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.”