Governor announces 11 universities to receive
Veteran Reconnect Grant
MURFREESBORO — Middle Tennessee State University will
receive a $91,000 state grant to support its ongoing efforts to help
student-veterans successfully pursue their higher education degrees.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam
announced Monday, Aug. 10, that 11 colleges and universities were selected to
receive the Veteran Reconnect Grant, a competitive grant focused on improving
the success of student-veterans enrolled in Tennessee colleges and
universities.
“From 2008 to 2013, we saw a 200
percent increase in the number of veterans enrolling in our Tennessee colleges
and universities,” Haslam said in a release from his office.
“Our Veterans Education Task Force
has been working to address the unique needs that our service men and women
have when they come home and go back to school, and these competitive grants
will help two-year and four-year schools develop initiatives specifically
designed for veterans to be successful in earning a degree or certificate.”
MTSU continues to enhance services
for its student-veteran population of roughly 1,000 including family members.
The university recently announced details of the new Veterans and Military
Family Center, which will create a virtual one-stop-shop to meet a variety of
academic-related needs.
The 2,600-square-foot center will
be located on the first floor of Keathley University Center and is set to open
later this fall. It nearly doubles existing space and will address a number of
needs such as financial aid and academic advising. The university has committed
$329,000 toward the project.
The veteran’s education grant will
go toward supporting center programs.
“These
funds will enhance our efforts to better serve our student-veterans and we
appreciate the state's support,” said Hilary Miller, director of MTSU’s new
military center. “Our student-veterans and their families deserve the best
services available, and with the opening of our new Veterans and Military
Family Center this fall, this grant will provide a timely boost as we develop
new programs and services for this unique student population.”
Haslam included in his fiscal year
2015-2016 budget amendment and the General Assembly approved $1 million for the
Veteran Reconnect Grant, the release states.
Grant proposals were requested in
May, with a July 2 deadline to submit. Those proposals were reviewed by a
committee of higher education and veteran service leaders.
Recipients of the Veteran
Reconnect Grant include:
• Belmont University, $95,000
• Chattanooga State Community
College, $92,000
• Columbia State Community
College, $92,797
• East Tennessee State
University, $95,000
• Jackson State Community
College, $94,151
• Lipscomb University, $80,415
• Maryville College, $82,257
• Middle Tennessee State University, $90,999
• Northeast State Community
College, $94,600
• University of Memphis,
$93,374
• Volunteer State Community
College, $89,104
The Veteran Reconnect Grant is
part of the governor’s Drive to 55 initiative aimed at increasing the number of
Tennesseans with a certificate or degree beyond high school. By 2025, 55
percent of the jobs in Tennessee will require a post-secondary credential, and
currently only 33 percent of Tennesseans qualify, according to the governor’s
office.
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