PULLMAN WSU ranked among the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools doing the most to embrace America’s veterans as students in this year’s list of military friendly schools published by the magazine G.I. Jobs.
The 2010 list honors schools with a priority of recruiting students with military experience. Criteria for making the list included efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students, results in recruiting military and veteran students and academic accreditations.
WSU’s Graduate School also is included in the list.
“We believe that providing educational opportunities for returning veterans is an important aspect of our mission as a public university,” said WSU President Elson S. Floyd. “These veterans have already distinguished themselves through their service; they will continue to be leaders in shaping our nation’s economic future. Our university is honored to do its part in helping them reach their goals.”
“The selection is a reflection of the support for veterans by the administration, staff, faculty and students,” said Matthew Zimmerman, WSU veterans coordinator. “WSU recognizes the sacrifices made by veterans and their families and works tirelessly to ensure their success here.”
The list was compiled beginning in May when G.I. Jobs polled more than 7,000 schools nationwide. Methodology, criteria and weighting for the list were developed with the assistance of an academic advisory committee consisting of educators and administrators from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Toledo, Duquesne University, Coastline Community College and Lincoln Technical Institute.
The tens of billions of dollars in tuition money available with recent passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill has intensified an already strong desire by colleges to invite veterans into their classrooms.
“Schools are clamoring for them like never before, said Rich McCormack, G.I. Jobs publisher. “Veterans need a trusted friend to help them decide where to get educated. The military friendly schools list is that trusted friend.”
A detailed list of schools will be highlighted in the annual “Guide to Military Friendly Schools” and on a poster, both of which will be distributed to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in September. A website will launch in September to assist military veterans in choosing schools that best meet their educational needs.
The 2010 military-friendly schools list can be found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/mfspr
G.I. Jobs (www.gijobs.com) is published by Victory Media, a veteran-owned business headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa. The company also publishes “The Guide to Military Friendly Schools,” and Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur magazines. The company annually rates the nation’s military friendly employers, military spouse friendly employers and best corporations for veteran-owned businesses.
