Rice Business has partnered with Service to School (S2S), a national nonprofit that helps veterans and service members access higher education, adding a new admissions and outreach partner to the school’s growing ecosystem of support for military-affiliated students.
While veterans and service members bring exceptional leadership experience into the classroom as well as a proven ability to perform under pressure, military careers often follow nontraditional paths that can make the graduate admissions process more difficult to navigate. S2S helps bridge that gap through free application counseling, mentorship and peer-to-peer support.
Through its VetLink network, S2S connects prospective students with admissions representatives at partner institutions to help these military-affiliated applicants identify programs that align with their goals and successfully present their experiences to admissions teams. The partnership also creates new opportunities for Rice Business to connect with military-affiliated applicants through S2S’s national volunteer network, events and outreach programs.
The S2S partnership will serve as a new entry point into Rice Business’ broader network of support for military-affiliated students, which includes:
- Veterans Business Battle — One of the nation’s premier startup competitions for military veterans. Held annually, the Veterans Business Battle provides participants with access to funding, mentorship, investor connections and a national network of veteran entrepreneurs.
- Military education benefits and financial support — Helps veterans, active-duty service members and their families access GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon and other military education benefits to reduce financial barriers to graduate education.
- Rice Business Veterans Association — Connects military-affiliated students through mentorship, professional development, networking opportunities and community-building activities.
Together, these programs support veterans and service members from admissions through graduation and beyond, creating a strong foundation for academic, professional and personal success.
Underpinning these efforts is a belief that military-affiliated students bring distinctive strengths to the Rice Business community. “Students connected to the military bring exceptional leadership, resilience and real-world experience to the classroom,” said Jeff Fleming, interim dean of Rice Business. “Those qualities enrich the learning experience for everyone around them, but the path from military service to graduate education is not always straightforward. Through our partnership with Service to School, we’re helping ensure talented veterans and service members have the guidance, resources and support they need to thrive.”