Mar 22, 2011
ALBANY, N.Y. — The Department of New York Veterans of Foreign Wars has signed an education partnership agreement with Excelsior College, a nonprofit distance-learning institution based in Albany, in a statewide effort to draw younger veterans and their spouses to the membership rolls of local VFW posts.
The New York initiative, which provides reduced tuition for VFW members and their spouses, builds on VFW’s national goal of boosting membership among younger veterans from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. All New York VFW members, regardless of when or where they served, are now eligible for the education partnership benefits, which were announced March 18 in Albany at the start of the New York VFW’s spring convention.
"A prime goal of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is to bridge the gap with veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the men and women who are vital to the future of our organization,” said Jack Veazy, Commander of the VFW Department of New York. “We have taken a major step forward toward this goal by reaching out to New York veterans through an education partnership with a reputable, military-friendly college, which serves students nationwide. This agreement makes higher education accessible to veterans and their spouses.”
National Commander-in-Chief Richard Eubank joined state VFW leaders at the event to commend the statewide initiative.
Eubank said he is hopeful the New York VFW's education initiative can serve as a model for other states seeking to reach younger veterans. Younger vets, he said, are key to the VFW's future because "10 to 20 years from now, this will be their organization."
Excelsior College President John F. Ebersole said, “We applaud the New York VFW for recognizing the role that high-quality education plays in the security and future of veterans and their families. We truly believe that this initiative will strengthen the VFW, contribute to veterans’ quality of life, and provide a model for future such partnerships. For Excelsior College, which has strong, longstanding educational connections with all branches of the military and veterans, this is an extremely exciting partnership.”
About Excelsior College
Excelsior College http://www.excelsior.edu is an accredited, nonprofit distance learning institution that focuses on removing obstacles to the educational goals of adult learners. Founded in 1971 and located in Albany, NY, Excelsior is a proven leader in the assessment and validation of student knowledge. It offers more efficient and affordable access to degree completion through multiple avenues: its own online courses and college-level proficiency examinations, and the acceptance in transfer of credit from other colleges and universities as well as recognized corporate and military training programs. Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.