3.40 Recognition of Veteran Status and Active Service Member Status

Board Policies
Chapter 3 - Educational Policies

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Part 1. Purpose
To recognize veteran status and active service member status as a factor in evaluating applicants for admission to graduate and professional programs, in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 197.775.

Part 2. Authority

  • Minn. Stat. § 190.05 Definitions – This statute defines terms in the Minnesota Military Code (Minn. Stat. Ch. 190 - 193).
  • Minn. Stat. § 197.447 Veteran, Defined – This statute defines “Veteran” for use in Minnesota Statutes.
  • Minn. Stat. § 197.775 Higher Education Fairness – This statute uses the definition of “Veteran” from Minn. Stat. § 197.447, and also includes “any person serving in active service”, as defined in section 190.05, subd. 5.

Part 3. Definitions
For the purposes of this policy only, the following definitions apply.

Active service member
 A person currently serving in state active service, federally funded state active service, or federal active service.

Graduate or Professional Programs
Post-baccalaureate educational programs leading to graduate certificate, master’s, specialist, or doctoral degrees offered by Minnesota State universities.

Veteran
A person who has served in the United States Armed Forces and has been separated under honorable conditions.

Part 4. Policy
Minnesota State universities shall recognize an applicant's veteran status or active service member status as a positive factor in determining whether to grant admission to a graduate or professional academic degree program.

Part 5. Annual Report
By January 15 of every year, each Minnesota State university shall submit a report to the system office on the number of veterans who applied for admission to a graduate or professional academic degree program and the number accepted during the previous fiscal year.

Related Documents:

To view any of the following related statutes, go to the Revisor's Office website. You can conduct a search from this site by typing in the statute number.

  • Minn. Stat. § 190.05 Definitions
  • Minn. Stat. § 197.447 Veteran, Defined
  • Minn. Stat. § 197.775 Higher Education Fairness

Policy History:

Date of Adoption: 03/19/14
Date of Implementation: 03/19/14
Date of Last Review: 03/20/24

Date & Subject of Amendments:

03/20/24 – Full review. Increased the accuracy of the policy by adding "Active Service Member Status" to the title and relevant parts, adding Part 2. Authority to identify the Minnesota statutes that affect the definition of “veteran”, and added the definition of “active service member”.

05/22/19 – Added “graduate certificate” to the Graduate and Professional Programs definition, and added “Annual” to the Part 4 heading.

No additional history.

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