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Veteran and Family Needs Assessment Survey

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Recognized Military Academic Institutions

Technical College of the Lowcountry

Silver Standard

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The Technical College of the Lowcountry received its recognition on October 17, 2023. TCL has a Military and Veteran Resource Center (MAVRC), that provides all Veteran Services including VA Benefits and offers dedicated meeting and study space with adequate technical support for Veterans and Military-affiliated students.  TCL has specific staff members dedicated to Veterans at a ratio of 1:107.  Dedicated staff include a Director of Military and Veterans Affairs, a VA Certifying Official, and a Veterans Enrollment Counselor which use the Joint Service Transcript (JST) to evaluate military experience for academic credits, explain internship opportunities, and coordinate with Military Friendly employers.  TCL has a tutoring center and counseling services that are free and include summer workshops. 

The Technical College of the Lowcountry administers a Veterans need assessment bi-annually and this year started a chartered Student Veteran Association (SVA) Chapter.  TCL website includes Veteran and Military-affiliated student specific information that addresses admissions, financial aid, priority registration, and how to apply for educational benefits.   TCL also works with local Disabled American Veterans (DAV) chapters to provide students with scholarship opportunities.

TLC has met the following criteria to receive the Silver Standard:

  • 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.
  • The school has specific staff members dedicated to for Veterans and Military-affiliated students (at a ratio of 1:250); 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 US DVA and other military benefits, and contact information for staff members

Clemson University

Bronze Standard

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Clemson University received its recognition on November 2, 2023. The Clemson’s Office of Military and Veteran Engagement has an established and effective process for identifying their Veteran and Military-affiliated student population. The University 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 school 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.  Clemson University has a Veterans Commission which advises the university administrators, faculty, staff, and students regarding matters that affect veterans and their families and to create an atmosphere that encourages inclusion and to recommend policies that will improve access and opportunities for their student veterans.  Clemson University charted Student Veterans Association Chapter has 76 active members. 

Clemson University is a member of the South Carolina Veteran Coalition.  Clemson’s Center for Career and Professional Development Center offers students professional and career readiness that includes career workshops, on-campus interviewing, and experiential education opportunities to ensure meaningful employment after students earn their degree or certificate.  The Michelin Career Center, part of the Center for Career and Professional Development, serves both students and employers by offering services of an on-line recruiting system, ClemsonJobLink for job postings, on-campus interviews, company information sessions, and career fairs.  The Center also connects Military friendly employers to provide students with internships, apprenticeships, and scholarship opportunities.

Clemson has met the following criteria to receive the Bronze Standard:

  • 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 US DVA and other military benefits, and contact information for staff members.

University of South Carolina

Gold Standard

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The University of South Carolina received its recognition on August 28, 2023. USC staff members are dedicated to Military-affiliated students in every major department.  USC utilizes an information management tool to identify Veterans and Military-affiliated students within their student population. The Veterans Military Center of Excellence is USC’s dedicated space, that provides support to all military affiliated students, offering additional  meeting and study location options. USC staff includes VA Certifying Officials, Tuition Assistance Services Coordinators, Academic Success Coaches, and various administrative support staff dedicated to supporting their Veteran student population with a ratio of 1:210. USC’s website includes Veteran and Military-affiliated student specific information that addresses admissions, financial aid, priority registration, and how to apply for educational benefits.

The USC Career Center assists Veteran students with translating military skills and training to civilian verbiage, internship opportunities, and Military Friendly employers’ opportunity coordination statewide.  USC collaborates with the Department of Defense under Virtual Institutes for Cyber and Electromagnetic Spectrum Research and Employ (VICEROY) DoD Electromagnetic and Cyber Research and Experiential Education Virtual Institute (DECREE) giving scholarships up to $10,000 to participants in virtual curriculum focused on cybersecurity, electromagnetic spectrum operations, data science, cryptography, and strategic foreign languages. USC also offers paid research opportunities to Veteran and ROTC students in cyber warfare, that intend to pursue employment within the DOD or the defense industry.  Bi-Annual assessments are sent to Military-affiliated students to determine any gaps in support and ways to improve the center’s services.

USC has an active chartered Student Veteran Association (SVA) Chapter.  USC was recognized by Student Veterans of America, as its 2022 Chapter of the Year. USC was also awarded the William Pearson Tolley Champion for Veterans in Higher Education Award, for its commitment to supporting and enhancing opportunities for student Veterans on campus.

USC has met the following criteria to receive the Gold Standard:

  • The school has a centralized location with all Veteran Services including VA Benefits and offers dedicated meeting and study space with adequate technical support for Veterans and Militaryaffiliated students.
  • The school has specific internships/apprenticeship opportunities for Veterans which consider military training and education; including preferred placement in programs that are tied to the South Carolina Defense Industry and South Carolina Cyber.
  • Provides professional and career readiness, to ensure meaningful employment is secured after earning their degree or certificate.
  • The school is a member of the South Carolina Veteran Coalition
  • The school supports the holistic wellbeing of Veteran and Military-affiliated students through faculty/staff training to address military-specific cultural competency.
  • Administers a Veterans need assessment bi-annually.
  • School reduces tuition/fees to match Department of Defense allowable payments.
  • 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.
  • 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 US DVA and other military benefits, and contact information for staff members.