ASU named 'Military Friendly School' for 3rd consecutive year

Honor places university in top 20 percent of all schools nationwide

Arizona State University has been selected as a “Military Friendly School for 2012” by G.I. Jobs magazine for the third consecutive year. The list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are leaders in providing educational support benefits to military veterans.

ASU also was named one of the top 30 universities in 2010 for veterans by Military Times Edge magazine.

G.I Jobs surveyed more than 8,000 schools nationwide to find those that were offering scholarships and discounts, veterans’ clubs, full-time staff, military credit and other services to those who served in our nation’s military.

“We’re very honored," said Lou Ann Denny, university registrar. "We have made G.I. Jobs' 'Military Friendly' list thanks to the hard work by leadership, faculty, staff and students to focus on veteran issues and bring about meaningful improvement each year."

The university recently established the Pat Tillman Veterans Center in the lower level of the Memorial Union on ASU's Tempe campus. The center is a place that connects veterans to academic and student support services; assists with certifying students for their Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits; helps with deployment and return to school; provides information and referrals for housing, career services and disability resources; and connects students with a VA VetSuccess on Campus representative.

“The center provides a place where veterans can gather and truly feel a connection to each other," Denny said. "This sense of connection will definitely help them work through their transition from military life to their new careers.

“In his life, Pat exemplified a sense of courage, excellence and service that continues to inspire us – a great example to us all.”

In addition, ASU maintains an on-site Veterans Upward Bound office to assist those who seek to improve their academic skills, and provides financial aid and scholarship assistance. Student-led Veterans Clubs also have been organized on the Tempe and Polytechnic campuses to serve as hubs for networking opportunities.

With the establishment of these and many other programs, military enrollment has risen to 1,778 students in spring 2011, an 86 percent increase in just two years.

For more information on ASU's programs and services for veteran students, visit students.asu.edu/military or call Christian Rauschenback, program manager for ASU Veterans Services, at 480-965-7723.