Belmont Receives $95,000 Grant to Support Success of Student Veterans
In a recent announcement from Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Belmont University was awarded a $95,000 Tennessee Veteran Reconnect Grant from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). “Ultimately, it is the goal of this program that Tennessee be the premier state in the nation for student veteran success.”“We’re thrilled to have been awarded the Veteran Reconnect funding so that we can build capacity to support our student veterans,” said Dr. Mimi Barnard, Belmont’s associate provost for interdisciplinary studies and global education who will serve as the grant’s project director. “Our faculty and staff appreciate the sacrifices and commitments made by those who serve in the armed forces, and this grant will allow us to create programming and services that will assist them as they pursue degrees that lead to meaningful careers, stronger communities and a more competitive Tennessee.”
The $95,000 grant Belmont received is part of a $1 million award from THEC to 11 community colleges and universities across the state. Since Belmont’s Yellow Ribbon Program was implemented in 2010, student veteran enrollment has nearly quadrupled, and military family enrollment has more than doubled. Belmont participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program at the highest level, matching the remaining tuition and mandatory fees in full that are not covered by the Post 9/11 benefit for all undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs.
In Belmont’s grant proposal, four areas were identified in which the University seeks to focus additional attention and resources: Learning Support, Community Building, Career Advancement and Communication to Internal and External Stakeholders. The Belmont Veteran Reconnect Initiative will provide a series of services, events and programs that will accelerate the success of veterans already enrolled and create favorable conditions to recruit new student veterans.
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Belmont Receives $95,000 Grant to Support Success of Student Veterans