Academics for Veterans, or A’s for Vets, is an LVMAC alliance consisting of institutions of higher learning in the Greater Lehigh Valley which proactively endeavor to better support military veterans seeking an education.
It is the result of a cooperative effort first begun with a formal proposal in 2013 by LVMAC to the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC) in 2013 for enhancing our local veterans’ educational experience. As part of that proposal, it was believed that community colleges, trade and business schools must also be involved. The regional effort that resulted is consequently unique in its breadth of professional involvement for a common purpose.
Each member organization of the A’s for Vets initiative brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table to better serve the Lehigh Valley’s military veterans population. Many of the representatives serving on the steering committee are already familiar with working with student veterans. In addition, many are members of military veteran families or are veterans themselves. Consequently, this unique collaborative partnership brings many view points and experience levels to the table in support of military veterans in or interested in coming to the Lehigh Valley.
Member Schools:
A coalition of institutions of higher learning in the Greater Lehigh Valley collaborates to train, educate and support discharged military veterans and their qualifying dependents to be successful in achieving their professional and personal educational goals.
As a result of the partnership, all veterans attending these schools will gain meaningful employment and/or achieve their academic goals, preferably in the Greater Lehigh Valley area.
Goal 1: Veterans and their qualifying dependents will be able to make a fact-based decision on the best educational option for them to achieve their goals.
Objective 1.1: Veterans and their qualifying dependents will be presented with complete and accurate information regarding their educational options, educational and financial benefits, and educational support services.
Objective 1.2: Veterans and their qualifying dependents will have online access to the A’s for Vets programs and services along with information that will support their pursuit of education.
Goal 2: A’s for Vets member schools will support each other in instituting and implementing best practices for providing an educational environment that is supportive of student veterans and the qualifying dependents of veterans.
Objective 2.1: Member schools will share their knowledge and expertise in regard to accessing information and resources which are necessary for providing an educational environment that is supportive of student veterans and their qualifying dependents.
Objective 2.2: A’s for Vets will publish on its website information and links to resources to help schools to provide an educational environment that is supportive of student veterans and their qualifying dependents.
To find out more about this special, regional initiative born in the Lehigh Valley, go to its specially tailored website which, supplemented by a Facebook site, is intended to become a one-stop resource for veterans’ information on education in the Lehigh Valley and local events related to higher education.