News
Ohio University Gets ‘Military Friendly’ Title Again
By: Sara Brumfield | Athens Messenger
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Ohio University has been named a 2014 Military Friendly School for the third consecutive year by Victory Media, a veteran-owned company and publisher of G.I. Jobs magazine.
The 2014 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.
“Inclusion on the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools shows Ohio University’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, Victory Media vice president and a nine-year Navy veteran. “The need for education is growing and our mission is to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”
Melissa Toretch, coordinator of special populations for the University College, which includes the Military and Veteran Programs (MVP), said inclusion on the list is a great accomplishment for Ohio University.
“The recognition is especially beneficial to our military and Veteran students,” she said. “It means we are progressing and making great strides as a university in assisting our MVP students succeed as college students.”
Needs such as priority registration, assistance transitioning from military to academic life, assistance with deployment and training issues, access to the Commuter & Veterans Lounge , academic services on campus, participation in the MVP Learning Community, free tutoring and graduation stoles recognizing their branch of service and rank, as well as social and academic support, she added.
The 2014 list includes 1,868 institutions that represent the top tier of U.S. colleges, universities and trade schools assisting military students. More than 12,000 schools approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs applied for the designation. Schools with the designation have programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility and other services for those who served.
“There is a university-wide recognition that has been in place for some time that it is our responsibility as a public university to do everything we can to help men and women who serve the country,” said University College Dean David Descutner. “Those returning for a university education deserve our best efforts to help them succeed. Ohio University will continue to try to improve all that we do to help veterans on all of our campuses.”