Angelo State University has again been voted "Best for Vets" and "Military Friendly"!

For the third straight year, Angelo State University has been named one of the nation’s 175 Best Colleges for Veterans by the Military Times organization in its “Best for Vets: Colleges 2016” rankings.

ASU is ranked No. 42 out of 125 four-year institutions on the list and is one of 10 Texas four-year schools to earn the “Best for Vets” designation. The Military Times includes the Air Force Times, Army Times, Marine Corps Times and Navy Times newspapers, their corresponding websites and several other military-themed publications. Its “Best for Vets” rankings are based on comprehensive school-by-school survey analysis of college and university offerings for veteran and military students and their families. More than 600 colleges took part in this year’s survey.

“It’s been amazing to witness how colleges all across higher education have embraced service members and their families,” said Amanda Miller, editor of Military Times’ Best for Vets rankings. “Over the past six years of our surveys, we’ve seen so many schools first begin to foster – through new policies, services and dedicated facilities – and then nurture these wonderful communities. We award the Best for Vets designation to the very best – the colleges that really are setting the example.”

The Military Times’ annual Best for Vets: Colleges survey asks colleges and universities to meticulously document a tremendous array of services, special rules, accommodations and financial incentives offered to students with military ties, as well as to describe many aspects of veteran culture on campus. Also factored in is data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense, as well as three Department of Education sources: the IPEDS Data Center, College Scorecard data and the Cohort Default Rate Database.

ASU President Brian J. May said, “The ‘Best for Vets’ designation not only recognizes the hard work of our faculty and staff to provide quality programs for our veterans, but also takes into account other aspects that speak to the overall excellence of Angelo State. We understand the distinctive challenges facing military and veteran students as they transition to college life, and we are proud to honor their service by providing both the services they need and a great ASU education.”

ASU’s Veterans Educational and Transitional Services (VETS) Center was opened in the Houston Harte University Center in 2012. The VETS Center provides enrollment and academic support for military and veteran students, as well as special programs, networking opportunities, social and study areas, and a computer lab. More information on ASU’s veteran and military programs is available online at www.angelo.edu/dept/military/.

The “Best for Vets” rankings are published in this week’s issues of the Air Force Times, Army Times, Marine Corps Times and Navy Times, on their corresponding websites and on MilitaryTimes.com. More details and the entire list are available online at www.militarytimes.com/bestforvets-colleges2016.

For the seventh consecutive year, Angelo State University has been designated a “Military Friendly School” by Victory Media, which comprises several magazines and websites, including G.I. Jobs, that serve military personnel transitioning into civilian life.

The 2016 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top U.S. colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans and spouses as students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success both in the classroom and after graduation. Angelo State was among about 1,700 educational institutions recognized nationally with the honor.

“We are very proud of our ongoing recognition as a Military Friendly School,” said ASU President Brian J. May. “Our faculty, staff and administrators have worked hard to structure programs that meet the needs of military personnel, veterans and their families. We honor them and their service to our country by providing the specialized enrollment assistance, support services and academic programs they need to get a quality ASU education.”

The institutions on the 2016 list competed for the Military Friendly School title by completing a survey of over 100 questions covering 10 categories, including military support on campus, graduation and employment outcomes, and military spouse policies.

“Post-secondary institutions earning the 2016 Military Friendly School award have exceptionally strong programs for transitioning service members and spouses,” said Daniel Nichols, chief product officer for Victory Media. “Our Military Friendly Schools are truly aligning their military programs and services with employers to help students translate military experience, skills and training into successful careers after graduation.”

ASU’s Veterans Educational and Transitional Services (VETS) Center was opened in the Houston Harte University Center in 2012. The VETS Center provides enrollment and academic support for military and veteran students, as well as special programs, networking opportunities, social and study areas, and a computer lab. More information on ASU’s veteran and military programs is available online at www.angelo.edu/dept/military/.

The complete list of Military Friendly Schools is available online at MilitaryFriendly.com and GIJobs.com with links to school profiles. The list will also be published in G.I. Jobs’ 2016 Guide to Military Friendly Schools.

Victory Media is a veteran-owned business with various related publications, including G.I. Jobs, Military Spouse, Vetrepreneur and STEM Jobs magazines. The group annually rates the nation’s “Military Friendly Employers,” “Military Spouse Friendly Employers,” “STEM Friendly Schools” and “Best Corporations for Veteran-Owned Businesses.”

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