TU: New network focuses on connecting vets with local colleges
Times-Union
Leaders from Jacksonville University, the University of North Florida, Florida State College at Jacksonville and Edward Waters College gathered at JU Monday to announce the launch of the Northeast Florida Military Veterans College Network.
The launch comes as the city kicks off its annual Week of Valor in honor of Veterans Day.
“This is a first-of-its-kind network in the country that aligns all military stakeholders in our region to work together on behalf of military veterans, active duty personnel and military families who seek to improve their education,” said retired Brigadier General Michael Fleming, who serves as JU’s chief government, military and community relations spokesman.
The new network is a collaboration among the colleges and the city, along with JaxUSA Partnership, the economic development arm of the JAX Chamber. The launch is the latest phase of an earlier initiative known as EarnUp, to boost college attainment in the area.
Currently, just 36 percent of the working age population in Northeast Florida earned two- or four-year degrees, according to the group. With the new network, the group aims to increase the total number of individuals earning college degrees to 60 percent by 2025.
The group began a resource website earlier this year to help high school students, adult learners and veterans get connected to higher education in the area. The new veterans college network will gear that focus specifically on meeting veterans’ needs, officials said.
“It fills a niche that wasn’t provided,” said Bill Spann, director of military affairs and veterans services for the City of Jacksonville.
Spann said while the city is effective in connecting veterans with their military benefits, the new partnership provides a better avenue to connect servicemen and women to their educational benefits.
FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS
Over the next few month, the group — which includes college presidents Tim Cost of JU, Nat Glover of EWC, John Delaney of UNF and Cynthia Bioteau of FSCJ — plans to meet quarterly to discuss opportunities to work together, review new veterans’ initiatives, develop orientation programs for local veterans and share best practices among other things.
The new network doesn’t come with any money attached, according to Fleming, who is leading the initiative. Each college is responsible for establishing its own programming for veterans.
JaxUSA is responsible for developing and maintaining the website.
“It’s more sweat equity than anything else,” he said.
To find out more about the Northeast Florida Military Veteran College Network, visit EarnUp.org.
Rhema Thompson: (904) 359-4693