While the U.S. still finds itself tangled in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, colleges and universities are expecting an influx of veterans and they are preparing to welcome them onto their campuses.
Kirk Carapezza reports at our On Campus blog.
All but 9,800 U.S. troops are scheduled to be out of Afghanistan by the end of the year, and Massachusetts is expected to have nearly 50,000 post-9/11 veterans home by 2030. And more than 70 percent of them will probably go back to school.
To prepare, UMass Lowell's Director of Veterans Services Janine Wert says the university is increasing staff and launching more veteran support programs.
"Having that social support is really important when you are transitioning," Wert said.
When asked if there’s more she feels the schools can do, Wert replied, “I don't know that we're ever done. When do you say, 'We're done taking care of veterans?'"