SAN DIEGO, Nov. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashford University and University of the Rockies, educational institutions owned by Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE: BPI), are joining nearly 200 colleges and universities nationwide on Veterans Day in a grassroots effort to honor military men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since the tragedy of September 11, 2001. As part of the Remembrance Day National Roll Call 2011, campus and community volunteers will read the names of more than 6,200 casualties of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, now called Operation New Dawn, which will stream on the Ashford University and University of the Rockies websites throughout the day.

"We wanted to take this opportunity to show support for military members studying at our academic institutions, as well as pay homage to the fallen who have given the ultimate sacrifice to defend our country," said Andrew Clark, chief executive officer of Bridgepoint Education.

Each campus participating in the Remembrance Day National Roll Call will observe a simultaneous nationwide minute of silence at 11 a.m. PST.

"We wanted to rally campus communities across the nation to send a powerful message to troops currently serving that their peers have not forgotten their sacrifices, or those of the fallen," Lt. Col. (Ret) Brett Morris, associate director of Veterans Affairs at Eastern Kentucky University and the National Roll Call coordinator, said. "The reading of individual names is very poignant because it emphasizes the significance of each and every life lost."

Beginning at 10:40 a.m., the reading of names in chronological order will stream on www.ashford.edu/tribute and www.rockies.edu/tribute for nearly eight hours.

The Remembrance Day National Roll Call is sponsored nationally by the Veterans Knowledge Community of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. NASPA is a 12,000-member association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of student affairs professionals. The Veterans Knowledge Community (VKC) mission is to advocate for best practices to help student veterans successfully transition into college. As the National Roll Call sponsor, the goal of VKC is to have at least one institution in each of the 50 states participate in the event.

About Bridgepoint Education

Bridgepoint Education's postsecondary education services focus on offering associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in such disciplines as business, education, psychology, social sciences and health sciences. Bridgepoint Education's regionally accredited academic institutions – Ashford University and University of the Rockies – deliver their programs online as well as at traditional campuses located in Clinton, Iowa, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more information about Bridgepoint Education, visit www.bridgepointeducation.com or call Shari Rodriguez, associate vice president of Public Relations, at 858.668.2580.

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahlc.org). The university offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs online and at its Clinton, Iowa campus. The university is known for its high quality yet highly affordable online and on-campus programs. For more information, visit www.ashford.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, associate vice president of public relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.

About University of the Rockies

University of the Rockies is a graduate school specializing in master's and doctorate degree programs in the social and behavioral sciences. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association (www.ncahlc.org), classes are offered online and at the University's Colorado Springs, Colorado, campus. For more information, please visit www.rockies.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, associate vice president of Public Relations, at 866.621.0124 x2513.

Contact: Shari Rodriguez, Associate Vice President of Public Relations
858.668.2580 * shari.rodriguez@bridgepointeducation.com

SOURCE Bridgepoint Education, Inc.