Black Hawk College has been named a 2018 Military Friendly® School by Victory Media for the eighth consecutive year.
The college was first designated a Military Friendly® School in 2011 but serving veterans is not a new mission.
When Black Hawk College conducted its first classes in September 1946, 73 percent of the 239 students were World War II veterans.
Seventy years later, serving veterans and military students remains a high priority for Black Hawk College.
“We are constantly looking for new ways to better serve our veterans, military students and their families,” said Marceia Duhm, coordinator of career and veterans services and Veterans Administration school certifying official (SCO) at Black Hawk College.
“Transitions are never easy for anyone, and the transition from the military to civilian life can be particularly difficult for our military and veteran students. We strive to assist them as they make that transition into college a little less stressful,” Duhm said.
This semester, more than 220 BHC students are receiving veterans’ benefits.
Through the Lane Evans Veterans Resource Center at the Quad-Cities Campus, the college provides resources and referrals and encourages military students and veterans to be active in the college and their communities.
“The entire Black Hawk College family is proud to provide support for those needing a little direction and encouragement as they transition from the military to college and civilian life,” Duhm said.
Another source of support and camaraderie is the Military Students and Veterans Club, a chapter of Student Veterans of America. The club collaborates with other veterans organizations to host conferences in the community and coordinates an on-campus donation drive to send care packages to troops serving overseas.
Military Friendly eligibility is based upon data collected from the federal departments of Education, Veterans Affairs and Defense. That data – degree transfer, advancement, graduation and/or job placement – is supplemented with responses from colleges that participate in the Military Friendly® Schools survey.
The survey covers:
- Academic policies and compliance
- Admissions and orientation
- Culture and commitment
- Financial aid and loan repayment
- Graduation and career outcomes
- Military student support and retention
More than 1,300 schools participated in the 2017-2018 survey with 849 earning the designation.