November 10, 2014
State System universities to offer scheduling preference to veterans
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg 鈥� As the nation prepares to recognize Veterans鈥� Day, all 14 universities within Pennsylvania鈥檚 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鈥攍egislation championed by Rep. Thomas Murt and
supported by the State System.
鈥淲e owe our gratitude to the many military veterans who are now part of our campus
communities,鈥� said State System Chancellor Frank T. Brogan. 鈥淲ithout 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.
鈥淲e 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.鈥�
The State System universities offer a variety of educational opportunities to both
returning veterans as well as to active duty military personnel鈥攂oth 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鈥� 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 鈥淢ilitary Friendly School,鈥� an annual listing that highlights institutions that
exhibit leading practices to support military students, or a 鈥淏est for Vets鈥� school,
a similar listing published each year by Military Times magazine, or both.
Pennsylvania鈥檚 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.