Upper Iowa University named again to top ranks of 'Military Friendly Schools'
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FAYETTE, Iowa (September 12, 2011) — Upper Iowa University has again been named to the top ranks of Military Friendly Schools by G.I. Jobs, a publication designed to helps members of the military service who are transitioning to civilian life. The magazine, which annually ranks schools that are the most supportive of the military student, released the list September 12 of the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students.
Schools on the list (www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/2012 list) range from state universities and private colleges to community colleges and trade schools. UIU has been on the list since G.I. Jobs began the recognition program with its 2010 list.
“UIU has been committed to meeting the needs of service members and their families since the university was founded in 1857,” said UIU President Alan G. Walker. “We have a long and proud heritage of serving the educational needs of the men and women who serve our country, and we are honored to continue being recognized for the programs we have designed to help them. We welcome the maturity, experience, diversity and leadership that military students bring to UIU.”
Barb Schultz, associate executive director of Distance Education at UIU, serves as the UIU Institutional representative for Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges as well as the UIU Program Manager for the Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership. According to Schultz, the broad range of UIU educational options allows military service members stationed around the world to take courses through online or independent study or at some U.S. military bases through the University’s educational centers. “The result is that military service members can continue meeting their military responsibilities while advancing themselves by pursuing higher education,” she added.
“UIU’s seamless approach to completing a college degree through a variety of program modalities, tuition discounts, generous acceptance of military and life experience as transfer credits, and programs for military spouses are key aspects of serving military students, Schultz said. “We work to remove obstacles to military students reaching their educational goals.”
For the first time, G.I. Jobs this year used a survey of student veterans as part of its evaluation, providing peer reviews by current students of specific institutions. Michael Dakduk, executive director for the Student Veterans of America, praised the inclusion of peer reviews. “The Military Friendly Schools list is the go-to resource for prospective student veterans searching for schools that provide the right overall experience. Nothing is more compelling than actual feedback from current student veterans.”
Service members and veterans can also meet individual student veterans from the various schools virtually on the site to learn more about personal school decisions and the transition from the military to an academic environment.
According to G.I. Jobs, the 1,518 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list prioritize the recruitment of students with military experience. These schools are making the grade by offering scholarships and discounts, veterans’ clubs, full-time staff, military credit and other services to those who served. The 2012 list of Military Friendly Schools ® was compiled through extensive research and a data driven survey of more than 8,000 schools nationwide. Methodology, criteria and weighting for the list were developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from schools across the country. A full list of board members can be found at http://militaryfriendlyschools.com/Article/advisory-board/.A full story and detailed list of Military Friendly 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 early October. The newly redesigned website, found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, features the list, interactive tools and search functionality to assist military veterans with their school decisions.
About G.I. Jobs
G.I. Jobs (www.gijobs.com) is published by Victory Media, a veteran-owned business which also publishes The Guide to Military Friendly Schools, Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur magazines and annually rates the nation’s “Military Friendly Employers,” “Military Spouse Friendly Employers” and “Best Corporations for Veteran-Owned Businesses.
Contact:
Monica Bayer Heaton
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Phone: 563-425-5773
Cell: 515-291-2070
heatonm@uiu.edu
About Upper Iowa University
Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to nearly 6,800 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.