For its commitment to individuals who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) has earned the 2017 Military Friendly® School designation by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs®, STEM JobsSM and Military Spouse.
“SMWC appreciates the service and dedication of military personnel and veterans to our great nation,” said Brennan Randolph, vice-president for enrollment management. “When considering a program at The Woods, we believe these heroes will find SMWC to be accommodating on many levels.”
Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from Victory Media’s proprietary survey. More than 1,600 schools participated in the 2017 survey.
Ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, jobs placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.
In addition to offering quality and affordable education to veterans and military personnel, SMWC also provides strong support through assistance with funding processes, securing financial aid or class registration.
“One of the reasons I was drawn to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is because it was military friendly,” said Ashley Cox, a veteran who served for 8 years in the Indiana Army National Guard and is now a student in the College’s distinguished Woods Online program. “All of the professors I have encountered has been very understanding. The staff has been very helpful” especially with navigating the overwhelming veteran benefits paperwork, she said.
SMWC offers a special tuition rate for military students, spouses of active service members or veterans enrolling in Woods Online. Students also take advantage of military education benefits, including the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program. Made possible by the Post 9/11 GI Bill, this benefit covers the tuition and fees for eligible veterans.
Cox, who served a year in Iraq, said she is grateful to be able to work toward her undergraduate degree at little to no cost to her. With SMWC’s accessible professors, helpful staff, flexible schedules and relevant classes, she believes she is well on her way to obtaining an undergraduate degree in criminology despite working full-time.
“The Woods is known for offering a wide variety of programs that focus on “helping professions” and are pleased to be recognized as a military friendly school again this year,” Randolph said.
SMWC has been receiving the special designation for several years. First published in 2009, Military Friendly® Schools is the most comprehensive, powerful resource for veterans today. Each year, the list of Military Friendly® Schools is provided to service members and their families, helping them select the best college, university or trade school to receive the education and training needed to pursue a civilian career.
According to Daniel Nichols, a Navy Reserve veteran and chief product officer at Victory Media, “Our ability to apply a clear, consistent standard to the majority of colleges gives veterans a comprehensive view of which schools are striving to provide the best opportunities and conditions for our nation’s student veterans. Military Friendly® helps military families make the best use of the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other federal benefits while allowing us to further our goal of assisting them in finding success in their chosen career fields.”
SMWC will be showcased along with other 2017 Military Friendly® Schools in the annual Guide to Military Friendly® Schools, special education issues of G .I. Jobs® and Military Spouse Magazine, and on militaryfriendly.com.