ASU signs agreements to further student success

ALBANY – Albany State University has taken significant steps toward enhancing student success by signing two Memoranda of Understanding. These collaborations with Grand Valley State University and the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Services reflect ASU’s unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for its students.

“These partnerships provide a special opportunity for progress,” interim ASU President Lawrence Drake said. “ASU was built on progress. Students also progress due to life-long learning, and these partnerships will allow our students to be excited about this level of learning.

“Student learners of any age can progress in their education, and these partnerships help them continue on their journey, which is important to ASU and our colleagues.”

The partnership with GVSU will allow students to seamlessly transition into the master’s programs in mass communications and health care management upon graduation from ASU. Students will gain access to scholarships, mentorships and resources. The support provided through these initiatives is designed to empower ASU students, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in their chosen fields.

Moreover, school officials said the partnership will foster collaborative research initiatives, enabling faculty from both universities to engage in joint projects that enrich the academic experience and contribute to the greater body of knowledge in these vital areas. This collaboration exemplifies both universities’ shared vision for innovation and excellence in education.

The first-of-its-kind formal partnership and MOU with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) establishes a pioneering collaboration to enhance career readiness and employment support for veterans and military-affiliated students at historically black colleges and universities.

“The office is thrilled about this partnership and the extensive resources and career opportunities that the Department of Labor VETS program offers to military-affiliated individuals,” Alexandria Bynum, director of the Office of Military and Adult Education at ASU, said. “This collaboration underscores Albany State University’s ongoing commitment to supporting military-affiliated students, whose numbers have grown to over 500 students in the fall 2024 semester.”

The VETS partnership focuses on providing tailored employment resources to veteran and military-affiliated students. Through this collaboration, the more than 500 veterans and military students enrolled at ASU will gain access to job training, apprenticeships, internships, and career placement services. This initiative is part of the Biden administration’s broader effort to ensure that all students at HBCUs have the necessary tools and resources to successfully transition into good jobs in the work force.

ASU takes pride in its mission to foster inclusivity, support, and growth among all students, officials said. The partnerships with VETS and GVSU are a testament to the university’s dedication to ensuring that ASU students receive the comprehensive support they deserve as they navigate their educational and professional journey.

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