Columbia University Hosts Inaugural NYC Summit to Advance Support for Veteran and Military-Connected Students

NEW YORK, NY — Higher education leaders, government officials, veteran-service professionals, and student veteran representatives gathered at Columbia University on October 16, 2026, for the inaugural New York City Summit for Veteran and Military-Connected Student Support. Organized by the NYC Consortium for Veteran and Military-Connected Student Support and hosted by Columbia University’s Center for Veteran Transition and Integration (CVTI), the event brought together 82 students and administrators from 26 NYC-area colleges and universities to address pressing challenges that student veterans face and build a unified, regional framework of support.

Navigating higher education presents distinct hurdles for student veterans and military-connected students—including complex federal benefits, balancing Reserve or National Guard duties, and transitioning into civilian campus life. In a fast-paced, high-cost environment like New York City, these challenges are heightened. The summit aimed to transform isolated, campus-specific efforts into collaborative, citywide solutions spanning education benefits, student engagement, basic needs, and military-to-career transitions.

"Regional resources are distinct, and they are unique. What works in California, Texas, or Florida may not work here in New York City," said David Keefe, Director of Military and Veteran Community Engagement at CVTI and Chair of the NYC Consortium. "Veterans and military-connected students face real challenges in housing, cost, access, and more, and only New York City colleges and universities know how to face and address them here. We can face them together, not as competitors, but as a community of New Yorkers who deeply care about veteran and military-connected support in this city."

Key institutional and government leaders delivered addresses and participated in programming throughout the day, including U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Service Executive Director Kenneth Smith; Columbia University President Jennifer L. Mnookin; Columbia School of General Studies Dean Lisa Rosen-Metsch; NYC Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Yesenia Mata; NYS Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Viviana DeCohen; and Student Veterans of America President and CEO Cory Boatwright.

In her introductory remarks, Dean Rosen-Metsch emphasized the shared institutional responsibility of supporting veteran populations in higher education:

"All of us here understand that welcoming veterans into higher education carries a responsibility to help them thrive—and that fulfilling that responsibility requires attention and commitment across our institutions,” said Dean Rosen-Metsch. “At GS, we deeply value having a president who brings this perspective to Columbia. We are grateful for her support as we work with colleagues across New York City to strengthen opportunities for veterans and military-connected students."

President Mnookin highlighted Columbia’s eight-decade history of veteran enrollment through the School of General Studies—which currently educates more than 300 undergraduate veterans, contributing to a university-wide total of over 650 student veterans across all Columbia schools—and reaffirmed the university's pledge to regional leadership:

“Columbia’s commitment to student veterans has been sustained by leadership at every level from my office, well before me and our deans, as well as colleagues across student affairs,” said President Mnookin. "Even with all of that, I do think we need to do more. And today is part of that. It’s an opportunity for you to learn from one another, and to make New York City a collective leader in supporting student veterans."

She highlighted that true impact requires moving beyond individual institutional programs and toward citywide collaboration. "What has been missing over the years among so many who support this cause, is a concerted effort of sustained coordination, for schools, by schools. That is what the Consortium has built, and what this Summit is designed to accelerate.”

Throughout the morning and afternoon, participants engaged in targeted breakout sessions focused on improving cross-campus service delivery, supporting National Guard and Reserve students, sustaining student veteran organizations, and educating civilian faculty and staff on military culture.

By fostering continuous collaboration among regional institutions, the NYC Consortium and CVTI are laying the groundwork to establish New York City as a national model for student veteran support, proving that when higher education institutions share resources, they can solve complex challenges that a single campus cannot address alone.

"I’m proud that we get to be part of this work with you and that we recognize the importance of this work to higher education,” said President Mnookin. “It is central ... And we need to forcefully pledge to continue and grow our support for student veterans at our own institution and across the city." 

About the NYC Consortium for Veteran and Military-Connected Student Support

The NYC Consortium for Veteran and Military-Connected Student Support works to improve the lives of veteran and military-connected students by helping higher education institutions across the New York City metropolitan area share knowledge, best practices, physical space, and institutional resources.

About Columbia University’s Center for Veteran Transition and Integration (CVTI)

Columbia University’s Center for Veteran Transition and Integration (CVTI) improves the lives of veterans, transitioning service members, and their families by collaborating with institutions, organizations, municipalities, and practitioners to build integrative cultures of support in higher education and the workplace.

About Columbia University School of General Studies

The Columbia University School of General Studies (GS), founded in 1947, is the premier liberal arts college in the United States for nontraditional undergraduate students seeking a rigorous, traditional Ivy League education, including those who have served in the U.S. and foreign militaries. Currently, more than 300 veterans are enrolled at the School. GS students take the same courses, study with the same faculty, and earn the same degree as all other undergraduates at Columbia University