(June 29, 2010) – Lone Star College System is one of the largest colleges in the U.S. for the number of veteran students it serves.
LSCS was ranked in the top 15 colleges nationwide, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. The data was published last week as part of an analysis of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits being received by returning veterans.
LSCS had 1,010 students who were receiving Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits this year and the college system had a total of more than 2,200 veterans and family members receiving VA educational benefits.
LSCS was one of only two colleges in Texas on the top 15 list for veterans – the other was Central Texas College located in Killeen, home of the U.S. Army’s Fort Hood facility.
The analysis by the magazine examined the list of top schools that enroll veterans as students and examined why four-year schools were making a weak showing on the list. Two-year colleges and for-profit institutions dominated this top 15 list. The source of the ranking for the magazine was the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Also on the top 15 list at number three was The University of Maryland University College, a LSCS partner. The agreement between LSCS and UMUC allows LSCS students to transfer credits into a variety of bachelor’s degree programs offered by UMUC, providing more options for student veterans.
“Lone Star College has made a concerted effort to serve our veterans,” said Dr. Richard Carpenter, LSCS chancellor. “Earlier this year, we opened the Veterans Affairs Center, a world-class facility that offers a full range of services.”
The LSCS Veterans Affairs Center, located at LSC-University Park, provides a one-stop shop for all of veterans’ needs. For example, services include financial guidance, disability services counseling, free tax assistance, “Veterans-Helping-Veterans” support groups, education benefits support, career counseling, and many other services geared specifically to the returning veteran.
“It’s important to serve these student veterans and to assist them through their education to become more marketable and more competitive in today’s economy,” Carpenter said.
According to the Texas Veterans Commission, there were 22,309 veterans receiving Post-9/11 benefits in the state in April, which would have included those in school in the spring semester. Another 20,773 Texas veterans were participating in other VA educational programs, the commission noted.
The LSCS Veterans Affairs Center is located on the second floor at LSC-University Park between the main rotunda area and Parking Garage 11. For more information, contact the center at VeteranAffairsCenter@LoneStar.edu or (281) 290-2922, or go to LoneStar.edu/veterans-affairs
To see The Chronicle of Education story and chart, go to http://chronicle.com/article/Veterans-Use-Benefits-of-Ne/65914/
With more than 62,000 students in credit classes in spring 2010, and a total enrollment of nearly 85,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the second largest and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. LSCS consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Park, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu
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