America honors and appreciates our veterans and their sacrifices, but at IU East this is especially so – we are routinely named one of the most military-friendly schools in the country, and as a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium, we offer flexible Bachelors and Masters programs online to make it as easy as possible for mobile service-members to complete their degrees. Right now, IU East proudly counts 262 veterans among our students.
At the Campus Library we have resources to serve both research interests into the military and materials for veterans returning to the civilian world. Examples are databases such as the Military and Government Collection and ProQuest Military, and the books Military Culture and Education: Current Intersections of Academic and Military Cultures by Douglas Higbee and Military Education Benefits for College: A Comprehensive Guide for Military Members, Veterans, and Their Dependents by David Renza. Outside of the library, Dennis Hicks, a retired Navy warrant officer, advises the Student Veteran’s Organization, which helps vets achieve academic success, transition into civilian life, and meet any continuing military obligations.
April is the Month of the Military Child, and a time to focus on helping those whose parents are deployed far away. April 15th, in particular, is Purple Up! Day. Started a few years ago by New Hampshire Operation: Military Kids, the color purple represents a mixture of all the branch colors (green for the Army, red for the Marines, and blue for the Air Force and Navy). Wearing purple shows support and solidarity with kids who are also making a kind of sacrifice for their country, by having their father or mother gone for long stretches of time. There are a number of contests and events occurring statewide, so now is a great time to get involved, and show a military kid you care!
Any questions? Send them to us at iueref@iue.edu!
