The University of Texas at Arlington receives $122,000 from Chase to Fund Education Programs for U.S. Military Veterans
Arlington, Texas, February 18, 2014 /3BL Media/ – As part of a $1 million investment nationwide, Chase announced today that it will provide a $122,000 grant to The University of Texas at Arlington to fund educational opportunities for military veterans.
With the ongoing drawdown of military forces, about 1 million service members will transition out of uniform over the next few years. The UT Arlington grant will allow the University to expand its successful Student Veteran Project, which offers free, specialized admissions and counseling services to undergraduate veterans who want to return to college.
"Education is a path to sustainable employment as well as family and financial stability," said Maureen Casey, the bank’s Director of Military and Veterans Affairs. "By supporting educational opportunities for veterans and their families we will cultivate and empower the next greatest generation."
Alexa Smith-Osborne, an associate professor of social work, is principal investigator of the UT Arlington Student Veteran Project, which developed the program model. She said Chase’s support will make it possible to provide enhanced services to student veterans at the onset of their first academic year based on the model developed by the University’s Center for Clinical Social Work.
“This tested, innovative program model uses the latest evidence in neuroscience and human resilience among military populations to support peak academic performance, on-time graduation and successful career launch for student veterans,” Smith-Osborne said.
Many veterans face unique challenges in educational settings related to their military service, family status and attendance as non-traditional students. Chase's education grants will help U.S. colleges build programs for veterans on campus, including orientation and bridge programs, student services and enhanced classroom experiences with the ultimate goal of increasing retention and graduation rates.
UT Arlington boasts one of the largest populations of student veterans and active duty military personnel in Texas, Veterans Administration surveys show. The University enrolled about 500 veterans during the 2006-07 academic year. That number has more than tripled to 1,564 student veterans in fall 2013.
Military Times named UT Arlington one of the best colleges for military veterans this fall based on an extensive survey that considered academic rigor, service member enrollment, percentage of tuition covered by the GI Bill and availability of specific programs to help service members.
Chase recognizes the tremendous sacrifices that military members and their families have made on behalf of all Americans. As a result, the company has developed a firm-wide strategy focused on employment, housing and education for returning veterans.
In early 2011, JPMorgan Chase and 10 other companies launched the 100,000 Jobs Mission, pledging to hire a total of 100,000 veterans by 2020. Since then, 120 more companies from nearly every sector of the U.S. economy have joined in, hiring 117,439 U.S. military veterans in less than three years. The companies have now doubled their commitment - to hiring 200,000 by 2020.
Chase has hired more than 6,400 veterans since 2011. In less than three years, Chase has hired more than 1,400 veterans in Texas – more than any other state in the country. It has also provided more than 660 mortgage-free homes, including more than 60 homes in Texas, to military families through its non-profit partners.
About Chase
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.4 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management and private equity. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.
About UT Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive research institution and the second largest institution in The University of Texas System. The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked UT Arlington as the seventh fastest-growing public research university in 2013. U.S. News & World Report ranks UT Arlington fifth in the nation for undergraduate diversity. Visit www.uta.edu to learn more. Follow #UTAdna on Twitter.
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Media contacts:
Greg Hassell, Chase Media Relations – 713-419-9208; greg.hassell@chase.com
Kristin Sullivan, UT Arlington Media Relations – 817-272-5364; kristinsul@uta.edu
