York Technical College

Gold Grade

York Tech

York Technical College received their award on May 28, 2025.  York Technical College earned the Gold Grade Award for their Military Academic practices. York Technical College Office of Veteran & Military Services (V&MS) created the Veteran Affinity Group, which established a Veteran exclusive lounge on Campus and assists with planning and organizing veteran focused events.

V&MS provides comprehensive career services tailored to veterans and military-connected students, including resume workshops, interview preparation, and networking events. Collaborations with the “Military Crosswalk” a Professional Development ensures that service members and veterans receive guidance in translating their skills to the civilian workforce. Partnerships with military friendly employers ensure students receive interviews and enter the application process with favorable recommendations and a hiring preference, when possible.   Additionally, the university awards impactful academic credit for military training and education in alignment with American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations, facilitating degree progress and completion for service members and Veterans.

York Tech has recently joined the South Carolina Veteran Coalition, partnering with SCDVA and other organizations to enhance resource accessibility for veterans statewide. Through this collaboration, V&MS offers early engagement opportunities for prospective student veterans, mentorship for student veterans via the Palmetto Pathfinder program, and increased access to community-based support and resources.

York Tech fosters a welcoming environment through initiatives like the Green Zone Training program, which educates faculty and staff on military culture and the unique challenges faced by service members, veterans, and military family members. This training promotes empathy and understanding, ensuring that military-affiliated students receive informed and compassionate support allowing them to thrive personally and in their academic programs. V&MS conducts a bi-annual needs assessment to identify the evolving needs of their military-connected students. Insights from these assessments inform program development and resource allocation, ensuring that services remain responsive and effective.


York Tech’s dedication to veterans and military-connected students is reflected in their continuous efforts to enhance support services, foster community, and facilitate academic and professional success. 


York Technical College has met the following criteria for the SCDVA Military Academic Recognition Program – Gold Award:

  • The school has centralized place for students who are Veterans to meet or find assistance and information (Veteran Resource Center).
  • The school has specific internships/apprenticeship opportunities for Veterans and give credit for military training and education in accordance with the American Council on Education (ACE).
  • Provides professional and career placement, to ensure meaningful employment is secured after earning their degree or certificate.
  • The school is a member of the South Carolina Coalition.
  • The school supports holistic wellbeing of Veteran and Military-affiliated students through faculty/staff training to address Military-specific cultural competency.
  • The school administers a Veterans need assessment bi-annually.
  • The school has a chartered Student Veterans Association Chapter or other Veterans support groups. Support groups may include Women and Minority Veterans.
  • A system to evaluate and award academic credit based on Military training and experience in use by the school and recommended by the American Council on Education.
  • The school has specific staff members dedicated to Veterans and Military-affiliated students (at a ratio of 1:250); the school has dedicated military friendly contacts for Veteran students in every major department.
  • An established and effective process for identifying Veterans and Military-affiliated students within the student population. To include: Reserve Officer Training Cadets, Active Duty Service Members, members of the National Guard and Reserve, Veterans, Military and Veteran Family Members, and Military Dependent Children.
  • School website includes Veteran and Military-affiliated student specific information that address admissions process, priority registration guidelines, military specific scholarships, how to apply for USDVA and other Military benefits, and contact information for staff members.
     

 

College of Charleston

Silver Grade

College of Charleston Logo

College of Charleston received its recognition July 13, 2024. The College of Charleston Office of Veteran and Military Student Services has an established and effective process for identifying their Veteran and Military-affiliated student population. The College also offers monthly Green Zone training. Green Zone Training provides faculty, staff, and students with an understanding of the military experience for Veteran students as they transition from the military to campus life. Green Zone assists military students in understanding what it means to be a student Veteran, dispel associated myths and stigmas with fact-based information, as well as provides on-and-off campus resources and support services for military-connected students.  

