UNOH Receives Collegiate Purple Star Designation

Posted on Friday, November 10, 2023

The University of Northwestern Ohio is proud to announce it is among 5 public and independent colleges and universities newly designated as Collegiate Purple Star campuses for their efforts to support students with military backgrounds by the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) Chancellor Randy Garner. 

UNOH has been awarded Military Friendly recognitions by Viqtory Media for the past 14 years, and the Ohio Collegiate Purple Star award adds to the accomplishments of the Military Relations Department to fully support veterans, ensuring they enjoy the full value of the education benefits they have earned.

“More higher education institutions than ever before are ensuring they have the resources to support military-connected students,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “The schools announced today join in Ohio’s long tradition of supporting service members, veterans, and their families.”

Ohio was the first state in the nation to offer these designations, which advanced the work already done by Ohio’s PreK-12 school system to create the Purple Star designation for those schools that worked to become military friendly.

“With the observance of Veterans Day in November, it’s the ideal time to honor our veterans and service members for all they do and to recognize the colleges and universities in Ohio that support military-connected students and families,” Chancellor Gardner said.

Colleges and universities in Ohio are offered the opportunity to apply for the Collegiate Purple Star designation. The designations are determined by a Collegiate Purple Star Advisory Committee appointed by the Chancellor and composed of members from organizations that include but aren’t limited to ODHE, the Ohio Veterans Education Council (with representation from two-year colleges, four-year universities, and independent institutions), the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, the Ohio Adjutant General’s Department, and the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission K-12 Purple Star Committee.

Criteria for being chosen as a Purple Star college or university include having a dedicated military/veteran point of contact and/or office on campus, establishing priority registration for veterans and service members, surveying student veterans and servicemembers – along with spouses and dependents – about needs and challenges, and allowing for the establishment of student-led groups and organizations for veterans and service members.

Category: Campus & Community

Keywords: Military Friendly, Collegiate Purple Star