YSU, Stark State have Collegiate Purple Star designation renewed for military student support

Thirty colleges and universities across Ohio had their Collegiate Purple Star designation renewed for their efforts to support students with military backgrounds.

Youngstown State University and Stark State College are among the schools that had their designation renewed. Both schools were part of the first group of Collegiate Purple Star awardees that received the designation in May 2022.

To keep the designation, universities have to apply for renewal after three years.

According to the release, Ohio was the first state to offer the Collegiate Purple Star designation when it was launched in 2022. A similar award is given to Pre-K to 12th grade schools.

All colleges and universities in the state are able to apply for the Collegiate Purple Star designation. A committee of members from the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the Ohio Veterans Education Council, the Ohio Department of Veteran Services, the Ohio Adjutant General's Department and the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission K-12 Purple Star Committee decide which schools receive the designation.

The criteria for being chosen as a Purple Star college or university includes having a dedicated military point of contact or office on campus, having priority registration for veterans and servicemembers, surveying student veterans and servicemembers about their needs and challenges, and allowing for the establishment of student-led groups and organizations for veterans and servicemembers.