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Baldwin
Wallace
University
is
among
the
first
class
of
public
and
independent
colleges
and
universities
to
receive
Ohio's
new
Collegiate
Purple
Star
award,
and
Ohio
is
the
first
state
in
the
nation
to
adopt
the
designation.
As one of 33 Purple Star recipients announced today in Columbus, BW is recognized as "supportive and inclusive of military-connected students."
"Baldwin Wallace has long provided a supportive learning environment for veterans, as well as a student veterans organization that promotes camaraderie with other service members," Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) Chancellor Randy Gardner said. "Now BW can add 'Collegiate Purple Star campus' to its list of accolades."
Michael
Brown
'18,
a
BW
graduate,
veteran
and
manager
of
BW
veteran
and
military
services,
says
the
Purple
Star
recognition
comes
as
BW
is
serving
a
broader
need
for
military
family
support,
in
addition
to
the
veterans
themselves.
"Our goal is always to find new ways to ensure a successful transition from the military to higher education and into civilian life," Brown says. "That requires flexibility and the ability to adapt and develop unique approaches to serve the entire military community as the need evolves."
One growing trend, Brown notes, is an increase in veterans/reservists who have served long enough to be eligible to transfer their VA benefits to their children or spouses.
"Navigating that lesser-known process can prove difficult and knowing you have someone who can help talk you through each step makes coming to BW that much easier," Brown says. "That's just one of the ways BW continues to adapt and grow our support system."
In addition to the increase in military dependents on campus, Nancy Jirousek, senior director of BW Transfer and Military Services, notes a rise in veterans enrolled in graduate programs.
"BW resources are available to support academic success, career readiness, community engagement and more, based on the needs of the student veterans and military families," Jirousek explains. "We are focused on staying ready to pivot to meet changing dynamics as they come."
Recognized
by
U.S.
News
as
one
of
America's
Best
Regional
Colleges
and
Best
for
Veterans
and
by
GI
Jobs
magazine
as
Gold
Military
Friendly,
BW
has
a
deep
history
of
supporting
the
military,
beginning
in
the
1940s
when
veterans
were
the
original
"non-traditional"
students.
Jirousek says the latest honors for BW "demonstrate our long-standing commitment to supporting veterans and military families."
"Any recognition by an outside body - the state of Ohio, U.S. News & World Report, Victory Media - validates the work that is being done at BW to ensure veterans and military family members get the support needed to be successful here," she continued.
Included in that support, BW is a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon program and grants generous transfer credit for military training and experience, including a waiver of the international studies core requirement based on deployment or overseas duty.
For members of the National Guard and Reserve forces, BW has developed support for students who are called to active duty during the academic year.
The University also has an active chapter of the Student Veterans of America that promotes social interaction with fellow service members, as well as an All-Star Student Veterans Center that opened in 2019 with funding from Major League Baseball.
Learn more about BW support for veterans and military students.
