(North Canton, OH – May 26, 2022) – Stark State College is among select Ohio colleges and universities designated as Collegiate Purple Star campuses for their efforts to support military-connected students.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) Chancellor Randy Gardner named the first Collegiate Purple Star campuses Thursday.

“Stark State College devotes time, resources and excellent staff to ensuring that veterans and active-duty military enroll and succeed in our college,” said President Para M. Jones, Ph.D. “This is a priority for Stark State and a reflection of our community college mission and our gratitude to the men and women in uniform who protect our freedom, safety and security.”

Stark State, which can now use the Collegiate Purple Star logo, met a list of criteria, such as

• having a dedicated military/veteran point of contact and/or office on campus
• establishing priority registration for veterans and servicemembers
• surveying student veterans and servicemembers, spouses and dependents about needs
• allowing establishment of student-led groups and organizations for veterans and servicemembers.

“The comprehensive enrollment and support services that Stark State provides for its veterans and service members place them on a path to achieving their academic and career goals,” Chancellor Gardner said. “Stark State is most deserving of inclusion on this initial list of Collegiate Purple Star designees.”

Colleges and universities in Ohio were able to apply for the designation, which were determined by a Collegiate Purple Star Advisory Committee appointed by the chancellor and composed of members from organizations that include 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.

These 33 first-ever awards at the collegiate level advance 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. Ohio is the first state in the nation to offer these designations.

The initial Collegiate Purple Star announcement was made at a March event where Chancellor Gardner was joined by Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., the Ohio adjutant general, and Maj. Gen. Deborah Ashenhurst, US Army, retired, director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services.

For more information about the program, visit highered.ohio.gov/initiatives/campus-initiatives/education-for-veterans/collegiate-purple-star. For more information about Stark State’s military services, go to www.starkstate.edu/militaryservices.