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FSCJ Receives Collegiate Purple Star Campus Designation for Military and Veteran Services

Oct 15, 2024, 07:31 AM by Amanda Burgess

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) was officially designated a Collegiate Purple Star Campus in recognition of the services offered for active military and veteran students and their families. FSCJ will maintain this designation for three academic calendar years. 

The Collegiate Purple Star Campus Designation was established by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in June 2023. This program recognizes schools that demonstrate a commitment to supporting military students and families as they transition to the college environment. 

FSCJ’s Military & Veterans Service Center (MVSC) is the principal advocate for active military, veterans, military spouses and dependents at the College, ensuring their unique needs and challenges are met. Within this area, military and military-affiliated students are connected to critical resources and assistance to support their educational pursuit and a smooth transition to civilian life.

“At FSCJ, we have committed ourselves to becoming a military-friendly institution through enhanced services and offerings specifically active-duty military, Veterans and their families.” said College President John Avendano, Ph.D. “We are grateful for this designation because it is our highest honor to serve this population of students who have sacrificed so much for us.”

Examples of the services provided through the MVSC include:

  • Veteran-to-Veteran (Vet2Vet) Peer Mentoring and Transition program whereby military-connected students are afforded the opportunity to select a mentor (military-connected faculty, staff or peer student) for a one-year mentoring and transition arrangement. 
  • Green Zone Awareness Training and Green Zone Awareness Refresher is a two-part training program for those who interact with our Military-affiliated students and is designed to heighten awareness of the issues and concerns that Veteran and military-affiliated students may or may not be experiencing as they make the transition from “base to campus.” 
  • The MVSC partnered with the City of Jacksonville Military Affairs and Veterans Department to host a summit for Veteran entrepreneurs.
  • FSCJ has office and classroom presence on, and an agreement with, Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport. 
  • FSCJ has an active Student Veterans of America (SVA) chapter.
  • The College provides service to Veterans and their family members interested in attending a local college or university through a TRiO Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) grant, now in its third year. 
  • Veteran families may utilize the services at the MVSC to include computer stations with printing, light refreshments in hospitality area, gaming center and a lounge area.
  • Through VetSuccess on Campus, FSCJ provides a supportive, on-campus environment assisting Veteran students in making a smooth transition to college life and to successfully complete their educational programs.
  • FSCJ established a cap on tuition and fees (excluding lab and material fees) for out-of-state, active-duty military students and qualified spouses receiving DoD tuition assistance (TA) as payment for lower level college credit courses. 

To learn more about FSCJ’s Military and Veterans Services, visit https://www.fscj.edu/military-veterans.