Veterans Support Services

Gold standard: OU earns highest possible ranking for support of student veterans

Student Veterans

icon of a calendarMay 26, 2020

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OU earns highest possible ranking for support of student veterans
Student Veterans

For the fourth consecutive year, Oakland University received a gold ranking, the highest possible rating for veteran-friendliness from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA). The organization recognizes institutions of higher learning for dedication to student veterans and dependents using their educational benefits.

Based on a variety of factors, the schools on this year’s list were grouped into bronze, silver and gold levels of recognition. To earn a gold-level designation, schools need to fulfill at least six of these seven evaluation 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 credit based on prior military training and experience
  • Monitoring and evaluation of student veteran academic retention, transfer and graduation rates

Oakland met all seven criteria and also fulfilled 15 out of the 16 criteria listed on MVAA’s dashboard – one of only four schools in the state to do so.

“This is a huge honor for Oakland University and for me personally,” said Eric Wuestenberg, coordinator of Veterans Support Services. “My staff and I strive to make Oakland the best veteran-friendly school, not only in the State of Michigan, but in the whole United States because we feel that's what our military-connected students deserve.”

To learn more about veteran support services at Oakland, view the website at oakland.edu/veterans or call (248) 370-2010.

 

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