Pictured L to R: Sarah McDonald,National Guard Recruiter; Dr. Kimberly Martin, Vice-President of College of Professional Studies at Bethel; President Walter Butler, Bethel University; SSG Joseph Baydoun, National Guard; SSG William Tucker, National Guard
by Bethel University
October 28, 2019. The Tennessee Army National Guard visited Bethel University in Clarksville, Tennessee on Monday, October 28thto present the prestigious Minuteman Award to the College of Professional Studies Office of Military and Veterans Affairs. The award is in recognition of the university’s participation in the Tennessee STRONG Act and its contribution to the National Guard community through education.
Bethel currently has an impressive number of students in the adult degree program that are utilizing the Tennessee STRONG (Support, Training, and Renewing Opportunity for National Guardsmen) Act, a “last-dollar” tuition reimbursement program for first-time degree-seeking Tennessee National Guard members.
“Tennessee STRONG provides an excellent opportunity for military servicemembers. At Bethel University, we have a long history of serving military and veteran students, and we are committed to making higher education convenient and attainable for them. We are grateful that Tennessee STRONG gives us another avenue to do just that,” commented College of Professional Studies Vice President Dr. Kimberly Martin.
There are approximately 80 universities in the state of Tennessee, Bethel is honored to be one of only 15 four-year universities partnering in the program. Bethel’s College of Professional Studies adult degree program allows National Guardsmen to study either in a classroom, online or both depending on the course of study. Every program at Bethel is writing based and each course is for five weeks - one course at a time.
President Walter Butler states, “Our programs here at Bethel University provide a unique opportunity for our service men and women to earn their college degree in a learning environment that works for their lives and the commitment they have made to protect our country first and foremost. We are so grateful to them for that commitment and are so honored to be a part of contributing to their lives in return.”
Bethel University was founded in 1842 and is affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination. Bethel’s adult degree program through the College of Professional Studies is one of the most successful programs in the state. Currently, the university has an enrollment of over 4,400 students with many of those being first-time degree-seeking adults.
For more information on the program, contact the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs at cpsmilitary@bethelu.eduor by calling 931-551-9640.