Lipscomb University awarded state grant to host 2025 Veteran Reconnect Conference
Conference focuses on enhancing military-connected student support, programming at colleges and universities across Tennessee
Kim Chaudoin |
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) recently awarded Lipscomb University a $100,000 grant to host the TN VET Reconnect Conference: A Decade of Growth on May 13-14, 2025. This two-day event will gather academic leaders, faculty, staff and military-connected student leaders from higher education institutions across Tennessee to collaborate on best practices for supporting military-connected students and explore future opportunities for growth in veteran services.
Sam Lynn
“Supporting military-connected students is not just a responsibility but an honor,” said Sam Lynn, director of Lipscomb University’s Office of Veteran Services. “This conference is a unique opportunity for leaders in higher education across Tennessee to share knowledge, tools and resources that will enable all of us to provide even better support to those who have served our country.”
The TN VET Reconnect Conference marks ten years since the passage of the Veterans Education Transition Support (VETS) Act by the Tennessee General Assembly. The VETS Act provides veterans with statewide support as they transition from military service to higher education. Tennessee is home to an estimated 140,000 veterans with no college credit and an additional 144,000 veterans with some college credit or an associate degree. However, only 9,500 veterans are currently enrolled in Tennessee's higher education institutions. The VETS Act ensures that veterans using educational benefits receive in-state tuition and a supportive learning environment.
“We are honored to be chosen as the host for this pivotal conference, which will bring together leaders from across Tennessee to create a brighter future for military-connected students,” said Lipscomb President Candice McQueen. “Lipscomb University is dedicated to fostering an environment where our veterans and their families can thrive, and we look forward to the conversations and collaborations that will take place at this year’s event.”
Lipscomb University’s Office of Veteran Services has a long-standing commitment to serving military-connected students. Established in 2009, the office has grown from 19 students to supporting 149 student veterans and 249 dependents enrolled in the fall 2024 semester. Over the last 15 years, it has provided services to 966 veterans and 713 dependents, helping them achieve their academic and professional goals.
The theme of the conference, A Decade of Growth, will center on a retrospective assessment of the success and lessons learned over the last ten years of Veteran Reconnect programming. Breakout sessions will be tailored for higher education institution administrators, faculty, staff, and military-connected student leaders. Sessions will focus on key topics such as:
- Green Zone Training: Providing insights into the challenges faced by student veterans and highlighting available resources.
- Veteran Education Policy Updates: Information on veterans' education policies, financial aid challenges and veterans' education certifying official training.
- Roundtable Discussions & Keynote Speakers: Engaging opportunities to share ideas on shaping future programming and support systems for military-connected students.
A highlight of the conference is the Operation Song Workshop, a unique program that empowers veterans, active-duty military members, and their families to tell their stories through the creative process of songwriting. Eight military-connected students from across Tennessee will be selected to participate, creating an emotional and artistic experience that will run concurrently with other conference sessions. Each songwriter will perform the song that was written during the day at the conclusion of the first day of the conference.
Breakout session topics may include:
- For faculty and administrators: “How Conflict Can Inform Your Approach to Military-Connected Students,” “Understanding the Identity of a Military-Connected Student,” and “Military-Connected Student Outreah Perspectives”
- Staff: “Importance of Interdepartmental Collaboration,” “Conflict as a Resource,” “Cross-Country Collaboration,” “Working Genius Assessment: Leveraging Strengths for Productivity and Fulfillment,” and “Veteran Reconnect Research on Student Veterans Academic Success”
- Military-Connected Students and Student Leaders: “Why Start a Student Veterans of America Chapter,” “The 3 Parts to the Department of Veterans Affairs,” and “Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Health.”
Conference registration will be free for employees of Tennessee’s higher education institutions and military-connected student leaders. Registration details will be available in January 2025.
Questions? veteranservices [at] lipscomb.edu (Email) the Office of Veteran Services at Lipscomb University.
Learn more about the conference.