Albany, N.Y. (May 13, 2011) – The National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS), a national military advocacy organization, has partnered with Excelsior College to add online higher education as a member benefit, in an effort to draw newer, younger members to the organization.

The new online higher education partnership between NAUS and Excelsior College, a nonprofit, regionally accredited distance education college in Albany, N.Y., provides NAUS members with access to reduced tuition and fees for associate and bachelor’s degree programs. In addition, the education agreement benefits extend to NAUS members’ spouses who wish to begin or complete their college education.

Excelsior College serves 30,000 students around the country and the world. Approximately 10,000 of Excelsior’s students are active duty members of the military and veterans.

NAUS is the only military-affiliated association whose membership is open to servicemembers and veterans (and spouses) of all branches and all components of uniformed service, of all ranks and grades.

“We’re pleased to partner with Excelsior and offer our members and prospective members a great way to save money on pursing their educational goals,” said NAUS President Bill Matz, Major General, U.S. Army, Retired. “This is particularly important to our Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, who are facing a tough job market as they retire from the military or complete their enlistments.”

Excelsior College President Dr. John Ebersole, a Vietnam-era veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, commended the NAUS for its vision in recognizing the value of education as it reaches out to prospective newer members.

“We have seen how education improves the quality of life for military members, veterans and their families,” he said. “We are honored that NAUS has selected us as an education partner, and we will work with the NAUS to raise awareness about education access for these deserving veterans and their spouses.”

Earlier this year, Excelsior signed a similar agreement with the New York State Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Capital District of New York chapter of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). These new partnerships are part of Excelsior’s broad educational outreach to organizations serving veterans.

Excelsior College’s credentials include:

• Excelsior’s course, “Success Strategies for Military and Veterans” earned the 2010-2011 Innovation Award from the Center for Transforming Student Services (CENTSS).
• Excelsior’s military academic advising team includes veterans who are uniquely attuned to the unique needs of military students, veterans, and their spouses.
• Susan Dewan, executive director of Excelsior’s Center for Military Education is the recipient of the 2011 William E. Kennedy Award from the Council of College and Military Educators (CCME), which recognizes leadership in providing online higher education programs to personnel at U.S. military installations.
• Excelsior President Ebersole is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who served in Vietnam and received the Secretary of the Army Public Service Award in 2010 for his leadership in contributing to the Army’s educational mission.
• Excelsior College received the designation “Best for Vets” from Military Times Edge magazine.

For more information about NAUS membership and dues, visit NAUS online.

About NAUS

The National Association for Uniformed Services® (NAUS), was founded in 1968 to protect and enhance the earned benefits of uniformed servicemembers, retirees, veterans, and their families and survivors, to promote a strong defense, and to foster esprit de corps among uniformed services personnel and veterans of the United States, through nonpartisan advocacy on Capitol Hill and with other government officials. NAUS is a veterans organization as defined in IRS Code Section 501(c)(19). NAUS membership is open to all grades and ranks, and all branches and components of the uniformed services: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.