When it comes to veteran-friendly schools, Michigan State University ranks among the best in the state. In its annual ranking list, the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency designated MSU its “gold status” for the ninth consecutive year. The ranking recognizes higher education institutions for their unwavering dedication to improving experiences for military-connected learners and to fostering innovation in support of veterans.
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency also awarded MSU the agency’s Education Innovator Award for its commitment to transforming on-campus experiences for military-connected students.
“The Student Veterans Resource Center is a small office, and we often rely on help from the campus community to support our Spartan veterans and military families,” said Patrick Forystek, director of the MSU Student Veterans Resource Center. “With this being MSU's ninth year receiving this designation, it speaks to that community commitment to supporting military-connected students.”
MSU has received gold status since the veteran-friendly school program’s inception in 2015-16. Institutions are awarded gold-, silver- and bronze-level status based on their veteran-centric services and programs. MSU’s Student Veterans Resource Center, within the Division of Student Life & Engagement, provides programs and services to support student veterans and their families at MSU.
To become a veteran-friendly school with gold-level status, universities, colleges or trade schools must meet at least six of the following criteria:
- Established process for identification of current student veterans
- Veteran-specific website
- Active student veteran organization or club
- Veteran-specific career services, resources, advising, and/or outcome monitoring
- On-campus veterans’ coordinator and/or designated staff point of contact
- System to evaluate and award academic credit based on prior military training and experience
- Monitoring and evaluation of student veteran academic retention, progress and graduation rates
“We have seen the criteria evolve with the needs of military-connected students, and to be recognized as a gold-level institution shows we are capable of adjusting our services to meet those changing student needs,” Forystek said.
On top of its gold status MSU was recognized with an Education Innovator Award for its participation in the Warrior Scholar Project. Per the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, “By bringing 18 veterans from other states to Michigan and providing them with a unique educational experience, MSU has demonstrated exceptional dedication to serving those who have served our state and country. Their collaborative efforts and exceptional initiatives have truly made a difference in the lives of these individuals, embodying the spirit of innovation and community impact.”
Student veterans are an important part of the MSU community. With more than 400 student veterans and more than 2,000 military-affiliated students calling MSU home, the university continues to show it has the infrastructure and the services to support veterans in all the ways they need to be successful.
This piece was adapted from a story on the Student Life and Engagement website.