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Finance and Support Services Division
Office of Human Resources

FAQ

Veteran's Preference (Applicants)

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  • According to Chapter 657 of the Texas Government Code, individuals who qualify for veteran’s preference are entitled to preference in employment with the University over other applicants who do not have greater qualifications. 

  • Eligible applicants should apply for positions through the appropriate the Texas State Jobs website and search for either staff, faculty, or student positions.

    As part of the online application process, applicants will be asked questions to determine their eligibility for the veteran’s hiring preference. Applicants that are determined to be eligible will be indicated as such in their applicant profile. 

  • No, it does not. For an eligible individual to be interviewed, the individual must meet the same required qualifications for the position as every other applicant. If the individual does not meet the required qualifications, then the individual will not be interviewed. 

    For an eligible applicant to be hired, the applicant must be the best qualified applicant for the position as determined by the hiring manager. If the applicant is not the best applicant for the position, then s/he will not be hired. 

  • The Texas Veterans Portal website houses links to many organizations that can help veterans and their family members find and prepare for meaningful employment. 

  • As a veteran, you are eligible under Texas Government Code, Section 657.002 for veteran's preference if you meet all the following qualifications:

    1. served in: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps of the United States or the United States Public Health Service under 42 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq., as amended or the Texas military forces as defined by Section 437.001 or an auxiliary service of one of those branches of the armed forces;
    2. were honorably discharged from the military service; and
    3. are competent.

    If you meet all these qualifications, you should respond "Yes" when asked about your veteran status on the application and attach a DD 214 with the social security number redacted in the documents section.

    If you do not meet the above requirements, applicants should respond "No", when asked about veteran status.

  • A veteran's surviving spouse who has not remarried or an orphan of a veteran qualifies for a veteran's preference if:

    1. The veteran was killed while on active duty; and
    2. The spouse or orphan is competent. If you meet all these qualifications, you should respond "Yes" to this question on the application.
    3. Provide DD1300, death, birth and/or marriage certificates with the social security number redacted in the documents section.

Veteran's Preference (Hiring Managers)

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  • Eligible applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for a position will be shown preference in multiple aspects of the hiring process, including interviews and employment decisions.

    An individual who qualifies for a veteran's employment preference is entitled to a preference in employment over other applicants for the same position who DO NOT have a greater qualification.

    Veteran's preference means if two applicants are finalists for a position, and equal in all respects, the veteran would be offered the job.

    However, the Veteran’s Preference statute does not guarantee the veteran a job. 

    Positions at the University are filled with the best qualified candidate as determined by the hiring manager.

  • Interviews

    • If the total number of applicants interviewed for a position is 6 or fewer, then at least 1 of those applicants must be a qualified individual eligible for veteran’s preference
    • If the total number of applicants interviewed for a position is more than 6, then at least 20% of the total number of those applicants must be qualified individuals eligible for veteran’s preference

    Employment Decisions

    • If two applicants are finalists for a position, and both are equally qualified for the position in every way except that one is eligible for veteran’s preference and the other is not, then the applicant eligible for veteran’s preference will be selected for hire

  • When the applicant submits their application and claims veterans' preference they are asked to attach their DD214.

    Human Resources audits these forms so that the hiring manager only needs to look at the veteran's employment preference column of the applicant’s tab of the job posting.

    • A veteran, including a veteran with a disability
    • A veteran's surviving spouse who has not remarried
    • An orphan of a veteran if the veteran was killed while on active duty

  • If the total number of individuals interviewed for the position is six or fewer, the state agency is required to interview at least one individual qualified for veteran's employment preference.

    If the total number of individuals interviewed for the position is more than six, the state agency is required to interview at least 20% of total applicants that qualify for veteran's employment preference. (i.e. if you are interviewing 10 applicants at least 2 applicants are required to have veteran's preference)

    * If the applicant pool does not have any applicants who self-identify as eligible for Veteran’s Preference, this interview requirement does not apply. 

    # of individuals Selected for Interview Minimum # of individuals to interview with Veteran's Preference (required)*
    1-6 1
    7+ 20%

  • No. If the minimum requirement is not met in the time that the job is posted you are not required to extend the job posting.