Colonel Bishop highlights 78% growth in military‑affiliated students, pushes for permanent TA match and Memorial Hall fundraising

Colonel Dan Bishop reported rapid growth in ETSU's military‑affiliated population and outlined several initiatives to support those students. He said the population rose from roughly 750 in 2022 to 1,336 post‑census — a 78% increase — and noted continued goals for National Guard and Reserve enrollment.

Bishop described the board's decision last spring to allow ETSU to match the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance (TA) rate of $250 per credit hour and asked the board to consider making that match permanent and expanding it to graduate programs. He also outlined a VITAL partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide benefits enrollment and suicide‑prevention services on campus, pending federal approval.

On facilities and fundraising, Bishop proposed consolidating military and veteran services into 6,000 square feet of basement space in Memorial Hall to create a centralized student support center and set an initial fundraising target of $5 million to convert the space. "If we're competitive... it would create the largest military student support center in Tennessee," he said.

Trustees thanked Bishop and noted statewide recognition for veteran services; the president and other trustees praised the unit's progress.