St. Joseph’s College’s commitment to serving veterans was recognized in a national publication.
Military Times, an independent news platform catering to service members, veterans and their families, included St. Joseph’s College on its “Best for Vets: Colleges 2020” list. St. Joseph’s placed 29th, out of hundreds of colleges nationwide, for its attention to military and veteran students; retention and graduation rates; benefits offered and accreditation.
SJC Long Island sophomore George Poulos, who enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2013, said the St. Joseph’s community is very welcoming and supportive of veteran students.
“Separation from the military can be hard and frustrating,” said Poulos, a criminal justice major and president of his campus’ Student Veterans of America (SVA). “Veterans can have an especially hard time adapting to a college lifestyle since it’s very different than what we are used to.
“But thankfully, St. Joe’s has a huge veteran involvement on campus, a lot of perks and benefits for veteran students, and the SVA — a club that veterans on campus can join and hang out with like-minded individuals who have similar experiences to their own so they don’t feel so out of touch.”
Services for Veterans a Priority
Director of Military and Veteran Services Erin D’Eletto said there is a litany of special services and accommodations available to veteran students across SJC Long Island in Patchogue and SJC Brooklyn in Clinton Hill.
Services include special academic advisers, counseling on available Veterans Affairs (VA) and military benefits, work-study opportunities and career services.
The College additionally has a multitude of external military and veteran community partnerships within a wide range of sectors — from the government to business and non-profit — that provide military and veteran-centric services, workshops and presentations. These services can include veteran peer-to-peer support, mental health and wellness, career and employment services and information on VA disability claims.
Additionally, St. Joseph’s is a yellow ribbon school, meaning that when a veteran receiving the Post-9/11 GI bill benefits and hits the annual tuition cap, the College splits the difference with the VA so the student remains fully covered.
D’Eletto said the high ranking in the Military Times is proof of the hard work St. Joseph’s puts toward serving the veteran community.
“It is an honor to be recognized as one of the best colleges for veterans,” D’Eletto said. “As our military and veteran students enhance our college community in countless ways, we are privileged to assist them in their transition from military to civilian life, and to support their personal, academic and professional success.”
