Park University has been honored by G.I. Jobs magazine on its 2010 list of "Military Friendly Schools." The list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools which are doing the most to embrace America's veterans as students, including offering additional benefits to student veterans such as on-campus veterans programs, credit for service and military spouse programs.
"This list is especially important now because the recently enacted Post-9/11 G.I. Bill has given veterans virtually unlimited financial means to go to school," said Rich McCormack, G.I. Jobs publisher. "Veterans can now enroll in any school, provided they're academically qualified. So schools are clamoring for them like never before. Veterans need a trusted friend to help them decide where to get educated. The 'Military Friendly Schools' list is that trusted friend."
The magazine's list was compiled through exhaustive research starting in May 2008 during which G.I. Jobs polled more than 7,000 schools nationwide. Methodology, criteria and weighting for the list were developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Committee consisting of educators and administrators from a variety of colleges/universities. 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 September. A new web site, www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, will launch in September with interactive tools and search functionality to assist military veterans in choosing schools that best meet their educational needs.
Criteria for making the "Military Friendly Schools" list included efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students, results in recruiting military and veteran students, and academic accreditations.
Park's G.I. Jobs honor comes on the heels of the University being selected for a $100,000 Success for Veterans Award Grant by in the American Council on Education and the Wal-Mart Foundation in April. Park was one of 20 higher learning institutions, and the only one in the Midwest, awarded a portion of a total of $2 million in grants which recognized model programs advancing access and success in higher education for veterans and their families.
This past spring, Park University launched a new web site, http://military.park.edu/, dedicated to assisting veterans and current U.S. Military personnel with their higher education pursuits. The web site provides a one-stop shop for current military members and veterans to get information about degrees and Online programs at Park, as well as the application and financial aid process.
In December 2008, Military Advanced Education named Park University's College for Distance Learning among its "Top 20 Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities," citing Park's "innovative academic degree programs steeped in excellence." And in 2007, the University activated a discounted system to honor U.S. Military servicemembers and their families, offering 25 percent discounted graduate tuition for active duty, active duty spouses and retired military personnel.
