Southeastern designated a Military Friendly School for fifth time

Monday, November 21, 2016
by: Tonya Lowentritt


     HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University has been named a 2017 Military Friendly School by Victory Media, publisher of “G.I Jobs,” the premier magazine for military personnel transitioning to civilian life.
     It is the fifth consecutive year the university has earned the special designation.
     According to the company, the listing honors the top colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace the nation’s military service members and veterans and spouses as students and to ensure their success on campus.
     “This listing demonstrates Southeastern’s ongoing commitment to our veterans and their educational success,” said President John L. Crain. “It is an honor to be named and to know that we are among the top institutions helping those individuals who have made great sacrifices in service to our state and nation.”
     Southeastern enrolls approximately 400 military veterans attending the university on the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill of Rights. The university maintains a Veterans Upward Bound program; an Office of Veterans Affairs that assists students in obtaining benefits and with other issues; provides academic and other counseling services; offers scholarships specifically for military students and veterans; and maintains a wide range of online and distance learning programs that provide students with flexibility in scheduling.
     The ROTC program returned to Southeastern last spring after more than a 20-year hiatus, during which time Southeastern students were still able to participate in ROTC, but had to take their military courses through Southern University’s Navy program or LSU’s Army and Air Force programs and had to travel to Baton Rouge in order to participate.
     Also new to campus is the Southeastern Student Veterans & Military Interest Association, a group open to veterans, reservists, spouses, dependents, and ROTC participants attending both Southeastern and Northshore Technical Community College. The association was founded to help the school administration better understand and meet the needs of veterans; offer advice from experienced to incoming veterans; help civilians better understand the military experience; and provide opportunities for veterans to meet one another and connect.
     Institutions competed for inclusion on the Military Friendly Schools list based on such categories as military support on campus, graduation and employment outcomes, and career and job counseling services. The data provided by schools were independently tested by the firm Ernst and Young.
     The 2017 list of Military Friendly Schools shows the commitment of those institutions in providing a supportive environment for military students, the company said in announcing the list.
     “Post-secondary institutions earning the 2017 Military Friendly School award have exceptionally strong programs for transitioning service members and spouses,” said Daniel Nichols, chief product officer of Victory Media. “Our Military Friendly Schools are truly aligning their military programs and services with employers to help students translate military experience, skills and training into successful careers after graduation.”
     Victory Media is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business founded in 2001. In addition to “G.I. Jobs,” the company also publishes the magazine “Military Spouse.”




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