University recognized for supporting military students for ninth consecutive year
Reading, Pa. – Alvernia University achieves Military Friendly ® status for the ninth consecutive year and is one of only 747 institutions nationwide to receive the designation for meeting university benchmarks in areas such as student retention, graduation and job placement in addition to maintaining good standing with federal programs such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Armed Forces Tuition Assistance Funding. This designation is for the 2021-2022 academic year.
“Alvernia’s continued Military Friendly® designation showcases our dedication to enhancing the student experience for our Military students and their families,” said Vice President for Enrollment and Student Experience Mary-Alice Ozechoski. “Our military students are an important part of the fabric of our student body and we take pride in assisting them reach their academic and professional goals.”
Each year, a new list of Military Friendly ® Schools is provided to service members and their families, helping them select the best college, university or trade school to receive the education and training needed to pursue a civilian career. The 2021-2022 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine.
“Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process,” said Kayla Lopez, Military Friendly’s national director of military partnerships. “This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to consistently evolve and invest in their programs. Schools who achieve designation show true commitment and dedication in their efforts. Our standards assist schools by providing a benchmark that promotes positive educational outcomes, resources, and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military community.”
Alvernia is one of the few institutions across the country that has a physical Veterans Center. This hub offers the resources, support, and advocacy necessary to succeed in higher education. The Veterans Success Team encourages participation in military organizations, develops outreach programs to enlighten the campus community about veteran culture and history and raises awareness about issues surrounding veterans and their families.
Last academic year, Alvernia organized military benefits for 36 students, including active military, veterans and family members. Along with tuition assistance and various other benefits, military service members may apply for federal aid. A list of resources, benefits, partnerships and events can be found on the Veterans Benefits webpage. Earlier this academic year, Alvernia was recognized for military support by Colleges of Distinction.
Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by VIQTORY 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 response set and government/agency public data sources within a logic-based scoring assessment. We measure 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.
The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate.
Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs ®, Military Spouse and Military Friendly ® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any federal government entity. For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact Kayla Lopez, National Director of Military Partnerships at mf2021@militaryfriendly.com.
