UA Cited in Guide to Military Friendly Colleges, Universities

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The 2014 Guide to Military Friendly Colleges & Universities, part of the Military Advanced Education magazine, has named The University of Alabama one of its top schools.

The guide is available at www.mae-kmi.com.

The listing honors programs offered by UA’s Office for Veteran and Military Affairs. Among the attributes considered in evaluating this year’s institution for inclusion in the guide are the flexibility of online learning options, extent of transfer credits accepted by degree level, on-campus ROTC, on-campus active duty or veteran assistance, the support provided to the families of service members, and  full-time counselors trained in veteran-specific mental health concerns.

“Our staff used strict criteria to evaluate the submissions of the respondents, and we had a record number of schools participating this year,” said Kelly Fodel, MAE’s editor. “We believe the guide serves as an invaluable tool for both education services officers and transition officers when advising service members about their educational opportunities.”

UA’s Office for Veteran and Military Affairs provides resources, including scholarship assistance, to all veterans, service members, dependents and survivors from application process to UA to graduation. The office offers resources to all members of this population regardless if they receive aid from the GI Bill.

The office conducts GI Bill certification and counseling; academic and co-curricular counseling; the Textbook for Troops program, which provides free textbook rental; computer lab use; free printing; lounge space for study areas; the FLC: Transition From Military to College program; and such events as Veterans Week in November and Operation Military Kids in April. The office also provides partnerships with the Tuscaloosa Medical Center and Disabled American Veterans for medical and disability needs

The vision of the Office for Veteran and Military is to ensure that UA will be the “University of Choice” for all student veterans, service members, dependents and survivors by being recognized nationally as a “Military and Veteran Friendly University.”