Clarkson builds a military-friendly reputation

POTSDAM — Clarkson University’s Cheel Campus Center is the perfect place to host the first St. Lawrence County Military Appreciation Day and Career Fair, but it isn’t because of its size or atmosphere.

G.I. Jobs magazine named Clarkson among the country’s most military-friendly campuses for the past two years. The publication geared toward armed services members transitioning to civilian life found Clarkson’s military and veterans programs outstanding among peer institutions.

That means when veterans and their friends and family walk into the Cheel Campus Center for the June 16 event, they should feel right at home, according to Clarkson President Anthony G. Collins.

“I think the atmosphere, the public support for veterans, has never been higher, and it extends to our university,” he said.

The university was an early adopter of the Yellow Ribbon program, which provides full tuition benefits to qualifying post-Sept. 11 active-duty service members. It also provides assistance to veterans in maximizing the use of their G.I. Bill benefits.

“It is a little unusual for veterans to return to college; they are of a nontraditional age,” Mr. Collins said. “For an institution to understand and support them in their college decision is relatively unusual. It is pretty obvious to us in terms of what should be done, and we’re more than happy to accommodate and do it.”

The Military Appreciation Day has matching goals, Mr. Collins said.

“There’s something in the order of about 30 employers that would be in for the career fair part of it and about 60 vendors,” he said. “There’s a lot for veterans to benefit from as far as attending, and this will hopefully help get the word out about what is available to veterans.”

Clarkson’s Reserved Officer Training Corps program was ranked second in the nation by Washington Monthly, a nonprofit government and politics magazine. Clarkson offers both Army and Air Force ROTC programs. The school’s ROTC battalion has been in continuous existence since 1936.

Students participating in ROTC are eligible to receive grants to cover a portion of their housing and food expenses during their studies.

The St. Lawrence County Military Appreciation Day and Career Fair runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 16.