Bloomsburg University Earns PNGAS Designation

BLOOMSBURG—Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is one of 30 colleges and universities that has earned the Pennsylvania National Guard Associations (PNGAS) inaugural PNGAS Guard-Friendly School designation.

Developed by the PNGAS Education Advisory Council, the PNGAS Guard-Friendly School standards were designed to recognize colleges, universities, and trade schools that meet or exceed ten (10) baseline criteria that create a supportive learning environment to assist members of the Pennsylvania Guard pursuing post-secondary degrees.

“Guardsmen have unique responsibilities that active-duty troops and reservists do not have, and this creates different challenges for them when pursuing a degree,” stated Brigadier General (Retired) George Schwartz, Chairman of the PNGAS Education Action Council. “These 30 schools have made a deliberate effort to be flexible, accommodating, and supportive of Guardsmen-Students and deserving of recognition. The PNGAS Guard Friendly School designation is a win-win!”

“We are honored to receive the PNGAS Guard-Friendly School designation,” said Bob Heckrote, advisor for military and undeclared students. “As a veteran myself, it is to recognize institutions that meet or exceed the criteria to support a positive learning environment for veterans. BU sees veterans as unique and deserving of additional resources. Those resources include admissions, academic advising, military-specific programming, student organizations, and more.”

Bloomsburg University is the educational destination for over 300 military students and has been growing steadily in recent years. BU is different from many other colleges and universities is its unique appreciation for the fact that military students have different needs and attributes than non-military students. The centerpiece of our efforts is the Office of Military and Veterans Resources or the Military Office.

The Military Office works for current and former military members, spouses and dependents, and ROTC cadets. They have also developed strong relationships with area military recruiters to facilitate conversations for people who are interested in joining the military.

The PNGAS board approved the 30 self-nominated institutions to be named as 2019-2020 PNGAS Guard-Friendly Schools for the 2019-2020 academic year.  Of the more than 480 schools eligible to receive EAP funds, only these schools have earned the right to be designated a PNGAS Guard-Friendly School.  In 2020 PNGAS and the EAC are reviewing several additional standards to help more members, veterans, and their families get advanced degrees.

PNGAS is a non-profit organization, is not associated with or legally connected to the Pennsylvania National Guard, the state or federal government, the US Military or the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Bloomsburg University is one of 14 universities in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. The university serves approximately 8,700 students, offering comprehensive programs of study in five distinct colleges: College of Education, Zeigler College of Business, College of Liberal Arts, College of Science and Technology, and new Honors College.