Campus Life

UWF named 2014 Best for Vets college by Military Times

The University of West Florida was recently ranked No. 22 out of the Top 86 Four-Year Colleges in the “Best for Vets: Colleges 2014” list by Military Times.

The list is developed using a 150-question analysis of each school’s complete offerings for veterans. It serves as a tool for service men and women to determine the school and degree programs that will most effectively benefit them. The rankings factor in service member enrollment, percentage of tuition covered by the GI Bill® and availability of specific programs to help service members.

The extensive evaluation process also factors in statistics commonly used to track student success and academic quality, including student loan default rates, retention rates, graduation rates and student-faculty ratio. To see the complete “Best for Vets: Colleges 2014” list, visit www.militarytimes.com.

Marc Churchwell, director of the Military and Veterans Resource Center at UWF, said the need for services to assist military and veterans has grown substantially in the two years since the University opened the center.

“It is important that we maintain a high level of service to our veteran students and family members who are also attending UWF,” Churchwell said. “Our concierge concept of customer service is key to sustaining the level of service this center is built on. This recognition by the Military Times is a strong indication we are still doing it right.”

The UWF Military and Veterans Resource Center assists military and veteran students as they transition from a military environment to campus life. The center offers academic advising, tutoring, counseling and assistance with GI Bill® education benefits and disability accommodations, in addition to other services.

Additionally, UWF was recently chosen as one of 94 schools across the country to house a VetSuccess on Campus office. The VSOC program is intended to ease veterans’ transitions to student life and assist them in achieving their educational and career goals through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ Post-9/11 GI Bill® and other educational programs. Through the program, a VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor is sent to each designated campus to ensure veterans receive the support and assistance needed to pursue their educational and employment goals.

For additional information about UWF’s support for military and veteran students, visit the MVRC website,uwf.edu/militaryveterans.