Early Bird

MSU Denver recognized for serving military and veteran students

The University has been designated a Military Friendly School, adding to a growing list of accolades for Veteran and Military Student Services.

By Lindsey Coulter

February 18, 2020

The news organization Military Friendly recently recognized Metropolitan State University of Denver for its support of veterans, their spouses and the military community, placing the University on its annual list of top military-serving higher-education institutions.

The prestigious Military Friendly list serves as a comprehensive guide for veterans and their families, using data from federal agencies as well as surveys to determine designees. More than 1,000 colleges and universities participated in the 2020-21 survey, and selectors considered public data from more than 8,800 schools nationwide. Methodology, criteria and weight were determined by VIQTORY, a company that provides resources for veterans, with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher-education and military-recruitment communities.

Rita Case, director of Veteran and Military Student Services, said the award is significant, as Military Friendly standards are high and reviewers are meticulous.

“While some awards factor in the number of veteran students a university attracts, Military Friendly is more focused on overall veteran retention and graduation rates,” she explained. “Earning this award recognizes that we not only accept and embrace all student veterans but also indicates our level of commitment to student-veteran success in the classroom and beyond.”

Case in point: MSU Denver’s Veteran and Military Student Services office has evolved to become a one-stop shop for veteran enrollment and services. The moment a veteran applies, they are connected with a VMSS staff member and invited to attend a tailored veteran orientation. New student veterans can also be paired with a fellow veteran to help them navigate the enrollment and Veterans Affairs education-benefits processes.

Additionally, VMSS hosts ongoing workshops and offers resources to help with financial planning, mental health, career development and more. This past semester, for example, VMSS collaborated with the Tutoring Center to become a satellite location, offering free tutoring one day a week as a way to introduce student veterans to the services and provide tutoring in a location where student veterans feel comfortable seeking help. The VMSS center also links veteran services available in the community.

To learn more about VMSS and supporting student veterans, visit msudenver.edu/veterans/.