News

February 26, 2021

Excelsior College Partners with United States Veterans Chamber of Commerce (USVCC) to Help Servicemembers and Veterans Achieve Educational Goals

Excelsior College is pleased to announce an educational partnership with the United States Veterans Chamber of Commerce (USVCC). Since its inception in 1971, Excelsior has provided dedicated service to helping servicemembers, veterans, and their family members achieve their educational goals.

The United States Veterans Chamber of Commerce supports veterans by focusing on five pillars: education, employment, wellness, business, and family. The organization hosts various events to help veterans, such as career and education fairs, as well as provides support for the U.S. Department of Defense Warrior Games and the Invictus Games.

“Excelsior College is proud to support our armed forces and members of their family through the education pillar,” stated Jim Lettko, chief operating officer at Excelsior College. Lettko is an Iraq War veteran who served in the U.S. Army and New York Army National Guard for nearly 30 years. “I personally understand the value of service, military training, and on-the-job learning our servicemembers experience in their military careers. At Excelsior, we have academic advisors who specialize in working with servicemembers, their families, and veterans to help them with career paths and their individual goals, and to maximize the value of their training toward degree completion.”

The educational partnership with USVCC fits well with Excelsior College’s efforts to meet the holistic needs of veteran students. Excelsior offers degree programs that align with military experiences, professional development opportunities, career guidance, and other resources. By coordinating efforts with veteran-focused partners, like USVCC, the College can provide these resources and opportunities for more transitioning servicemembers, veterans, and spouses.

Larry Miller, a 31-year retired Marine officer, shared, “The partnership is part of the key pillar of education for us. Not everybody wants to go right into the workforce; folks want to take their GI Bill and do great things with education. They want to go to another field, or they may want to discover … because [they] haven’t even figured out what they want to do …. Excelsior College brings this capability online and allows folks to study anywhere.”

Miller also notes, “Excelsior College comes with a great reputation. This was a phenomenal opportunity between the USVCC and Excelsior College to give back to our veterans, our active duty, and their families.”