NLC Receives $7.7 Million to Construct Veterans Center

Receiving continued investments from the 87^th Texas Legislature, Northeast Lakeview College (NLC) will be the next site for a new Veterans Center within the Alamo Colleges District (ACD). Awarded $7.7 million for a new Veterans Center, the funds are part of the State of Texas appropriations provided to the Alamo Colleges for the 2022-2023 biennium. Senators Donna Campbell (Dist. 25) and José Menéndez (Dist. 26) along with Representative Ina Minjarez (Dist. 124) championed this critical funding for veteran students at the Alamo Colleges.

With this continued investment in the next biennium, Northeast Lakeview College will begin the process of planning and developing the district’s newest Veterans Center. Constructing a building dedicated to providing services to active and retired military and their families will provide a “one-stop” location offering a convenient central place for them to have direct access to academic and non-academic services such as:

• Increasing Veteran specific orientations, academic and nonacademic programming
• Enhancing career planning, training, job assistance search, and transitional services
• Re-establishing a Veteran mentoring program that matches incoming Veterans with current students to support the transition process from military life to academia.
• Incorporating private meeting spaces to discuss confidential matters such as disability claims, benefits, veteran-specific advocacy and emergency services, and legal services
• Offering community space to host organizations and other events that support Veterans such as faculty support in the classroom, military culture, and learning styles.

Following NLC’s accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), during the 2017-2018 academic year, the Department of Veteran Affairs first approved NLC to accept federal education benefits. The next year, Northeast Lakeview College certified 1,773 veteran students, an increase of 363% from the previous year.  In the 2019-20 academic year, certifications grew to 1,970 students. At approximately 28% the number of students utilizing veteran benefits enrolled at NLC continues to increase.  In response to this growth, the College repurposed existing space to better accommodate and serve those who utilize veteran services at NLC, including veterans and their families. This included the addition of an intake/welcome area and expanding office and study space.

“As the need for veteran services continues to grow, this stand-alone facility will create the best possible environment to support Northeast Lakeview College student Veterans and their families and provide the opportunity for us to expand and enhance the services we currently offer,” says Dr. Veronica Garcia, NLC president. “We are located in one of the fastest-growing regions in the state and with Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) Randolph as a neighbor, it is important that we provide quality veteran support services that increase access to education in the communities that we serve. I would like to thank Senator Donna Campbell (Dist. 25) for her continued support of Northeast Lakeview College and its students.”

The proposed location for the new Veterans Center building at Northeast Lakeview College will be between the Brazos Student Union and Blanco Hall - Fine Arts. View a campus map here

First created during the 84^th Legislative Session, the Alamo Colleges has been the recipient of state funding to help support Veterans Centers across the district. St. Philip’s College’s Good Samaritan Veterans Outreach & Transition Center and San Antonio College’s Victory Center were first developed utilizing these investments and Northwest Vista College is in the planning phase for their Veterans Center.