Military and Veteran Services earns national recognition for being military friendly 

Augusta University’s Military and Veteran Services was recently awarded a Military Friendly Schools Bronze recognition for the 2022-23 academic year. 

Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the survey, with 665 earning special awards for going above the standard. 

“The designation is a public recognition of the great work that we’re doing here at Augusta University for our military students,” said Dr. Stefane Raulerson, director of Military and Veteran Services. “While our work on campus will continue to support a transition and support the academic success of our military students, it is nice to have our efforts recognized on a national level.” 

Methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by VIQTORY, a military marketing company, with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the 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. 

“We support students during the application process, provide priority registration to those with their own military service, and have a military resource center for all military connected students, as well as a chapter of Student Veterans of America,” Raulerson said. “These qualities provide military students a sense of belonging not only with the institution, but also with other students who are like themselves.” 

The 2022-23 Military Friendly Schools list will be published in the May and October issues of G.I. Jobs magazine and online.

“Military Friendly is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process,” said Kayla Lopez, national director of military partnerships for Military Friendly.

“Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the military community. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, going over and above that standard.”