

Fostering an academic ecosystem that can sustain and accelerate the growth of the University’s military-connected community requires strong degree programs along with research excellence in fields such as military affairs, national security, and global affairs. That is why the Office of Military & Veterans Affairs seeks to promote teaching and research in these critical areas specifically as well as support the priorities of the deans of the various colleges and schools more generally.

Each season, Notre Dame Athletics designates certain sporting events as military appreciation games. During these games there is special programming that focuses on the rich relationship between the University and the military services and highlights the achievements of alumni in the military. Tickets to Notre Dame sporting events are available through the Murnane Family Ticket Office, but you may also wish to visit the Veteran Ticket Foundation (Vet Tix) website. Vet Tix is a nonprofit organization that provides tickets to various events and activities to currently serving military, veterans, and their families.

The unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans has typically outpaced that of the general workforce. These professional development events allow us to leverage relationships with industry partners to ensure our military-connected students are prepared and confident when they graduate. Participants have the chance to learn about military-friendly employers, explore career opportunities, and discuss the challenges of transition and being a veteran in the general workforce. 

The University annually hosts a military and veteran immersion experience for faculty, staff, and students. Through a series of fun-filled yet challenging activities, the event helps foster a culture of trust and support for our military-connected students while educating the campus community about the Office of Military & Veterans Affairs.