
by Susan West Engelkemeyer, President, Nichols College
While the number of recent high school graduates is shrinking, the pool of military veterans eligible for federal education funds continues to deepen. Certainly the presence of these students does their alma maters proud, but there is much more to being military friendly than thanking them for their service. Providing a college education that meets their particular needs takes work, planning, and a long-term commitment to fulfilling what’s expected of military friendly schools.
A leading arbiter of how well colleges are doing on this front is Military Friendly (formerly Victory Media), a marketing and advocacy firm that publishes data-driven ratings for post-military education and career opportunities. Every year, the company compiles a list containing the top 15 percent of the thousands of universities, colleges, and trade schools it surveys. In 2018, 800 schools—including Nichols College—made the cut in four divisions ranging from pre-Bronze and Bronze to Silver and Gold.
Here's how we achieved that status -- and what you can learn from our efforts. We will cover what we've done so far, what we're doing next, and what you can do on your own campus.