TCC earns “Veteran Friendly” honors from American Council on Education

TCC received its “Veteran Friendly” badge from the American Council on Education (ACE), which developed a Toolkit for Veteran Friendly Institutions. The toolkit is designed to help institutions of higher education build effective programs for veteran students, share information and increase student success.

Today’s colleges and universities need to define “veteran friendly” in a manner that addresses both their institution’s and students’ needs, according to ACE, considered one of the nation’s most influential higher education associations.

ACE also recognized TCC as being a “Military Helpful College,” given the establishment of the Center for Military and Veterans Education, a comprehensive clearinghouse for academic and student support services that opened on the Virginia Beach Campus during the summer of 2011. TCC was lauded for being among the first colleges across the nation to host the Department of Veterans Affairs VetSuccess on Campus program, which offers vocational and rehabilitative VA counseling.

“Tidewater Community College, through its CMVE, is a national model for building not only a veteran-friendly college but a truly ‘military helpful’ college,” said Bruce Brunson, executive director.

He said that TCC is helping other institutions build better military-related student programs by sharing its experiences and resources. “Most importantly, we want to help all military-related students select colleges that are not only friendly but are truly helpful and dedicated to student success.”

TCC served 14,343 military-related students during the 2013-14 academic year, including veterans, active duty and family members. More veterans used their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits at TCC than any other community college in the United States.

Tidewater Community College has also been designated a Top Military-Friendly College by Military Advanced Education in its 2014 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges & Universities.