Vermont VFW spouses and domestic partners are also eligible for Excelsior undergraduate degree programs, with reduced tuition and fees, under new statewide education agreement

Rutland, VT (August 8, 2012) – The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Vermont has signed an education partnership agreement with Excelsior College, a regionally accredited nonprofit distance learning institution based in Albany, New York.

Vermont's VFW counts nearly 6,600 members in its 25 posts throughout the state, and employs 114 people, who are also eligible for the partnership's education benefits. Many of these veterans will also qualify for educational cost reimbursement through the Veterans Administration and some are unemployed in Vermont.

"With the unemployment rate for our youngest veterans hovering around 15 percent, many would like to pursue a higher education to increase their competitiveness but unsure where to turn," said State VFW Commander Allston (Joe) Gilmond. "This partnership will provide a pathway for our organization to connect with this new generation of veterans and provide each with the support they need to make higher education a reality."

The Vermont initiative reflects a national VFW goal: to attract younger veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who are returning home and considering their higher education options. Under the new agreement Vermont VFW members, their spouses and domestic partners are eligible for reduced tuition and fees (PDF) for undergraduate degree programs in Excelsior's schools of Liberal Arts, Health Sciences, Business and Technology and Nursing. "This partnership will provide a tremendous benefit to all of our VFW members, especially our younger veterans," said Ronald Tallman, the former State VFW Commander. "We want to provide our returning soldiers with options as they make the transition, including the ability to pursue higher education."

Similar partnerships are in place between Excelsior and VFW departments in New York, Nevada and California. In New York, the partnership has already begun to pay off for VFW members.

Vermont veterans who are interested in joining the Department of Vermont, Veterans of Foreign Wars are invited to contact 802-223-5368 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 802-223-5368 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit the Department of Vermont VFW Web site for more information.

"Excelsior College is happy to include our veteran neighbors in Vermont in our rapidly expanding education partnership network," said Excelsior President John F. Ebersole. "We encourage veterans, their spouses and domestic partners to explore the many ways that Excelsior can assist with degree completion."

Excelsior College, established in 1971, has a long and successful history of providing education to veterans and service members. The College has an extensive range of support services tailored to veterans, including financial counseling on veteran benefits and other financial aid and academic advisors who are veterans themselves. The College offers a range of academic support programs and career counseling services tailored to veterans.

The College accepts prior military training in the form of academic transfer credit based on recommendations from the American Council on Education's Military Evaluations Program. Each year, Excelsior accepts approximately 50,000 military training program credits toward completion of undergraduate degree programs.

In November 2011, the College was named by Military Times Edge magazine as a "Best for Vets" top school for veterans, and has been repeatedly named a top "military friendly" school by GIJobs magazine.

Excelsior College's education 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). The course provides college and career orientation to veterans and military members and teaches transition strategies for those entering the civilian workforce after a military career.

• Excelsior is a recipient of the Council of College and Military Educators' (CCME) Institutional Award.

• 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 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.

As part of the partnership, veterans and their spouses are invited to provide unofficial military and civilian transcripts to veterans@excelsior.edu or call 888-647-2388 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 888-647-2388 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, ext.1352 for an unofficial courtesy review of their credits toward the degree they are closest to completing or a particular degree they have in mind. Visit our VFW, Deptartment of Vermont page to see a list of programs. Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and has a long standing history of serving the military.