For the ninth consecutive year, Kent State University has earned the 2018 Military Friendly® School designation for its Kent Campus. Military Friendly is the military ratings division of Victory Media, a service-disabled, veteran-owned business that also publishes G.I. Jobs®, STEM Jobs, Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur®. Military Friendly rates companies and colleges on their programs to recruit and retain military veterans as employees and students. In addition to the Kent Campus, the university’s Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas campuses received the 2018 Military Friendly School designation.
The Military Friendly School designation recognizes Kent State for exhibiting leading practices in recruiting and supporting post-military students. Kent State and the other colleges and universities on the list represent the top tier of institutions that provide the best opportunities for military service members and their spouses.
“Being recognized as a Military Friendly School by Victory Media is an important milestone for any institution,” says Joshua Rider, director of Kent State’s Center for Adult and Veteran Services. “It’s one indicator that programs and services are in place for our military-connected students. Receiving the designation for nine consecutive years shows a consistent and intentional institutional commitment to this very important group of students.”
The list of Military Friendly Schools’ ratings is assessed through the evaluation of both public data about an institution and proprietary data gathered through the free Military Friendly Schools survey. The annual, data-driven Military Friendly Schools survey assessment is offered at no cost to more than 6,000 institutions nationwide. Each year, schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than in previous years via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council.
To create the 2018 list, survey responses are weighted according to the following categories:
- Academic policies and compliance – 9 percent
- Admissions and orientation – 10 percent
- Culture and commitment – 9 percent
- Financial aid and loan repayment – 12 percent
- Graduation and career outcomes – 30 percent
- Military student support and retention – 30 percent
Final survey results and ratings are determined by combining an institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet minimum thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement and loan repayment rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans. The benchmark is set by the score of the leading institution.
EY, a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, independently tested the validity and consistency of this year’s survey results using the scoring methodology developed by Victory Media for the Military Friendly Schools list.
For more information about the Military Friendly School designation, visit http://militaryfriendly.com/schools.
For more information about Kent State’s Center for Adult and Veteran Services, visit www.kent.edu/cavs.