With an eye toward creating more scholarship opportunities for students, the Keuka College Board of Trustees approved a measure that links the College with the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program at RIT.

At it recent spring meeting, the Board passed a resolution calling for the College to enter into affiliate status with RIT. Keuka students will be able to enroll in ROTC this fall.

“The presence of an ROTC program at Keuka College will provide our students with another scholarship alternative,” said College President Joseph G. Burke. “It will also create a more diverse academic program—as evidenced by the Army ROTC curriculum— greater leadership training opportunities, and additional student recruitment opportunities.”

RIT boasts 133 ROTC students on campus and at its affiliate and partnership schools.

Since its inception in 1916, Army ROTC has provided leadership and military training at schools and universities across the country and has commissioned more than a half million officers. It is the largest commissioning source in the American military.

More than 20,000 cadets are currently enrolled in Army ROTC, with women accounting for 20 percent. There are 273 host programs with more than 1,100 partnership and affiliate schools across the country.

Keuka is also reaching out to veterans looking to pursue a college degree. The College is extending an edu­cation benefit to those who served on active duty in the military on or after Sept. 1, 2001, by taking part in the Yel­low Ribbon G.I. Education Enhance­ment Program. The College will cover up to 50 percent of direct costs not otherwise covered by the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act, widely known as the “New GI Bill.”

Provisions of the Post-9/11 Veter­ans Educational Assistance Act were included in the Iraq-Afghanistan sup­plemental appropriations bill signed into law by President Bush. The mea­sure also created the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, under which the federal government will match, dollar-for-dollar, contribu­tions that colleges and universities make to help veterans cover tuition costs above the maximum in-state public college tuition amount.

Keuka took it a step further by agreeing to cover 50 percent of the direct costs, which include tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board.

“We believe this is an appropriate acknowledgement of the superb work done by our military men and women,” said Burke. “We are delighted to help carry on the legacy of the G.I. Bill.”