Clark State Community College will continue to honor the United States military and expand their exemplary service to military students by offering a 50 percent tuition discount to military students and a 25 percent discount to eligible spouses beginning with the fall 2017 semester.
“Our current 50 percent tuition reduction initiative for active duty military personnel is in place,” said John Devillier, vice president for business affairs at Clark State. “We’re now extending this 50 percent tuition reduction initiative to military members in the active reserves, as well as the Ohio National Guard, plus, extending a 25 percent tuition reduction for eligible spouses.”
Devillier said all reduced tuition initiatives will run from Fall 2017 to Fall 2019, at which point Clark State will reassess the program and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
The military tuition reduction initiative is open to eligible military members and spouses who are either currently attending Clark State or just enrolling. Active duty, active reserve, Ohio National Guard members and spouses can present a copy of their military orders to receive the discount.
Currently, there are more than 9,500 active duty personnel and reservists stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and 1,500 Ohio National Guardsmen stationed at Springfield Air National Guard Base. All lower-level enlisted personnel are enrolled in the Community College of the Air Force where they receive their technical credit toward their Associate of Applied Science degree. They must enroll in other institutions such as Clark State to garner their general education hours. Clark State is positioned well to support local military members due to its Beavercreek campus location adjacent to the WPAFB, its campus in Springfield, as well as its large selection of online classes.
Devillier said access to quality and affordable higher education is the cornerstone of Clark State’s mission. This initiative allows Clark State to express appreciation to military members and their spouses through that mission. “Our military is the best trained and most educated on this planet, and we’re providing another avenue for our military and their spouses to pursue their educational priorities. Given our expanding online course offerings, this opportunity will be portable as well,” he said.
The goal of the military tuition reduction is to increase the College’s service to military personnel stationed not only at WPAFB and SANGB but across the state of Ohio. Currently, Clark State enrolls a limited number of Air Force personnel, and this initiative is expected to increase enrollment.
“Clark State has a wonderful relationship with our local community, which includes Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Springfield Air National Guard Base,” said Devillier. “We understand the challenges and sacrifices our military members and their families make as an All-Volunteer Force, and this is just a small thank you and acknowledgment for their sacrifice.”
Clark State was designated as a Military Advanced Education and Transition (MAE&T) Top School in 2016. The MAE&T Guide to Colleges and Universities measures best practices in military and veteran education.
In 2015 Clark State was designated as a Purple Heart Campus and was approved by the Community College of the Air Force as a General Education Mobile (GEM) partner. Clark State was the first community college in Ohio to receive this approval. The College also features a Veteran’s Lounge that provides student veterans with a place to unwind, study, hold meetings or network.
This May, seven Clark State students were inducted into the SALUTE National Honor Society. SALUTE – Service, Academics, Leadership, Unity, Tribute, Excellence - is the only national honor society recognizing and honoring the service and scholastic achievements of student veterans.