CLEVELAND — The Ohio Department of Higher Education announced two additions to the list of Collegiate Purple Star campuses: John Carroll University and Ohio Northern University.

The total number schools on this Ohio-based list is now 53.

John Paul Robinson, the director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at John Carroll University, said higher education institutions were chosen for their efforts to support military connected students.

Universities have to apply for this designation and meet various criteria in order to be chosen. Some of the criteria includes having a dedicated military/veteran point of contact and/or office on campus and establishing priority registration for veterans and service members.

Robinson explained that JCU has an on-campus veterans student lounge and created a task force last year to further assist military connected students.

“It’s commitment from the university, right?” Robinson said. “We know the importance of supporting the veterans and making sure that they feel as if they belong, and this is just a step in the right direction to make sure that we offer that support to our veterans and military connected students.”

Sergeant First Class T. Kyle Bennett, the military science instructor at John Carroll University, said this designation and a focus on military connected students is pivotal for the success of many.

“It’s so important for us to have a support system because how we live our lives in the military is very different from how civilians live their lives,” Bennett said.

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