Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) has been honored with the prestigious Collegiate Purple Star Campus award in recognition of its exceptional service to active military members, veterans and their families. This award, which FSCJ will carry for three academic years, underscores the college's commitment to supporting military members as they transition into higher education.

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The Collegiate Purple Star Campus Designation was created by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in June 2023. It recognizes schools that go above and beyond to support military students and their families in their educational endeavors.

FSCJ's Military & Veterans Service Center (MVSC) is an important resource for military and veteran students. It offers a range of services to ease their transition from military to civilian life and provide them with important resources to support their academic journey and overall well-being.

“At FSCJ, we are committed to becoming a military-friendly institution by enhancing services and offerings specifically for active-duty military members, veterans and their families,” said FSCJ President John Avendano, Ph.D. “We are grateful for this award because it is our highest honor to serve this group of students who have sacrificed so much for us.”

Services provided through FSCJ's MVSC include:

• The Veteran-to-Veteran (Vet2Vet) peer mentoring and transition program connects military students with mentors for a year-long partnership.

• Green Zone Awareness Training aims to raise awareness of the unique challenges military students may face.

• A partnership with the City of Jacksonville's Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Affairs, which recently hosted a summit for veteran entrepreneurs.

• A presence at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport, where FSCJ conducts courses and provides support.

The college also supports veterans and their families through programs such as the TRiO Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) Scholarship, which assists veterans interested in pursuing higher education.

FSCJ offers additional services through its VetSuccess on Campus program, providing a supportive environment to help veterans successfully transition to college life. It also capped tuition for active military students and qualifying out-of-state spouses.

For more information about FSCJ's Military and Veterans Services, visit their website at www.fscj.edu/military-veterans.

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