November 10, 2014

State System universities to offer scheduling preference to veterans

Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu

Harrisburg – As the nation prepares to recognize Veterans’ Day, all 14 universities within Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education are providing another tool to help student-veterans earn their degrees. All State System institutions now will provide veterans with class scheduling preference that will afford them an early opportunity to lock-in their preferred courses.

The state Department of Education has confirmed that all 14 universities align with recently passed legislation requiring colleges and universities to provide veterans with preference in course scheduling—legislation championed by Rep. Thomas Murt and supported by the State System.

“We owe our gratitude to the many military veterans who are now part of our campus communities,” said State System Chancellor Frank T. Brogan. “Without their service and their sacrifice, the rest of us would not be able to enjoy the freedoms we do today. Everyone should say thank you to our veterans; not just today, but every day.

“We are proud and pleased to provide a wide range of services to all of those who have served and our serving in every branch of the military.”

The State System universities offer a variety of educational opportunities to both returning veterans as well as to active duty military personnel—both those who serve part-time in the reserves as well as those who are full-time soldiers and sailors serving overseas. Courses are available both in traditional classroom settings as well as online.

All State System universities offer special assistance to veterans, ranging from admissions and financial aid counseling to tutoring and other support services. Several have established on-campus veterans’ centers to coordinate the variety of special programs they offer to both military personnel and their families.

Those services have been in place at virtually all of the universities for a number of years, with many recognized for their consistent efforts by being named either a “Military Friendly School,” an annual listing that highlights institutions that exhibit leading practices to support military students, or a “Best for Vets” school, a similar listing published each year by Military Times magazine, or both.

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with about 110,000 students. The 14 State System universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study.

The universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The universities also operates branch campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP) and Clearfield (Lock Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and in Center City in Philadelphia.