Buffalo State Awarded Military Friendly School Title From G.I. Jobs
G.I. Jobs, the premier magazine for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has awarded Buffalo State College the designation of Military Friendly School.
The 2012 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students.
In its effort to help student veterans find the right school, G.I. Jobs incorporated a survey of student veterans for the first time. This feedback provides prospective military students with insight into the student veteran experience at a particular institution based on peer reviews from current students.
“The Military Friendly Schools list is the go-to resource for prospective student veterans searching for schools that provide the right overall experience,” said Michael Dakduk, executive director for the Student Veterans of America. “Nothing is more compelling than actual feedback from current student veterans.”
The site allows service members to meet student veterans enrolled at the schools on the list virtually to learn more about personal school decisions and the transition from the military to an academic environment.
Buffalo State enrolled 1,308 veterans, active-duty military, reservists, and military dependents for fall 2011. This represents an increase of 384 students from 924 last spring, and is reflective of the effectiveness of the partnership between Buffalo State and the Student Armed Forces Organization to provide an easy transition from military to civilian life.
“It is our hope to continue to provide this type of service for those men, women, and dependents who have given the ultimate sacrifice,” said Margaret Shaw-Burnett, associate vice president for Buffalo State’s Continuing Professional Studies.
The 1,518 colleges, universities, and trade schools on this year’s list prioritize the recruitment of students with military experience. These schools are making the grade by offering scholarships and discounts, veterans’ clubs, full-time staff, military credit, and other services to those who served.
“Buffalo State strives to serve veterans and members of the armed forces in a manner befitting their own extraordinary service to our nation, and it’s very gratifying to know that our own students have commended us for doing that job well,” said Buffalo State President Aaron Podolefsky. “We will continue looking for new and better ways to make a Buffalo State education accessible to and accommodating of our military personnel.”
The 2012 list of Military Friendly Schools was compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 8,000 schools nationwide. Methodology, criteria, and weighting for the list were developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from schools across the country. See complete list of board members.
A full story and detailed list of Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools and on a poster, both of which will be distributed to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in early October. The newly redesigned website, found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, features the list, interactive tools, and search functionality to assist military veterans with their school decisions.
About G.I. Jobs
G.I. Jobs is published by Victory Media, a veteran-owned business which also publishes The Guide to Military Friendly Schools, Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur magazines and annually rates the nation’s “Military Friendly Employers,” “Military Spouse Friendly Employers,” and “Best Corporations for Veteran-Owned Businesses.”