March 28, 2024
K-State joins National Council on Military Transition to Education, pledges commitment to enhance higher education experience for service members and veterans
Submitted by Office of Military and Veterans Affairs
This month, Kansas State University accepted an invitation to join the National Council on Military Transition to Education, or CMTE. The CMTE is a consortium composed of select institutions of higher learning with a mission to provide recommendations to the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regarding policies and practices related to military service members and veterans in higher education.
The primary focus of the CMTE is to enhance the early engagement of service members participating in postsecondary education. The council also strives to facilitate research aimed at improving their experiences during the transition to and through higher education, whether serving in the military or as veterans.
"Transitioning from the military to civilian life is a daunting life event for our service members, and even more so when facing the challenges of entering academia," said Art DeGroat, executive director of K-State's Office of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Both distinguished Army veterans, DeGroat and Dustin Meritt, professor and chair of the College of Education Military Initiatives, have been appointed to represent K-State for this significant project.
"Joining this council highlights our outreach with the military-connected community and affiliates us at a high level with likeminded institutions," Meritt said. "We look forward to this opportunity and stand ready to share and grow alongside our university in the field of veteran transition to education."
As members of the council, K-State aims to leverage this platform to become an influential voice, contributing insights into successful practices and strategies to overcome challenges encountered by service members seeking higher education opportunities within Kansas institutions.