Constructing Ecosystems of Support for Student Veterans: CVTI and SVA Collaboration

Our favorite thing at CVTI is working with inspiring partners to construct more robust cultures of support for student veterans and military-affiliated students.

In the Fall of 2025, we were able to do just that. Under a partnership with Student Veterans of America (SVA), we launched a multi-phase initiative to support SVA Chapter Advisors across the country in developing their campus support networks. The initiative was built on three pillars — reflection, collaboration, and action — with the long-term goal of empowering advisors to lead sustainable, campus-level change.

Phase 1: Virtual Pre-Summit Session

Before SVA’s Indianapolis Regional Summit, CVTI hosted a virtual pre-summit session for chapter advisors.

During this session, advisors were introduced to CVTI’s Flash Diagnostic, a practical tool that helps stakeholders map existing support systems for military-connected students and pinpoint areas for growth. Advisors were encouraged to bring the tool back to their campuses to test and reflect on it before attending the in-person summit.

"The Flash Diagnostic allows institutions to see both the strengths they have and potential areas for increasing student veteran support, all in one clear view."

— Dave Keefe, CVTI's Director of Community Engagement

Phase 2: In-Person Summit Collaboration

Chapter advisors convened at the SVA Indianapolis Regional Summit to continue the conversation. SVA leadership led a conversation that enabled these chapter advisors to discuss what they learned from the Flash Diagnostic and share perspectives more deeply.

This peer-to-peer sharing allowed participants to move beyond assessment and into the kind of collaborative problem-solving that fuels change.

Phase 3: Ongoing Reflection and Action 

Later that Fall, CVTI and SVA gathered virtually once again for a check-in meeting. Advisors shared their progress, exchanged lessons learned, and identified actionable priorities to focus on.

The intention was not to measure progress, but to sustain a learning community where advisors learn from one another in developing intentional support systems for military-connected students.

We’re proud to support this kind of listening-based, transformative work and we're inspired by the leadership of advisors showing up for military-connected students every step of the way.

Oh... and we've never met a chance to collaborate with SVA that we didn't like!