Courtesy of Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville State University has embarked on a groundbreaking journey toward educational enhancement. On Feb. 12, it signed an Education Partnership Agreement with Fort Bragg and the XVIII Airborne Corps. This agreement, set against the backdrop of FSU’s Center for Defense and Homeland Security, highlights the two institutions’ shared dedication to promoting education and innovation in fields vital to national security. It also cements the long-lasting partnership between the university and the military installation.
Chancellor Darrell T. Allison and Lieutenant General Gregory K. Anderson, commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps, made the partnership official in the Military Affiliated and Veteran Student Resource Center. Local leaders, including Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin and Cumberland County Commissioner Chairman Kirk de Viere, witnessed the moment aimed at benefiting students, faculty, and the wider community.
The Power of Partnership
“When we began in 2021, we set out to be more than the closest 4-year public university to XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg. We wanted a relationship that had less to do with proximity and more to do with intentionality,” said Chancellor Allison. “Today, Fayetteville State University boasts one of the largest percentages of military-affiliated student populations in the state and nation at 33% while also one of the few non-military institutions in the nation to offer 4-year tuition-free scholarships to military-affiliated students. The signing of an agreement of this magnitude with the XVIII Airborne Corps truly signifies that our previous efforts have not only been purposeful and impactful, but FSU now has the potential to be even more so regionally and nationally through the power of partnership.”
The new collaboration opens up new avenues for students for leadership development, cybersecurity, national security innovation, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Under the arrangement, FSU students will have access to improved academic pathways, mentorship from defense experts, and practical military research.
“This partnership fosters collaboration and innovation across multiple disciplines,” stated Lt. Gen. Anderson. “This will have a lasting impact on the installation and our community.”
As Fayetteville State University and the XVIII Airborne Corps embark on this partnership, the future looks bright for student engagement, research projects, and community involvement.
