Whereas, the College of William and Mary in the Commonwealth of Virginia is a public institution of higher learning, funded by both state and federal taxpayers;

Whereas, other public schools in Virginia, such as James Madison University, award students who successfully complete leadership training in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) their undergraduate degree with a minor in military science;

Whereas, unlike other Virginia schools such as University of Virginia, ROTC cadets at William & Mary currently do not receive full course credit for graduation or for the calculation of grade point averages (GPA) after successfully completing required military science classes, leadership training laboratories, and physical education/training;

Whereas, the United States military serves a critical, Constitutionally enumerated role in our nation’s defense and does so solely with volunteers;

I hereby ask, as a concerned American taxpayer, that the College of William & Mary fully accredit the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps to encourage voluntary military service—by offering full graduation and GPA credit for all classes and training completed and by awarding a minor in military science to students who meet commissioning requirements to serve as an officer in the United States military.