Washtenaw Community College has earned the national 2024-2025 Military Friendly Schools designation for its support of nearly 500 veteran students and their families.
Institutions earning the honor were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. WCC has earned a Silver award for going above the standard.
It is the first national recognition of WCC’s veteran support efforts. For six consecutive years, WCC has been named as a Gold-level Veteran-Friendly School by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.
WCC’s Wadhams Veterans Center is at the heart of the college’s comprehensive veteran support services. Here, veteran students can study, socialize, receive career and academic advising and more. Wadhams Veterans Center staff works one-on-one with veterans to help ease the transition from active military duty to their education and civilian life and remove barriers to success.
The college also sponsors an active Student Veterans of America Club on campus and other events.
WCC has established a system to evaluate and award academic credit based on military experience and is a destination point for many veterans from across the country who have a goal to transfer into the University of Michigan’s engineering and other programs. Overall, WCC is the top transfer school to U-M.
“Our veteran students have bravely served us. It is a privilege to support veterans and their families and help them achieve their dreams,” said WCC President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca." "We are proud to be recognized with this national honor."
More than 1,800 institutions nationwide participated in the survey, with 537 earning special awards for going above the standard. Participating schools included Tier 1 research institutions, large public universities, small community and vocational colleges, as well as private schools.
The 2024-2025 Military Friendly Schools list can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com. The list was published in the Spring edition of G.I. Jobs and is expected to be included also in a Fall issue of the magazine.
Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in higher education. Viqtory is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer), and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.
“Military Friendly is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process. Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the military community,” said Kayla Lopez, National Director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly. "This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages institutions to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, going over and above that standard."
Tags: Student Veterans, Veteran-Friendly School, Veterans, Wadhams Veterans Center