Gordon College
Veteran and Military Support Services
Gordon College is proud to support our veteran and military-connected students, faculty, and staff. Through connection and care, we center the development of everyone who made the sacrifice of service, and proudly support veteran family members. Our mission is to provide a community of support, allowing every veteran and military-connected student to cultivate their calling with purpose.
Get credit for your military training
Gordon offers credit for prior learning and values the training and experience of our veteran students. The Office of Admissions can help connect your Joint Services Transcript (JST) to a common list of courses and their Gordon equivalents. Students may also receive transfer credit for prior college attendance. Let's incorporate your experience into this next chapter of your life!
Scholarships and financial support
Gordon College proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Every year, up to 20 eligible students are awarded a $2,500 scholarship from Gordon which can be matched by Yellow Ribbon funds. Students interested in the scholarship should begin the process by completing an online Yellow Ribbon Application Form. Have other financial aid questions? Our team is ready to support you.
"As someone who earned my undergraduate degree as an adult student while on active duty, I know these challenges well. I felt very different from my classmates, who were welcoming, but didn’t understand my journey. The key for me was using the supports the college provided, leaning on my military training to stay organized, connecting to other veterans, and keeping the faith that I could do it!
I was drawn to work in the collegiate world because of this experience, through a wish to give back. As a longtime educator, I am here to support everyone in their pursuit of learning. I continue to serve as a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, providing first response and promoting safe boating as a Vessel Examiner. Gordon is very special to me, as my sister is a proud graduate, and I watched as she found inspiration to grow and be herself. I love that I can continue this service today and pay it forward."
— Dr. Joanna Hersey Flotilla Staff Officer, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and Veteran, United States Coast Guard, Director of Student Success and Veteran Student Advocate at Gordon College
Emma Bruhl '28
B.A. Political Science, United States Air Force ROTC at UMass Lowell Det. 345
I am a military kid who has spent a good portion of my life moving. I have been from Alabama, Tennessee, Boston, DC, to northern Italy. Bouncing between these places revealed the importance of family and community. These principles are so imbedded in the Military which is a reason why I decided to join. Within the Air Force, I dream of flying the F-22 Raptor and getting to meet many new people in many new places along the way. To accomplish this, I chose the route of Air Force ROTC, a 3–4-year program preparing people to become officers in the U.S. Air Force. I wanted this in tandem with a good education and found that Gordon was a great option. Though the thought of Military is strange to many people I have met, I am always met with warmth and genuine curiosity here on campus. Many professors are accommodating of my unique training schedule and actively seek to help me succeed. The most important part of Gordon to me, however, is having questions of the faith embedded in the curriculum. After a life traveling through bases and schools with almost no faith-presence, Gordon is such a blessing. The learning I do here at Gordon doesn't just prepare me to get my major but teaches me applicable principles for leadership in ROTC.
Joseph Hawe '29
Christian Ministries Major , Concentration in Pastoral Ministries
I was born and raised in an Irish Roman Catholic neighborhood in Boston, and joined the Marine Corps after high school. I served in Operation Sharp Edge in Liberia, in support of the evacuation of thousands of civilian personnel during the Liberian Civil War. I then served in the Gulf War in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, in preparation for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was later stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
Through scripture, I have gained hope, a positive outlook on life, and have found purpose in helping others, one at a time. My guiding star is Isaiah 40:31, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary.
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Yes! Gordon offers credit for prior learning, and values the training and experience of our veteran students. The Office of Admissions can help connect your Joint Services Transcript (JST) to a common list of courses and their Gordon equivalents. Students may also receive transfer credit for prior college attendance. Visit our admissions webpages for more information, and incorporate your prior experience into this new chapter of your life.
-
The Gordon College Office of Financial Aid works closely with our service members to ensure that they receive all of the benefits offered by the government to private colleges, on behalf of those who have served or are serving in the United States military.
Financial aid counselors are ready to direct students to available aid and scholarships, including our Yellow Ribbon Program.Up to 20 students at Gordon can be eligible recipients per year. Gordon will award a $2,500 scholarship which will be matched by Yellow Ribbon funds. Students interested in being considered may start by completing the online Yellow Ribbon Application Form.
