Viqtory Media uses a public survey to indicate which campuses across the nation are considered the most supportive to their military-connected students. This year, the university’s Kent Campus placed in the top 5% of institutions in its category, giving it a Gold ranking for the very first time.
More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2022-2023 survey, and 665 schools earned awards level designations in Gold, Silver and Bronze. Kent State was one of 282 participants selected for Gold award status for their leading practices, outcomes and effective programs.
Joshua Rider, executive director of Kent State’s Center for Adult and Veteran Services, accepted the honor on behalf of Kent State.
“Whether it’s bronze, silver, gold or just Military Friendly in general, it shows that the institution – for over a decade – is committed to supporting these students,” Rider said. “If you win it once or twice, it means that you’ve had some good things go on in that past year. But when you do it consistently over several years, it shows that the institution as a whole heavily supports its students.”
The Military Friendly Schools survey is the longest-running, most comprehensive review of university investments into the military community. It measures an organization’s ability to meet minimum thresholds for adherence to federal policies and best practices, student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment and loan default rates for all students and specifically for student veterans.
The criteria and weightings are carefully developed with a research firm, and the annual list becomes increasingly exclusive each year.
With the methodology and standards consistently improving, military connected students at Kent State can be confident that their school’s practices are held to a high standard, Rider said.
“I hope they’re very confident that they made the right decision with Kent State,” he said. “When they’ve decided on our institution and then see a designation like this, I hope it makes them want to stay and be a part of something special.”
According to Rider, Kent State takes pride in its commitment to creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for its military community over the last 10-plus years and aims to continuously improve and provide for them.
For more information about the Military Friendly School designation, visit www.militaryfriendly.com/schools.
For more information about Kent State’s Center for Adult and Veteran Services, visit www.kent.edu/cavs.
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Photo Caption:
A Kent State University Army ROTC cadet salutes the American flag during the university’s Veterans Day commemoration.
Media Contacts:
Joshua Rider, jrider@kent.edu, 330-672-0510
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595