The college website includes Veteran and Military-affiliated student specific information that address the admissions process, priority registration guidelines, military specific scholarships, how to apply for US DVA and other military benefits and contact information for staff members. College of Charleston has two active chartered programs, the Student Veterans Association Chapter and SALUTE Veteran National Honor Society. Both programs are Veteran student-led and are dedicated to helping Veterans/Military students make a successful adjustment from the military to college. Both chapters are instrumental in advising the college administrators, faculty, staff, and students regarding matters that affect Veterans and their families. The chapters are also dedicated to creating an atmosphere that encourages inclusion and to recommend policies that will improve access and opportunities for their student Veterans.  

The College of Charleston also has Veteran Peer Advisors, where new Veteran/Military students are connected to a Veteran Peer Advisor in their first semester. Veteran peer advisors are experienced student Veterans who have been through adjustments from military service to college. Advisors link Veterans and Military-affiliated new students to campus resources, guide them through college processes, and provide one-on-one support during their transition to campus.

College of Charleston has met the following criteria to receive Silver Grade:

  • The school has an active chartered Student Veterans Association Chapter or other Veteran support groups. Support groups may include Women and Minority Veterans.
  • A system to evaluate and award academic credit based on military training and experience is in use by the school. (Increased the Military Credit limit to 66 Credits)
  • The school has specific staff members dedicated to Veterans and Military-affiliated students (at a ratio of 1.250) and has dedicated military friendly contacts for Veteran students in every major department. 
  • Established and effective process for identifying Veterans and Military-affiliated students within the student population.
  • School website has a Veteran and Military-affiliated student specific information that address admissions process, how to apply for US DVA and other military benefits, and contact information for staff members.
  • A centralized location with Veterans Services, Veteran lounge, study space, computer lab reserved for Veterans and Military affiliated students. 
  • Monthly Green Zone Training: Green Zone Training provides faculty, staff, and students with an understanding of the military experience for Veteran students as they transition from the military to campus life.
  • Veteran Peer Advisors: New Veteran/Military students are connected to a Veteran Peer Advisor in their first semester.

Clemson University

Gold Grade

clemson university gold award 2025

Clemson University received its recognition on May 7, 2025.  Clemson University's commitment to serving the military community- Veterans, service members, military family members, and ROTC cadets- is deeply embedded in their institutional mission and culture. The Office of Military & Veteran Engagement (M&VE) operates two dedicated resource centers located in Vickery Hall and the Hendrix Student Center. These centers serve as welcoming spaces for over 1,400 military-connected students, providing access to military advising and coaching, VA educational benefits assistance, peer support, and curated resources. In 2024, M&VE expanded its footprint by opening a second location in Hendrix Student Center, enhancing accessibility and community engagement for their military-affiliated population. Currently, the VA Educational Benefits Office is co-located with M&VE under the Military Affairs Department, affording military-connected students the convenience visiting one centralized location to address their questions and needs.
 
M&VE provides comprehensive career services tailored to veterans and military-connected students, including resume workshops, interview preparation, and networking events. Collaborations with the Center for Career and Professional Development ensure that service members and veterans receive guidance in translating their skills to the civilian workforce. Partnerships with military friendly employers ensure students receive interviews and enter the application process with favorable recommendations and a hiring preference, when possible.  Additionally, the university awards impactful academic credit for military training and education in alignment with American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations, facilitating degree progress and completion for service members and veterans.
 
In 2023, Clemson University joined the South Carolina Veteran Coalition, partnering with SCDVA and other organizations to enhance resource accessibility for veterans statewide. Through this collaboration, M&VE offers early engagement opportunities for prospective student veterans, mentorship for student veterans via the Palmetto Pathfinder program, and increased access to community-based support and resources.
 
Clemson fosters a welcoming environment through initiatives like the Green Zone Training program, which educates faculty and staff on military culture and the unique challenges faced by service members, veterans, and military family members. This training promotes empathy and understanding, ensuring that military-affiliated students receive informed and compassionate support allowing them to thrive personally and in their academic programs.
 
M&VE conducts a bi-annual needs assessment and multiple programmatic assessments to identify the evolving needs of our military-connected students. Insights from these assessments inform program development and resource allocation, ensuring that services remain responsive and effective.
 
Clemson University’s dedication to Veterans and military-connected students is reflected in their continuous efforts to enhance support services, foster community, and facilitate academic and professional success. They remain steadfast in their commitment to those who have served and their family members.