-
Gordon College welcomes any student to live in on-campus housing, but those who are 23 or older, married, living with relatives, or attending part-time may choose to live off-campus. The Office of Student Life has various housing options available, and members of the residence life team are ready to help new students understand their options. Explore housing options online.
-
Military-connected students are those with any connection to military service and support. The term is often used specifically for those who have close family relationships with active duty or former service members, such as parents and guardians, spouses, and children. Veteran families face unique challenges, as they are called upon to support the service of their loved one in numerous ways. Many of our faculty and staff have lived this experience, making Gordon an understanding and welcoming place for those who carry the honor and responsibility of support.
-
Gordon is proud to offer care through our team at the Center for Student Counseling and Wellness. Entirely confidential, this includes individual therapy sessions, addiction counseling, dating and relationship assistance, and much more. In addition, Gordon's Health Center maintains student health and immunization records, and offers nursing care including exams, testing, and education.
-
The athletics program at Gordon College welcomes student veteran athletes to apply to join our Fighting Scots teams. Our athletic programs are committed to Christian character, intellectual maturity, and program excellence. Basketball, rowing, tennis, track and field, volleyball, baseball, hockey, and more, keep our students physically and mentally sharp, and provide coaching and mentoring during the colligate journey.
As a Division III program, Gordon does not offer athletic scholarships, but aid and scholarship monies are available to those who qualify. Prospective student-athletes are encouraged to either contact coaches individually, or fill out the recruiting questionnaire listed under the sports of interest.
-
Yes you can! Gordon offers personalized resources for academic success. Whether you need help developing study skills for a challenging class, support for a documented disability, or you're navigating a new culture or language, our approach is personal. No one-size-fits-all.
Our team is ready to help you explore strategies to expand your understanding of how you learn best. Our Academic Success Center offers academic coaching and resources to get the most out of your learning. Free tutoring is available, as well as peer mentors who can meet outside of class for help navigating homework and assignments. Our faculty provide scheduled drop-in hours where any student can visit with questions or concerns, or to get clarity about an upcoming assignment, without making an appointment.
Gordon College values the service and dedication of our veteran students, and honors the sacrifices and valor of our military family members. We support individualized learning, bringing workplace-ready skills which position our graduates for success in the job market.
-
Students, faculty, and staff at Gordon College come from many faith backgrounds. With a focus on character development and community, students find classroom experiences which develop their understanding of the history and culture of faith, and attend events such as Chapel and student-led faith experiences, allowing them to experience new forms of worship. Wherever you are on your faith journey, we invite you to come with an open heart and open hands, ready to share with and learn from others, and excited to grow in a shared life together.
-
Gordon offers a wide variety of programs, and students may also combine interests by earning a minor in addition to their undergraduate degree. From Accounting to Youth Ministries and most everything in between, our programs allow students to connect with peers who share similar interests, gain hands-on learning experiences, connect to faculty who are experts in the discipline, and build individual career pathways.
Explore our academic programs directory and don’t hesitate to reach out to our admissions team to learn more. Not sure? We welcome students to declare Deciding status, and a specialized academic advisor works with each student to choose courses of interest along a path of discovery.
-
Yes, Gordon works in partnership with the United States Army and Air Force ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) programs. These allow students to earn their undergraduate degrees while also completing training through the ROTC. Students then move to full-time service upon graduation, commissioning as a Second Lieutenant. Students can choose any major, and participate in athletics and other traditional collegiate opportunities. In partnership with the University of Massachusetts at Lowell for the United States Air Force, and with Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the United States Army, Gordon ROTC students develop valuable leadership skills to serve them in their military service and beyond. Army ROTC information may be found here, and Air Force ROTC information may be found here.
-
Please reach out to Dr. Hersey, our Veteran Student Advocate, for a conversation at any time. Meet virtually, or on campus in historic Frost Hall, where you will also find our Office of Admissions. As a veteran, Dr. Hersey has the lived experience which allows her to fully support and understand our student veterans, and our wider military-connected community.