2020 - ECC named a 2020 Military Friendly® School

Elgin Community College has been named a 2020 Military Friendly® School by VIQTORY. The Military Friendly® Schools list provides a comprehensive guide for veterans and their families to find the right school to match their needs and preferences. This is the eighth time ECC has received this designation.

“It is truly an honor being named a 2020 Military Friendly® School,” said Anitra King, veteran and student success specialist. “ECC offers a collaborative, supportive environment for our student veterans. Our campus is understanding and responsive to the needs and benefits of veterans and their families, and we’re dedicated to helping them achieve success.” ECC acknowledges and appreciates the sacrifices made by service members and their families.”

Resources available to ECC student veterans include the Textbooks for Veterans Program, which allows veterans to purchase their books in time for classes to start, instead of waiting weeks for funds through the GI Bill. The college also provides a Veterans Resource Center; and a dedicated student support specialist, academic advisor, and financial aid/VA certifying official. Student life offers Military Branches United (MBU), a student organization that meets weekly, and SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society, for those who have completed at least 12 credit hours and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Additionally, ECC is a member of Student Veterans of America’s Illinois chapter.

ECC is proud to retain its status as a Military Friendly® college supporting student veterans in their academic pursuits. By providing veteran-centered resources and staff dedicated to veterans’ success, ECC’s graduation rate for veterans was more than twice the national average in recent years. There are currently 18 members of the SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society, with two more being inducted in May.

The Military Friendly® program creates civilian opportunities for veterans and promotes organizations that invest in programs that improve the lives of veterans. Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation are evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a survey completed by the school. The 2020-2021 list includes trade schools, public and private colleges, and universities, and graduate schools, with programs from certificate through doctoral degrees. More than 1,000 schools participated in the current survey, with 625 earning the designation. The entire Military Friendly® Schools list can be viewed at www.militaryfriendly.com.