Pitt gets military friendly designation
The University has been named a 2015 Military Friendly School, a designation by Victory Media that recognizes the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the nation that are working to ensure the success of veteran students in the classroom and after graduation.
Named separately to the list were the University’s Bradford, Greensburg and Johnstown campuses.
Pitt-Bradford and Pitt-Johnstown have made the list for six consecutive years; Pitt-Greensburg has been on the list for four consecutive years.
Victory Media is a Pittsburgh-based, military-focused services firm and the parent company of the publications G.I. Jobs, Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur. Its annual evaluation of post-9/11 G.I. Bill-funded American institutions assesses academic credibility, financial assistance for veterans, nonfinancial military support, percentage of veteran enrollment and veteran graduation rates, among other factors.
Cristina Ruggiero, associate dean of Pitt’s College of General Studies, which houses the Office of Veterans Services, said: “Veterans Services is dedicated to its mission of helping our students in their transition from military to academic life by supporting their ongoing academic success and assisting veterans, guardsmen, reservists, spouses and dependents in receiving their military education benefits.”
Established in 2009, Pitt’s Office of Veterans Services serves more than 500 students across Pitt’s five campuses. It offers pre-admission counseling, military benefits and scholarship advising, free tutoring and academic success programs and career training assistance.
The full list of military friendly schools is at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com.