BPCC receives the first and only gold distinction in the state of Louisiana

Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) is proud to announce its designation as a 2024-2025 Governor’s Military and Veteran Friendly Campus by the Louisiana Board of Regents. BPCC is the first and only higher education institution in the state to receive the prestigious gold distinction, reflecting its exceptional commitment to supporting military members, veterans, and their families.

This recognition highlights BPCC’s ongoing dedication to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for those who have served our country. Chancellor Dr. Rick Bateman, Jr., expressed his immense pride in the college’s achievement.

“At BPCC, we recognize the sacrifices made by our military members and veterans, and we are deeply committed to ensuring they have the resources and support needed to succeed in their educational pursuits,” Bateman said. “I want to thank the Board of Regents for recognizing this important work and casting a light on programs like ours that have a long-standing commitment to serving our nation’s heroes.”

The Governor’s Military and Veteran Friendly Campus program began in 2015 to address the need for a comprehensive statewide support to aid military veterans, and their spouses and dependents transitioning from military service to public and non-public postsecondary education. All public Louisiana postsecondary institutions earned the military-friendly designation for the fifth consecutive year.

In 2023, the Board of Regents established additional tiers of distinction to recognize higher levels of excellence demonstrated by program participants. These tiers – gold, silver and bronze – reflect an institution’s commitment to its Veteran and Military students and their spouses/dependents and exist in addition to the requirements for designation as a Friendly Campus.

Out of the twenty-one (21) institutions that met the criteria for the 2024-2025 designation, BPCC was the sole recipient of the gold distinction.

For gold status, an institution must meet all the tier criteria:

• A Veteran’s Center with programming
• Ongoing veteran-veteran support, such as a buddy system, veteran peer mentor program, or veteran organization
• Dedicated financial aid and advising services trained to specifically serve veterans and service members
• Counseling support specifically designed for veteran students
• Specifically designed degree pathways that recognize military experience and training
• Providing flexible course-taking formats and degree structures that conform with veteran and active service member life obligations
• An additional graduation event for veteran students

As the only institution to receive the gold distinction, BPCC continues to lead the way in fostering a military-friendly environment, ensuring that veterans and their families have access to the highest quality education and support. The college offers a range of programs and services tailored to military and veteran students, including academic advising, career counseling, and dedicated support staff who understand the unique challenges faced by this community. BPCC also provides flexible learning options, including online and hybrid courses, to accommodate the schedules of active-duty military personnel and veterans.

"We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from our state,” said Susan Stakes, Director of Veteran and Military Educational Services. “At BPCC, our mission is to offer exceptional service to our veterans as they work toward their academic goals. We maintain an open-door policy, providing a welcoming environment of professionalism and camaraderie. Here, veterans can openly discuss transition challenges, mental health concerns, and any other obstacles they feel might hinder their educational journey. It's our privilege to guide them in the right direction and support them in achieving their academic aspirations."

For more information about BPCC’s military and veteran services, visit https://bit.ly/4dSaQS6 or contact Susan Stakes at sstakes@bpcc.edu.