ORCID
Ken Marfilius: 0000-0001-8566-1905
Document Type
Poster
Date
4-9-2026
Keywords
Veteran resilience, Student veterans, VA VITAL program, Student veteran transition, Student veteran support
Campus Community
School of Social Work, Office of Veterans and Military Affairs
Language
English
Disciplines
Military and Veterans Studies | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description/Abstract
"Strength in Partnership: Advancing Veteran Resilience through the ORP-VA Vital Collaboration": demonstrates how meaningful collaboration transforms ideas into action and creates pathways for lasting community impact. This initiative connects the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs Resiliency Program (ORP) with the VA's Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership (VITAL) Program to advance the health, academic success, and overall well-being of student veterans. Through this collaboration, student veterans gain direct access to VA healthcare, mental health counseling, and transition support, integrated into their campus experience. This partnership bridges federal and university systems and ensures that veterans receive holistic care that addresses the unique challenges of reintegration and academic adjustment. The ORP-VA VITAL partnership illustrates how cross-sector collaboration and shared mission can strengthen the resilience of those who have served while enriching the broader university community. Faculty, staff, and VA professionals work side by side to remove barriers, coordinate care, and enhance student belonging. By aligning institutional and federal resources, this project highlights how collaboration fuels innovation and inclusivity. It exemplifies Syracuse University's deep commitment to veterans and military-connected students and serves as a model for how partnership-driven collaboration can improve lives, strengthen learning environments, and build a more connected, compassionate campus community.
This project shows how partnering Syracuse University's ORP with the VA's VITAL program helps student veterans succeed by connecting them to healthcare, mental health support, and campus resources. Together, they create a more supportive and coordinated system that improves veterans' well-being, academic success, and sense of belonging.
Recommended Citation
Marfilius, Ken; Novack, Ron; Murray, Dwayne; Lance, Margo; and Richards, Daijon, "Strength in Partnership: Advancing Veteran Resilience through the ORP-VA VITAL Collaboration" (2026). Voices of Service Symposium. 41.
https://surface.syr.edu/vos/41
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
