This honor places CCU in the top 15 percent of all schools nationwide as a university committed to educating military veterans. CCU will be included in a listing in the 2011 Guide to Military Friendly Schools, which publishes in September, as well as an online listing at MilitaryFriendlySchools.com.

“This honor recognizes the University’s continuing efforts toward a comprehensive package of support services for veteran students including the financial, academic, emotional and social elements that are essential to their success and, ultimately, their graduation from CCU,” says Provost Robert Sheehan.

CCU offers the following services and activities in support of military students and veterans:

* A 15-member Student Veterans Association has attained full representation in the Student Government Association Senate.

* A U.S. Army ROTC program has nearly tripled its participation level in just two years.

* Coastal Carolina University Veterans Association, which comprises 58 current or retired faculty and staff as well as alumni who have served honorably in any branch of the military, active/reserve or National Guards, has been formed.

* In concert with the Library of Congress, the Center for Military and Veterans Studies records and preserves the oral history of South Carolina veterans.

* A new Student Veteran Services office, run by student veterans, is an initial point-of-contact information center for military students.

* Coastal Carolina University’s Office of Veteran Affairs assists student veterans in securing scholarships, grants, on campus work-study employment and loans.

The list was compiled through research beginning in 2009 during which G.I. Job Magazine polled more than 7,000 schools across the country. Methodology and criteria were developed with the assistance of an academic advisory board of educators. There were 408 military students CCU’s campus last year, as compared to 219 in 2008-2009.