School is first technical college in state to receive designation
From staff reports
The Technical College of the Lowcountry has been recognized by the S.C. Department of Veterans Affairs (SCDVA) with a silver-grade recognition as part of its Military Academic Recognition Program.
SCDVA representatives presented the award at a special event held Dec. 6 at TCL’s Military & Veterans Resource Center on the college’s historic Beaufort Mather Campus.
TCL is the first technical college in the state to receive an SCDVA military academic award designation, officials said at Wednesday’s presentation, signaling that the community college is a “South Carolina Veteran Friendly Higher Education Institution.” The college joins the ranks of other higher education institutions such as Clemson and USC to have received an SCDVA designation.
“We are very proud of our military students,” TCL President Dr. Richard Gough said upon accepting the award for the college. “Veterans, their families and dependents, are a significant part of our college, our culture and part of our heart, so it’s really important to us that we have these programs in place and that they know they are supported.”
SCDVA’s program highlights South Carolina Technical Colleges, colleges and universities that support service members, veterans, reservists, National Guard members and their family members. To qualify, institutions must meet specific standards such as establishing a Student Veterans Association Chapter. TCL’s chapter currently has 15 active members.
TCL’s Director for Military and Veteran Programs Christina Schatzle said the new designation and recognition was extremely validating and signals to students that TCL is here to support them.
“It’s validating to see the work we are doing to support our veterans and military-affiliated students has not gone unnoticed,” she said.
Currently, 18 percent of TCL’s student population is active military, veteran or military-affiliated.
In addition to winning SCDVA’s silver award, the college has already implemented or is working toward meeting the SCDVA’s criteria for gold status, Schatzle said.
TCL is renovating and expanding its Military and Veterans Resource Center on the first floor of MacLean Hall, which will meet the department’s standard of having a centralized location to house veteran services.
In addition, staff members also completed “Green Zone” training, or specialized training that enables staff to better assist military or military-affiliated students and is looking at offering career readiness and other opportunities such as internships or apprenticeships for veterans or military-affiliated students.
“These are just a few of the things that we either have already done or are in the process of doing,” said Schatzle. “Our goal is to reach gold next year.”
For more information on TCL’s military and veterans services, visit www.tcl.edu/military.
