John Jay, Fordham & NYC Department of Veterans’ Services Helm The Initiative

Plans to Launch “The Salute Awards” During Veterans Week 2017

NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Loree Sutton announced, May 25, The Veterans On Campus NYC (VOC) program, marking the beginning of Fleet Week.

“When veterans return from service, research shows that they vote, volunteer, and work with their neighbors at higher rates than their civilian counterparts. Additionally, the majority of GI-Bill users are first-generation college students,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “By investing in its student veterans, the City will be leveraging and attracting federal resources; making a long-term human capital investment in all five boroughs; and providing pathways to opportunity for tens of thousands of diverse young people-all of whom have a demonstrated commitment to service.”

“New York is a mecca for corporate headquarters across all industries, and those industries need young, emerging talent with superior intellectual and leadership skills,” noted Gerry Byrne, Chairman/Founder of VOC. “In launching Veterans On Campus NYC, we are creating a community of very special students who will be supported and thanked by New York for their important contributions to our Nation,” added Byrne, who is Vice Chairman of the Penske Media Corporation, a Fordham grad, Marine officer and Vietnam Vet. Byrne serves as a Trustee of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and sits on the Advisory Board of Fordham’s Gabelli School.

A powerful American talent pool is emerging, comprised of the 100,000 armed services members annually leaving the military to seek higher education. Across its hundreds of colleges and universities, over 12,000 students are currently using their GI Bill to pursue higher education in New York City. The Veterans On Campus NYC (VOC) program strives to nurture this valuable workforce asset, combining the resources of a coalition of NYC colleges, the New York City Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS), and corporations like Marsh & McLennan and Veterans Advantage. The initiative was launched this morning at a roundtable hosted by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“We want veterans to find their next mission in New York City. The GI Bill is a great way to do that, and DVS is committed to doing its best to make sure that veterans and their families are able to use the City’s rich ecosystem of colleges and universities as a springboard to a successful life.

It’s not just good for our veterans, it’s good for the Cityveterans are civic assets,” adds NYC Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) Commissioner, Brigadier General (Ret.) Loree Sutton, MD.

Working collaboratively with Commissioner Sutton’s office, VOC-NYC has four core objectives:

(1) To assist New York City academic institutions in further identifying and adopting best practices which support the needs and strengths of student veterans currently enrolled across the City;

(2) To attract the finest men and women of our armed forces to come to New York City to pursue undergraduate and graduate education;

(3) To help all veterans and their families transition effectively into academic and urban life, and to thrive while in school; and

(4) To launch veterans into successful careers in the private and public sectors.