COTC Receives Military Friendly Designation from State of Ohio

On Nov. 8, Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) Chancellor Randy Gardner named the latest group of Ohio colleges and universities designated as Collegiate Purple Star campuses for their efforts to support students with military backgrounds. Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) was among the five campuses to receive the military-friendly designation.

“COTC is proud to serve veteran and military-connected students and their families,” said COTC President John M. Berry, PhD. “It is our duty and our honor to ensure that those who have served have access to quality education in their community and obtain job-ready skills that meet their career and life goals. The efforts of our staff across the campus — notably in the offices of admissions, student financial services and student life and the Student Success Center — have earned us this designation. Their support helps students transition to higher education and maintain their paths toward graduation.”

Ohio was the first state in the nation to offer these designations, which advance the work already done by Ohio’s PreK-12 school system to create the Purple Star designation for those schools that worked to become military friendly.

“More higher education institutions than ever before are ensuring they have the resources to support military-connected students,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “The schools announced [Nov. 8] join in Ohio’s long tradition of supporting service members, veterans and their families.”

“With the observance of Veterans Day in November, it’s the ideal time to honor our veterans and servicemembers for all they do and to recognize the colleges and universities in Ohio that support military-connected students and families,” Chancellor Gardner said.

Colleges and universities in Ohio are offered the opportunity to apply for the Collegiate Purple Star designation. The designations are determined by a Collegiate Purple Star Advisory Committee appointed by the Chancellor and composed of members from organizations that include but aren’t limited to ODHE, the Ohio Veterans Education Council (with representation from two-year colleges, four-year universities, and independent institutions), the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, the Ohio Adjutant General’s Department, and the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission K-12 Purple Star Committee.

Criteria for being chosen as a Purple Star college or university include having a dedicated military/veteran point of contact and/or office on campus, establishing priority registration for veterans and servicemembers, surveying student veterans and servicemembers — along with spouses and dependents — about needs and challenges, and allowing for the establishment of student-led groups and organizations for veterans and servicemembers. Colleges and universities that earn the Collegiate Purple Star designation will receive permission from the advisory committee to utilize a logo or badge signifying the designation.