OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) has been awarded a $750,000 grant to establish a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success on campus.

OCCC is one of just 13 schools and the only school in Oklahoma to receive the fiscal year 2024 award from the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success (CEVSS) Program in the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education. 

"Oklahoma City Community College has a long history of helping veterans achieve their educational dreams," said Dr. Mautra Staley Jones, president of OCCC. "This generous award from the CEVSS Program will allow OCCC to expand and enhance our efforts to support very deserving veterans." 

The CEVSS Program's purpose is to encourage institutions of higher education to develop model programs to support veteran student success by coordinating services to address the academic, financial, physical and social needs of veteran students.

OCCC's Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success will provide a single point of contact to coordinate comprehensive support services for veteran students. 

Additionally, OCCC will establish a veteran student support team with representatives from all OCCC offices and departments that provide support to veteran students on campus, such as admissions, registration, financial aid, veterans benefits, academic advising, student health, personal or mental health counseling, career advising, and disability services.

OCCC's Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success coordinator will have the primary responsibility to coordinate the model program and monitor the rates of veteran student enrollment, persistence and completion.

While the grant term is three years, OCCC will develop a plan to sustain the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success beyond that period.

About Oklahoma City Community College

Since its inception in 1972, Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) has been the heartbeat of the Metro, dedicated to empowering learners and strengthening communities. Serving more than 18,000 students in credit-seeking courses and more than 5,000 students in non-credit-seeking programs, we are committed to producing leaders. “Student Success, Community Enrichment” is our mission, and we offer 87 degree and certificate programs plus more than 50 micro-credentials that provide a foundation for further education or immediate career readiness. We remain dedicated to providing accessible, affordable, high-quality education that equips students to achieve personal and professional goals. OCCC is more than an institution; we are a community catalyst, fostering growth and success in our city, our workforce, and the lives of our students. Discover your potential at OCCC, where your future is our purpose. Visit us at occc.edu.