Serving Those Who Serve - Krannert initiative aims to increase enrollment among military students

The School of Management has formed the Krannert Military Association to create an armed services-friendly environment and recruit new undergraduate, graduate, and domestic students to its residential and online degree programs. 

“Krannert currently lacks a strategy aimed at connecting military students with other university services and resources across campus,” says Don Roush, who is directing the association. “Our military students would like to see increased student connection, more professional development opportunities, the creation of a military community, and more engagement opportunities including networking and job preparation.”

The greatest numbers of military students studying at Krannert are online and hybrid students, a trend that will support greater enrollment. “We now have more opportunities to provide educational products for the military community than ever before,” Roush says. “We also increase our branding and desirability within the military as service members and veterans’ networks are drawn to our community.”

According to Roush, military students and veterans are well suited for higher education because their operational assignments complement their ability to learn. “The types of experiences they’ve had and the ethos for success they possess are the mainstay of why they are good students,” he says. “They demonstrate the attributes you want leaders to have.”

A primary goal of the Krannert Military Association is to help military personnel transition back to civilian life, which is often difficult because the military is limited in its resources to assist those who have served. Roush says their deployments to combat and overseas environments have given veterans experiences and opportunities that can’t be replicated elsewhere.

“Their ability to be decisive, endure difficult situations for long periods of time, think critically, and work in teams provides them with a unique skill set that will serve them well in the academic arena,” he says. “Military students seek leadership roles and take responsibility for their actions. They are committed, highly ethical, and set an example.”

In the 2020-21 academic year, Krannert had 62 military students enrolled in its programs — 15 at the undergraduate level and 47 at the graduate level. Over the course of the next year, the goal is to increase the number of military students at Krannert by 25 percent for a total of 77 students. The three-year goal is to increase enrollment by 40 percent, which will add 25 more students, while the five-year goal is a 64 percent increase that brings in another 40 students.

To that end, the Krannert Military Association is working with the school’s Marketing and Communications area to build its branding within the military and veteran community through targeted web page design, school promotion, messaging, and other avenues of communication.

“We’re also increasing our military student engagement opportunities with support from the Krannert Professional Development Center, including networking, social events and corporate presentations,” Roush says. “In addition, we’re working with Alumni Relations to grow our military service footprint among Krannert alumni, who will be the basis of a mentor program for current students.”

Roush, who formerly served as Krannert’s associate director of academic programs, brings his own unique experience to the initiative. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves for over 21 years, retiring in 2011 as a lieutenant colonel. He earned a master’s degree in higher education administration from Purdue in 2004 and served as chief of police in Lafayette for more than eight years.

“I want to use my background to help military and veteran students achieve their academic and professional goals and develop peer connections and relationships,” Roush says. “I look forward to building a vibrant military community that includes all current and former military students.”

Would you like to show your pride in our armed forces and support the Krannert Military Association? Click here to give.

Written by Eric Nelson