FSCJ Receives U.S. Department of Education Grant for Veteran Success

Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) has been awarded a $1.36 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch the TRiO Student Support Services–Veterans (Salute to Success) program. The program will serve 120 eligible veteran participants who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment at FSCJ. Eligible participants include U.S. military veterans discharged under honorable conditions who meet one or more federal criteria: low-income, neither parent received a bachelor’s degree prior to enrollment and/or an individual with a documented disability.

The Salute to Success program helps veterans persist in college, complete their degrees and transition to four-year universities — addressing a critical need for veteran-focused academic and personal support in Northeast Florida.

“FSCJ recognizes the distinct experiences and challenges faced by our military and veteran students,” said College President John Avendano, Ph.D. “This grant reinforces our commitment to helping veterans navigate higher education successfully and reach their full potential.”

FSCJ has dedicated Military and Veterans Service Centers (MVSC), located at South and Kent campuses, which understand and serve the specific needs of current and former military students. The Salute to Success TRiO SSS–Veterans grant complements the services provided by FSCJ’s MVSC by introducing dedicated academic coaching, one-on-one counseling, mental wellness initiatives, financial literacy sessions and veteran-to-veteran mentoring — all designed to help veterans successfully transition from service to student life and achieve their educational and career goals.

To learn more about FSCJ’s services for military and veteran students, visit fscj.edu/mvsc.

About FSCJ

Known as “the community’s college,” Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) exists to provide equitable, high quality, success-driven learning experiences for our diverse community of students. Serving more than 45,000 students and awarding over 5,000 degrees and certificates on an annual basis, the College plays a significant role in supplying the region’s employers with a highly skilled, educated workforce.