Texas A&M Awarded 2014 Military Friendly Schools Designation
Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has named Texas A&M University its 2014 Military Friendly Schools list.
The 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 Texas A&M University’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, vice president at Victory Media 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.”
Among the reasons the university received this special designation is a center opened in September of 2012 on campus dedicated to helping military veterans who are now enrolled as students at the university. The Texas A&M Veteran Resource and Support Center (VRSC) falls under the Division of Student Affairs, and is dedicated to helping veteran Aggies to become successful students. The center has as its mission to “Serve Well Those Who Have Served.”
The center identifies veteran students and works to develop and provide uniquely tailored resources and programs that support them as they make that transition from the military to the classroom and later the workforce.
Col. Jerry Smith, USMC (Ret.) and a 1982 Texas A&M graduate, is the center’s director and leads the effort to help these students make the transition to college life. Smith said, “The creation of the VRSC and our unique partnership with the Veteran Services Office (under the Texas A&M Scholarships & Financial Aid Office) provides a powerful combination of resources for student veteran success.”
This is not the first time Texas A&M has been noted for being “military friendly.” Texas A&M received “military friendly” designation by G.I. Jobs magazine in 2009 for its participation in the nation’s new GI Bill and related activities, an honor that university officials welcomed while pointing out the institution has been “military friendly” and a major contributor to the military since its opening in 1876.
The Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges program also formally recognized Texas A&M in 2009 for its efforts to make it easier for veterans and military personnel to obtain an education.
The university was once again recognized as one of the most veteran-friendly universities in the country by Military Times Edge magazine in 2011.
The Military Friendly Schools media and website feature the list, interactive tools and search functionality to help military students find the best school to suit their unique needs and preferences. The 1,868 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience. These schools have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility and other services to those who served.
Now in its fifth year, the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools was compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 10,000 schools nationwide approved for VA tuition funding. The survey results that comprise the 2014 list were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media.
Media contact: Tura King, Texas A&M Division of Marketing & Communications.
