UW-River Falls named a Best for Vets College

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls has again been named a Best for Vets College by the Military Times’ Best for Vets: Colleges 2016 rankings.

In their sixth year, the rankings factor in the results of Military Times’ annual survey, the most comprehensive school-by-school assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement. More than 600 colleges took part in this year’s detailed 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 and special editions. “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.”

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; and to describe many aspects of veteran culture on a campus. Military Times also factors in data from the Veterans Affairs and Defense Departments, as well as three Education Department sources: the IPEDS Data Center, College Scorecard data and the Cohort Default Rate Database.

“We award the Best for Vets designation to the very best – the colleges that really are setting the example,” Miller said.

According to student veterans attending UW-River Falls, the award is rightfully deserved.

“The UWRF campus shines in terms of veteran acceptance,” said Charles Hayes, a U.S. Air Force veteran in his sophomore year studying biomedical science at UW-River Falls.

Kelsey Gilkison, a UWRF junior studying psychology, echoed Hayes’ remark. When asked how it felt to be a member of the veteran community on campus, Gilkison said, “I love it. UWRF is very supportive of the military and our veterans.”

For the full Best for Vets: Colleges 2016 rankings, visit www.militarytimes.com/bestforvets-colleges2016.
The rankings are published in full in the issues of Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times and Marine Corps Times on newsstands the week of Nov. 9 and online at MilitaryTimes.com, as well as ArmyTimes.com, NavyTimes.com, AirForceTimes.com and MarineCorpsTimes.com.

Military Times’ series of Best for Vets rankings include colleges, career & technical colleges, business schools, franchises, employers, law enforcement and places to live.

For more information about Military Times, contact Christine Aquino at 703-658-8339 or caquino@tegna.com. For more information about UW-River Falls Veteran Services, email robert.bode@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-3141.

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