UCM Earns 2021-2022 Military Friendly® School Designation

WARRENSBURG, MO – The University of Central Missouri’s commitment to serving active duty military members and veterans is being recognized. Today, UCM announced that it has earned the 2021-2022 Military Friendly® School designation.

 

Institutions earning this designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,200 colleges and universities participated in the 2021-2022 survey with 747 institutions earning this recognition.

 

The 2021-2022 Military Friendly® Schools list of institutions will be published in the May issue of “G.I. Jobs” magazine and can be found at militaryfriendly.com. The list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 institutions nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary institutions that wish to participate.

 

Final ratings were determined by combining the college and university survey response set and government/agency public data sources, within a logic-based scoring assessment. The veteran-owned organization,Viqtory, measures each institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

 

“Receiving the Military Friendly® designation just solidifies what we already know, that we are a military friendly campus and that we go above and beyond for our military affiliated student population,” said Courtney Swoboda, interim director of Military and Veteran Services, who also is a veteran of the United States Air Force. “The Military and Veteran Success Center ensures all students are set up for success from their educational benefits, locating resources, to degree completion and employment. We strive as a campus to serve this population and this just proves that we are moving in the right direction. It could not be done without the support from faculty, staff, and our student workers.”

 

“Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data driven standards in our designation process. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to consistently evolve and invest in their programs,” said Kayla Lopez, national director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly®.

 

“Colleges and universities which achieve this designation show true commitment and dedication in their efforts,” Lopez said. She noted that Military Friendly® standards assist colleges and universities by “providing a benchmark that promotes positive educational outcomes, resources, and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the military community.”

 

Located west of Whiteman Air Force Base, UCM has a long history of meeting the education needs of individuals who have served the United States through their military service. Facilities and services at UCM that contribute to a welcoming educational environment for military men and women include the Office of Military and Veteran Services, which helps active duty military members and veterans to make a smooth transition to college life, as well as the Military and Veterans Success Center, which provides a dedicated staff, computer lab and a place for study to help these individuals succeed in their education at UCM. The university also offers a Military Tuition Package, which helps reduce the cost of a higher education at the university, and a Command Pass, which allows free admission to campus athletic events for active duty military members and veterans.

 

For more information about UCM’s student veteran programs, visit ucmo.edu/future-students/military-and-veterans-services.

 

About Viqtory:
Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY at viqtory.cservice-disabledom.