WWU recognized as 'Military Friendly School'

Western Washington University for the second year has been selected by G.I. Jobs as a “Military Friendly School” for 2011, placing Western in the top 20 percent of all higher education institutions nationwide.

Western is one of the 1,518 schools to receive recognition for doing the most to assist America’s military service members and veterans as students. The list appears on the G.I Jobs website and will be highlighted in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools. It is based on surveys of more than 8,000 schools nationwide. Western was also on the first such list in 2010.

“Western has a very strong commitment to veterans,” said Western Registrar David Brunnemer. “As a public university we think it especially important to help veterans transition as smoothly as possible to university life, providing as much support as we can.”

Western offers a range of Veterans Services through the Registrar’s Office. The Associated Students have a very active Veterans Outreach Center.

In its effort to help student veterans find the right school, G.I. Jobs incorporated a survey of student veterans for the first time. This feedback provides prospective military students with insight into the student veteran experience at a particular institution based on peer reviews from current students. Student veteran survey feedback can be viewed at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/2012 list.

Service members and veterans can also meet individual student veterans from the various schools virtually on the site to learn more about personal school decisions and the transition from the military to an academic environment.

“The Military Friendly Schools list is the go-to resource for prospective student veterans searching for schools that provide the right overall experience. Nothing is more compelling than actual feedback from current student veterans,” said Michael Dakduk, executive director for the Student Veterans of America.

G.I. Jobs (www.gijobs.com) is published by Victory Media, a veteran-owned business which also publishes The Guide to Military Friendly Schools, Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur magazines and annually rates the nation’s “Military Friendly Employers,” “Military Spouse Friendly Employers” and “Best Corporations for Veteran-Owned Businesses.”