FSW: Purple Star Campus designation affirms daily commitment to veterans

FSW: Purple Star Campus designation affirms daily commitment to veterans Nov 11, 2026 2 min read Florida SouthWestern State College is proud to be a Purple Star Campus, which recognizes the college’s commitment to supporting veterans, active-duty service members and military-connected students as they transition into higher education. FSW recognized veterans with three campus ceremonies in November, bringing together students, employees and community members to honor those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. “Honoring veterans cannot be something we do once a year; it must be reflected in what we do every day,” said FSW President Jeff Allbritten in a prepared statement. “I believe that those who serve our country deserve to be served by us now. I am proud that FSW has a long tradition of excellence when it comes to supporting veterans and military-connected students. This new designation adds to that commitment and reflects the culture of service we work to maintain across our college.” The Purple Star Campus designation from the State of Florida recognizes educational institutions that demonstrate a commitment to creating a supportive environment for military-connected students and their families. FSW met all criteria for the designation, including: •     Providing a dedicated military liaison to assist students and families. •     Maintaining a military webpage with accessible information and resources. •     Offering a student-led transition program to help military-connected students navigate college life. •     Providing professional development for faculty and staff on issues affecting military-connected students. •     Offering priority registration for military students and their families. “The designation adds to a growing list of national and statewide recognitions for FSW’s support of the military community,” school officials said in a release. “FSW is a Purple Heart Campus and was the first state college in Southwest Florida to receive that designation. The college has also been recognized as a Best for Vets College by Military Times, earned Military Friendly College recognition, including Silver Status, for four consecutive years, and was named a Top Online College for Military Students by Newsweek. “These distinctions reflect the college’s efforts to make higher education accessible and welcoming to those who have served, including students balancing family responsibilities, employment and ongoing military obligations.”