Posted: January 6, 2010
Contact: Doug Anderson, doug.anderson@MinnState.edu, 651-201-1426
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system has been named a “Yellow Ribbon Employer” by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Minnesota National Guard for supporting National Guard members and their families throughout the deployment cycle and after active service.
“We are proud to receive this recognition,” said David Olson, chair of the Board of Trustees. “Though the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system has a long history of supporting members of the military and their families, we have expanded our programs and services in recent years to better serve members of the military and veterans.”
The Yellow Ribbon Employer campaign honors employers with exceptional records of caring for military members and families through various programs and recognizes individuals who continue to uphold this standard for future military members and families.
Chancellor James H. McCormick said, “We are grateful for the service that these men and women provide to our country, and we are committed to welcoming them to our campuses and online courses.”
In the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, veterans centers are open on 45 of the system’s 54 campuses. And, in recent years, the system has developed more veteran-friendly policies in addition to expanding career and education information for troops at mobilization through reintegration after active service. All Minnesota State Colleges and Universities also have status as “Servicemember Opportunity Colleges,” a national distinction for institutions that expand and improve postsecondary education opportunities for veterans and their families. The system works with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a counseling and advising phone line and Web site, mymilitaryeducation.org. Service men and women on active duty also can take a wide variety of online courses from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities through Minnesota Online.
The award was presented Tuesday at Century College in White Bear Lake to Olson and Steven Frantz, the system’s director of student affairs who has overseen expansion of veterans programs and services in recent years. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system was one of more than a dozen entities honored by the National Guard for supporting service members and veterans.