University of Arkansas Recognized as 'Military Friendly' by National Publication

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas is once again among the elite 15 percent of colleges and universities nationwide included in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools. The 2014 edition is published by Victory Media, a veteran-owned business and publisher that works to help U.S. military veterans make the transition to civilian life. Inclusion in the guide is based on a survey of more than 12,000 schools, and the publisher says that due to heavy competition the criteria for earning the rating were higher than last year.

“We in the Veterans Resource and Information Center are excited that the University of Arkansas has been selected as a Military Friendly School for 2014,” said Robert Ainley, assistant director of the center. “This is the fifth year in a row we have received this honor and much credit is due to all the faculty and staff who work with our veterans to make them successful.”

The University of Arkansas has worked for many years to recruit returning veterans and provide them with the support services they need to succeed. Veterans Upward Bound was one early program that helped prepare veterans for higher education.

Those efforts became more focused in 2009, with the creation of the Veterans Resource and Information Center. The center has developed a number of programs for veterans since it was created, including:

• Vet2Vet, a peer mentorship program
• Boots to Books, a transition course for service members
• Vet 101, a course for faculty and staff who want to learn more about working with student veterans

In addition the center has helped with the creation of the Razorback Student Veterans, a registered student organization on campus.

This past May the university also initiated the Chancellor’s Challenge Coin award, given to      student veterans when they graduate.

The Veterans Resource and Information Center now is also responsible for certifying veterans’ educational benefits. The center staff is working with over 700 veterans and their dependents to ensure that they receive these benefits.