HCC Veteran College Fair connects Veteran students with four-year institutions
Feb 23, 2016
Yolanda Nikiema is among the 3,139 veteran students at Houston Community College. She attended the first-ever HCC Veteran College Fair at the West Loop Campus and it opened her eyes to opportunities that will help veterans like her excel beyond HCC.
“I went to the college fair to get information about the Social Work program at Texas Southern University. I did not expect to see great presentations that might sway me away from my original decision,” said Nikiema, who is now looking at Houston Baptist University as an option.
The HCC Veteran College Fair hosted more than a dozen four-year universities from across the country and area organizations that support educating veterans. The schools highlighted specific advantages for veteran students including special academic programs, discounts on tuition rates, scholarships, along with resources and accommodations for veterans and their dependents.
“It’s important for veteran students to know what their options are before they complete their degrees,” said Dr. Cephas Archie, interim director, Veteran Affairs & Student Support Services. “We are providing them exposure to opportunities to further their higher education past HCC.”
Dr. Patrick Jones, Philosophy professor at Syracuse University, presented at HCC because he is impressed with the veteran support network and the high-quality programs, but feels veteran students tend to sell themselves short.
“Too many veteran students think ‘I can’t be successful at the best tier school’ and they self-select themselves out of a school that might be the best for their future,” he said.
Dr. Archie believes hosting college fairs is a great way to help HCC with recruitment and retention.
“They provide our immediate graduates with wonderful opportunities; as well provides our future graduates with the incentive to continue their academic progress and success through HCC.”
To learn more about the veterans programs at HCC, please visit hccs.edu/veterans.