Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) has been recognized as a Florida Collegiate Purple Star Campus, highlighting its ongoing efforts to support veterans and military-connected students. The designation, awarded earlier this year, acknowledges FGCU’s range of services including priority course registration, a dedicated military liaison, specialized resources for military students and their families, student-led transition programs, and professional development opportunities for faculty and staff. The Purple Star program was created by the Florida Legislature in 2023.
Danielle Baynum, a senior at FGCU and Navy veteran, described the challenges she faced transitioning from military to civilian life: “People don’t realize how difficult it is to transition out of service,” Baynum said. “It’s a huge culture shock. You kind of lose a sense of purpose. I truly recommend if a veteran is struggling at all, they need to find as much support as they can.”
Sylvia Mitchell, interim director of Military & Veteran Success at FGCU’s Community Counseling & Education Center, explained that two new initiatives helped secure the Purple Star status: Peer Assistance for Transitioning Heroes (PATH), which pairs experienced student veterans with those needing mentorship; and professional development training for faculty and staff about military culture. “Those two were the missing pieces of what we needed to get Purple Star Campus designation,” Mitchell said. “It’s important that they know we serve as a resource, providing community and getting them engaged with other campus partners to ensure their success.”
Mitchell estimates there are between 350-400 service-connected students enrolled at FGCU each term. These students often rely on one another due to shared experiences. PATH coordinator Baynum added: “PATH is a student-run peer mentorship program. Whether you’re a veteran or a dependent, we connect our experienced students who know the ropes of navigating campus resources with students who are either struggling or just in need of some mentoring.”
Lauren Rodriguez, president of Student Veterans of America at FGCU and U.S. Coast Guard veteran, emphasized outreach efforts during orientation events: “We’re implementing different strategies at Eagle View Orientation, showing our presence and making sure that before a student veteran even arrives, they know where we are,” Rodriguez said.
“I’m very pleased to see that FGCU is actually a military-friendly campus, and I’m proud to say that it is,” Rodriguez continued.
FGCU has also partnered with Home Base Florida since 2014 to provide clinical care for issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), anxiety and depression among veterans through its location in the Kleist Health Education Center. Joe Buhain, assistant professor in Marieb College of Health & Human Services and adviser for Student Veterans of America at FGCU noted: “Home Base helps support the mind, the body and, in a way, the soul of the individual coming through… So FGCU has not only the educational aspect to offer but the mental and physical well-being support too. That has an extraordinary effect.”
Additionally, FGCU offers the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program through its Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship—a tuition-free initiative supporting veterans from idea development through business growth.
Looking ahead, FGCU plans to expand its commitment by constructing a privately funded veterans center on campus intended as an academic and wellness hub for both university members and local veterans. The facility will serve approximately 94,000 veterans living in Southwest Florida.
