November 11, 2014
SVSU earns ‘Best for Vets’ recognition for best military services
Military Times recognized Saginaw Valley State University as part of its Best for Vets: Colleges 2015 rankings announced Monday, Nov. 10.
SVSU was ranked No. 60 among 140 institutions in the 4-year schools category, as ranked nationally by the independent media organization dedicated to news and information about the military.
The Best for Vets: Colleges 2015 rankings evaluate many factors that make an organization a good fit for service members, military veterans and their families.
The survey-based initiative requires schools to document services, special rules, accommodations and financial incentives offered to military and veteran students. It also considers the institution's culture for veterans on campus.
“We factor in what is, to our knowledge, the most detailed school-by-school data on veteran students' academic success anywhere, including graduation, retention, persistence and course completion rates,” said Amanda Miller, editor of Best for Vets.
Two years ago, only 11 percent of the hundreds of schools surveyed could provide that level of detail. This year, that figure is up to 45 percent, Military Times reports.
“By recognizing only the schools that do the most, we believe we're helping to raise the bar in veteran student services,” Miller said.
The rankings will be published in the issues of Army Times Navy Times, Air Force Times, and Marine Corps Times. The rankings also will appear in the November issue of Military Times EDGE magazine, as well as online at MilitaryTimes.com, ArmyTimes.com, NavyTimes.com, AirForceTimes.com, and MarineCorpsTimes.com. The rankings also are available at www.militarytimes.com/bestforvets-colleges2015.
News of SVSU's ranking arrives about one month after the university was recognized by being named to the Military Friendly® list of schools for the fourth consecutive year. Selected by Victory Media, the list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America's military service members, veterans, spouses and dependents as students, and ensure their success on campus.