Mission:

To serve student veterans with the highest quality and comprehensive support in an environment that provides commitment, respect and academic excellence.

Our commitment is to provide education, administrative services, as well as job and career advisement to our student veterans, their dependents as well as outreach to military communities at large.

Goals:

• To make Samuel Merritt University known as a premier veteran friendly institution.
• To increase the admission retention and graduation rates of veterans.
• To make the Veteran Resource Center an accessible resource to all California Veterans
• To ensure that the Veteran Resource Center is effectively and efficiently meeting the needs of Samuel Merritt University veterans and their dependents.
• To remove social, physical, and psychological barriers through a strong and vibrant network with Samuel Merritt University veterans services, internal SMU organizations and other higher educational institutions.

Samuel Merritt University is committed to serving our military and veteran community. We appreciate and recognize the service and sacrifices of our nation's active and veteran military personnel and their families. You've met the challenges of military service and we are here to help you meet your educational challenges and fulfill your goals.

Our goal is to provide military and veteran students at Samuel Merritt University with the best possible academic programs and exceptional student support.

Samuel Merritt University has also been recognized as a leader for serving military and veterans. SMU has been named one of GI Jobs magazine's "Military Friendly Schools", an honor reserved for the top 15% of "veteran friendly" post-secondary institutions.

Samuel Merritt University is proud to announce its continued support of the military student population through its participation and commitment to the Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Effective August 1st, 2011, the Yellow Ribbon program allows private colleges and universities to enter into agreements with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund tuition and fee charges in excess of the annual cap established for the Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33).

Participation in the Yellow Ribbon program demonstrates Samuel Merritt University's commitment to its mission of making a difference in the communities we serve. The Yellow Ribbon Program assists members of the military community and their dependents in gaining access to a high-quality education.

The total number of awards offered and the maximum Yellow Ribbon awards provided by the university (and matched by the VA) are unlimited for any program in which the student is enrolled at Samuel Merritt University. Each award represents the maximum dollar amount that will be contributed annually by the university towards tuition and fees.

Current Yellow Ribbon program participants DO NOT need to reapply.

Please note that the Yellow Ribbon Program funding, along with is corresponding match from the VA, replaces any previously awarded institutional grants and/or scholarships. Also, the university's participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program is re-evaluated annually. In future years the university may elect to change its funding commitment for this program or discontinue participation.

Before submitting an application for consideration, applicants must either be,

1. A current student in good academic standing, or
2. Be officially accepted for admissions to Samuel Merritt University AND have received a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) verifying 100% eligibility for Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill) benefits.

Recipients will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis, effective the date that the completed application is received.