Indian River State College to Establish Veterans Center of Excellence

February 23, 2021 Suzanne Seldes

FORT PIERCE, FL—Indian River State College (IRSC) has received a $449,966 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to establish the IRSC Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success. The College was one of only 16 higher education institutions nationwide selected for the award. The grant will help the College connect student veterans with additional academic, financial, physical and social support services through a new Veterans Center of Excellence (VCE) set to open later this year on the IRSC Pruitt Campus in Port St. Lucie.

“As a military veteran, I know firsthand that the transition from the service to civilian life comes with a unique set of challenges,” shares IRSC President Dr. Timothy Moore. “We are grateful to the Department of Education for this opportunity to create the IRSC Veterans Center of Excellence. Here we can coordinate wrap-around support services for our student veterans from a single location. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our nation and for each of us, and with the new Center, we are poised to help them throughout their academic journey— from application to graduation and beyond.”

IRSC currently serves more than 500 student veterans each year. Through enhanced services and physical space made possible by the grant, IRSC aims to increase enrollment among veterans and also improve the retention and completion rates of IRSC student veterans. A project director, advising staff and part-time tutors will support these efforts.

“The goal is to help our veterans connect with education to build a solid future for themselves and their families,” concludes Moore. “Whatever we can do as higher education professionals to facilitate that connection and help our veterans stay the course is not just our responsibility; it is a privilege.”