MTSU recognized for support of employees in military on The Murfreesboro Post

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MTSU recognized for support of employees in military

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By: THE MURFREESBORO POST

Posted: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 12:45 pm

MTSU recognized for support of employees in military | MTSU, Patriotic Employer, Military, National Guard, Army, War, Veterans Affairs, Defense Department

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee is presented the Patriotic Employer Award by John Dedman, committee member for the Employers Support of the Guard and Reserve agency.

Middle Tennessee State University was recently recognized as a Patriotic Employer for support of its employees who may face deployment at a moment’s notice.

John Dedman, a Middle Tennessee committee member with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve agency, presented MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee with a certificate and statement of support recognizing the university's strong support of employees who serve in the military.

The agency is a U.S. Department of Defense agency established 30 years ago “to promote cooperation and understanding” between guard and reserve members and their employers during deployment.

ESGR boasts a network of more than 4,800 volunteers in 54 committees located across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Dedman said the volunteer committees recognize supportive employers “to develop the goodwill that needs to be there, especially when times get a little strained and (employees) are away for some time. They need to be recognized for that.”

Tony Johnston, a professor in the School of Agribusiness and Agriscience, nominated the university for this honor in appreciation for its support of him during his deployment while he served in the Reserves.

Johnston was deployed for two years following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He was activated again in 2005 for four months andmissed the fall semester that year. But the university made sure that his job was secure both times.

“I was so impressed that the university took care of me,” Johnston said. “I never was concerned about coming back to my job. It was very peaceful and the transition was so easy.”

McPhee credited the entire university community with creating an atmosphere where such support for deployed employees is possible.

"It's an honor to receive this recognition, but we've never hesitated in making sure we support those employees who serve our country," he said. “It’s the employees that make this university great.”

Johnston, who said he had a bad experience with a previous employer regarding his military service, pointed out that only a very smallpercentage of the population volunteers to serve in the military.

“It's very important that employers support their employees who do this,” he said. “It's vital that people be able to go do what we need as a country and come back and have employment. We all have families, we all have responsibilities. ... It's not easy. This is a dangerous thing. I really hope everyone realizes that whether you're a small employer or a large employer, the responsibility is shared amongst all of us.”

Tagged under Army, Defense Department, Military, MTSU, National Guard, Patriotic Employer, Veterans Affairs, War

Member Opinions:

By: znb_fy12 on 10/25/12
Middle Tennessee State is doing great work in support of faculty and students who are part of the university and are either currently serving or veterans. In high school, I had the intentions of enlisting in the reserve force prior to enrolling. After visiting and applying to several schools, I knew MTSU took care of its service members. This was a key factor in deciding to enroll at MTSU for me and many of my military friends. So far, my experience at the university has been great. My professors have been very understanding of my situation during my time here. They typically do their best to let me make up work that may be affected due to obligations to the military. As a journalism major, I am required to have a liberal arts and business minor. The Department of Journalism was so understanding of my situation that they let me substitute business with military science as a minor. I am very pleased to that see Dr. McPhee is able to see the value in the skills that veterans display as far as faculty is concerned. My hope is that, in the future, MTSU will continue to hire and support veterans that are returning from current conflicts overseas being that the war effort is winding down.