Copyright M Live Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - During a Veterans Day luncheon, Grand Valley State University (GVSU) announced the launch of a new program to assist current and former military service members receiving their education. The program, called GVSU Military Promise, guarantees admission to the university for all service members who have committed to serve, are serving or have honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The program will also provide a $500 per-semester grant towards tuition for service members on active duty, in the reserves or in the National Guard. GVSU has 428 enrolled students that have reported as either active duty military members or veterans, according to a university spokesperson. The promise program is an expansion of existing offerings for military students, including the Peter Secchia Military and Veterans Resource Center. Shane Scherer, director of the center, said the new initiative will expand educational access for adult learners in collegiate education, a large portion of whom are military veterans. “I think it is a tremendous way for us to expand our ability to bring those student veterans onto campus and get them into the system,” he said. The program is a similar model to another promise zone scholarship intended to increase educational access in West Michigan: the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship. It provides eligible students within the Grand Rapids city limits with tuition-free associate’s degrees through Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC). This fall, GVSU and Ferris State University announced they had partnered with GRCC to expand the program and also cover a large portion of tuition costs for bachelor’s degree-seeking students.
