San Jacinto College makes the G.I. Jobs magazine annual Military Friendly Schools list for a third time. The Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success at each campus serve as a central location specifically for veteran students and their dependents for enrollment, financial aid, VA benefits, and academic advising services and assistance. Pictured: Jaime Carmona and Katrina Thompson. Photo credit: Andrea Vasquez, San Jacinto College marketing department.

San Jacinto College is three-time Military Friendly Schools list member

Andrea Vasquez-- September 19, 2012

PASADENA, Texas – G.I. Jobs magazine has named San Jacinto College in its annual Military Friendly Schools list, a third appearance for the College.

This year’s 2013 Military Friendly Schools list surveyed more than 12,000 VA-approved schools nationwide and listed the top 15 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses. Selections are based upon criteria such as the school’s ability to issue academic credit for the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), credit obtained through military training as deemed through the American Council on Education (ACE), flexible learning programs, financial efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students, and tuition benefits. Since 2009, the magazine has published this list in order to help new and existing veterans make decisions deciding on the best institution to attend after their service.

“San Jacinto College continues to receive this designation as validation of the good work done by the entire district and the conscious efforts of all Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success staff,” noted Dr. Kerry Mix, San Jacinto College South Campus dean of enrollment services.

Twenty-seven-year-old Coast Guard veteran, computer information technology major, and South Campus Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success assistant, Marcus Gamble, says that by being on the Military Friendly Schools list, service members and their dependents have extra information they need when researching colleges and universities that offer the best veteran and dependent services. “I believe the Military Friendly Schools list will make service members and dependents aware of where to go, who to talk to, and how to go about this very tedious and often frustrating process,” said Gamble.

“We certainly make the needs of our veteran population a priority,” added Eugene Bernard, South Campus veteran success coordinator. “The opening of the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success at each campus exemplifies our efforts to continue giving our military service members and their families pristine customer service. Each Center offers a coordinator, certifying official, and educational planner that specializes in assisting the student from start to finish with the admission process, application for VA and Hazlewood benefits, and applying for financial aid. San Jacinto College is the epitome of military friendliness and serves as a home away from home for our service men and women.”

The last academic year saw 1,113 new veterans enrolled on all three campuses combined. With the new addition of the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success at each campus, the Centers provide a central facility for enrollment, financial aid, advising, Veteran Affairs (VA) information, studying, and camaraderie for veteran students. As the San Jacinto College Foundation’s largest veteran initiative, the Centers were made possible through a $400,000 grant received in 2010 from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as private donors and generous donations of materials and labor totaling more than $375,000. As a participating institution in the College Credit for Heroes program administered by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), San Jacinto College awards college credits for military experience in the allied health fields from all branches of service. This allows veteran students to earn allied health certifications or degrees more quickly, enabling them to easily re-enter the workforce.

The College also offers veteran students up to 17 credit hours for military training and allows up to 30 credits for CLEP exams and DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST) credit-by-exam. San Jacinto College has also been listed in G.I. Jobs 2010 and 2012 Military Friendly Schools lists, a 2011 TEXVET Partner Member, Texas Veterans Civic Council (VCC) Member, Texas Association of Collegiate Veterans Program Officials (TACVPO) Member, and Western Association of Veterans Education Specialists (WAVES).

For more information on San Jacinto College veteran services, visit www.sanjac.edu/veterans.

About San Jacinto College

Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. The Achieving the Dream Leader College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate options, including university transfer and career preparation. Students also benefit from the College’s job training programs, renowned for meeting the needs of growing industries in the region. San Jacinto College graduates contribute nearly $630 million each year to the Texas workforce. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.

For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.