November 8, 2019

At your service: SVSU receives ‘Best for Vets’ ranking for sixth year

For the sixth consecutive year, Saginaw Valley State University has been recognized for its support of military-affiliated students, earning a place in the Best for Vets: Colleges 2020 rankings by Military Times.

SVSU is rated No. 104 among all four-year institutions nationwide in the 2020 rankings by the independent media organization dedicated to news and information about the military. This year, SVSU placed second out of all Michigan four-year institutions.

For a school to be placed on the Best for Vets list, colleges and universities are evaluated on policies and programs offered to service members, military veterans and their families. To be considered for the list, colleges and universities complete a comprehensive survey which is evaluated by Military Times. Institutions were then ranked based on survey responses and data collected by three different federal agencies. 

Bethany Alford, SVSU’s director of Military Student Affairs, said her office staff takes pride in creating a friendly and welcoming place on campus.

The SVSU Military Student Affairs office assists students and family members with paperwork, accessing their federal benefits, academic advising, and generally serving as a “one-stop shop” for military-affiliated students.

“We are consistently looking at ways to better serve our military-connected students, whether it's referring them to resources on or off campus, to reevaluating the education and training they've received in the military for academic credit,” she said. “We will strive to always be a top choice to military-connected students and work hard to show how much we value them on our campus.”

The Military Student Resource Center is also provided for use by any military-affiliated student at SVSU.

Services the office provides are veteran orientation, Veteran Peer Support group and the Student Veterans of America group.