The document summarizes the development of a new strategic plan for the New Mexico State University Military Veterans Program Office (MVP) from January to May 2015. Key aspects of the new strategy include a revised mission and vision statement for the MVP along with near-term goals that can be implemented within the program's existing resources, as the university faces major budget shortfalls. Stakeholder interviews helped identify priorities such as maintaining benefits compliance, offering student veteran mentoring, and enhancing policies affecting student veterans. The new strategy aims to gain credibility for the MVP with university administration during the fiscal challenges.

1. NMSU Military &
Veterans Program
Strategy
Chris Kincaid
NMSU Masters of Public Administration Candidate 2015

2. Background for LinkedIn Viewers
From January to May 2015, I led an update of the New Mexico State University Military Veterans Program Office
(MVP) strategic plan in partnership with their Director, staff, and stakeholders.
The strategy included a new mission and vision statement for the program plus near term goals. The context is important
since the university as a whole is dealing with major budget shortfalls. As advised by me, the strategy is intentionally
designed for implementation within existing resources of the MVP.
This is a strategy the program office can execute with current funding and staff. The aim is to plan accordingly and still
deliver. The program office will gain credibility with university administration, which should lead to recognition and
possible reward when the fiscal situation improves.

3. The Strategy Project
Who - NMSU Military & Veterans Program
What – Develop Program Strategy
When – January-May 2015
Where –Program Office and Stakeholders
Why – Lack of Mission and Goal Clarity
Mission, Vision, and Goals/Objectives

4. What we were
trying to do Mandate
What We
Do
What SHs
Want
*Touchstone Consulting Group

5. Stakeholders Interviewed
o Garrey Carruthers, President
o Provost Dan Howard, Provost
o Dr. Bernadette Montoya, Vice President for
Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
o Ben Woods, President and CEO of Aggie
Development and Special Adviser to the
President
o Dr. Terry Cook, Assistant Vice President for
Student Engagement
o Dr. Edward Pines, Industrial Engineering
o Dr. David Boje, Business
o Dr. Joseph Berning, Student Veterans
Organization Advisor and Veteran
o Dr. Russ Winn, Government
o Dr. Gregory Butler, Government
o Dr. Susie Bussmann, Director of Instructional
Innovation & Quality Unit
o Fred Martino, KRWG News Director
o LTC David McCoy, Army ROTC Commander
o Lt. Col. Ira Cline, Air Force ROTC Commander
o John Kirby, Fort Bliss/WSMR Educational
Service Officer
o Erika Zaragoza, MVP Coordinator
o Monica Dunivan, MVP Staff
o Candice Gilbert, MVP Staff
o Diana Castenada, Financial Aid Counselor
o Marissa Macias, Academic Counselor
o Joshua Dunne, Student Veterans Organization
President
o Fabian Martinez, Student and Veteran
o Sean Robinson, Student and Veteran
o Christopher Fulbright, Student and Veteran
o Ruben Arauz, Alumni and Veteran
o Uziel Marte, Student

6. Stakeholder Interview Questions
• What do you consider the role of the MVP Office to be?
• What would a successful MVP look like and what would it
accomplish?
• Besides additional funding, how could the university further
support the MVP?
• If you were in charge of the MVP and already had both
funding and resources, what would you make a priority?

7. 0 5 10 15 20 25
Provide Mental Health Support to Student Veterans
Certifcation of Veteran Experience for Credit
Offer Student Veteran Orientation
MVP Office Applies for Grants
Canvas Banner Designation of Student Veterans
Involve NMSU Veteran Staff with Veteran Students
Conduct Outreach to Older Veterans
MVP Needs a Larger Staff
Case Management Approach for Veterans
Document MVP Functions SOPs
Improve Student Veteran Graduation Rate
Increase Online Education
Support MVP Staff Training
Career Support to Veterans
Improve Visibility of MVP within NMSU
Get MVP and Student Veterans into the Community
Recruit Students from Local Military Bases
Improve MVP Office Space
MVP as Liasion for Student Veterans
Offer Military Friendly Environment
Improve Marketing of NMSU to Veterans
Provide Coaching to Student Veterans
Assist with Veteran Benefits

8. Themes
• MVP should continue to be “the best” at veteran’s benefit
assistance
• MVP is a key liaison for student veterans and the campus
community
• NMSU and MVP must improve marketing to military
members and veterans
• There is a need for student veteran mentorship
• MVP and student veterans must better establish their
brand on campus and in the community

9. The Charge

10. MVP Mission
The Military & Veterans Program Office continuously
works with student veterans to successfully facilitate the
use of their federal education benefits. We provide
advocacy and support for our military, veteran, and family
member student community to guide them through their
university experience by offering outreach, networking,
and personalized assistance.
NMSU Mission
New Mexico State University is the state’s land-grant university, serving the educational needs of
New Mexico’s diverse population through comprehensive programs of education, research,
extension education, and public service.

11. MVP Vision
We will be the key partner establishing NMSU as a
nationally recognized destination for military, veterans,
and family members and exceed the Presidential
“Principles of Excellence” Executive Order for student
veteran education.
NMSU Vision
New Mexico State University will be a premier university as evidenced by demonstrated and
quantifiable excellence in teaching, research, and service relative to its peer institutions.

12. MVP Goals and Objectives
Maintain Student Benefits Compliance Excellence
(Graduation–Teaching, Learning, and Programs)
• Successfully complete annual benefits
compliance survey audit
• Conduct timely and accurate processing of
educational benefits with zero defects
Offer Student Veteran Mentoring
(Graduation–Teaching, Learning, and Programs)
• Research and compile student veteran
mentoring best practices by September 2015
• Establish Veteran Coaching Pilot Program by
January 2016
Enhance NMSU Policies Affecting Student
Veterans
(Graduation–Teaching, Learning, and Programs)
• Review NMSU academic/nonacademic policies
and procedures that affect student veterans by
September 2015
• Compile and document upgrade
recommendations by October 2015
Promote the MVP and Student Veteran Brand
(Community Service, Extension, and Outreach)
• Offer annual training for Staff/Faculty that
informs on the veteran experience on campus
• Engage local community through outreach
activities (2x/semester), speaking at civic
organizations (3x/semester), and taking
leadership role in campus veteran recognition
events (2x/annually)

13. Next Steps
• Get feedback on draft and buy-in
from on chain of command
• Develop the underlying tasks and
performance goals under objectives
• Finalize and commit to MVP
Strategy
EXECUTE

14. Strategy Project Conclusions
• Need a champion
• Manage expectations and the client
• “Be an AmeriCAN, not an Americant”
• Seek out the “fewest, most important”
• In the absence of guidance, create your own, then DELIVER

15. NMSU Military &
Veterans Program
Strategy
Chris Kincaid
NMSU Masters of Public Administration Candidate 2015