York Selected as Military Friendly School

York College ranks in the top 15 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools nationwide when it comes to embracing America’s veterans as students, according to G.I. Jobs magazine.

York College was named to the magazine’s 2010 list of Military Friendly Schools. The list was compiled through research starting last May during which G.I. Jobs polled more than 7,000 schools nationwide. Methodology, criteria, and weighting for the list were developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Committee consisting of educators and administrators from a number of colleges and universities.  

Criteria for making the Military Friendly Schools list included efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students, results in recruiting military and veteran students, and academic accreditations. Schools on the Military Friendly Schools list may offer benefits to student veterans such as housing, on-campus veterans programs, credit for service, military spouse programs, and more. 

The tens of billions of dollars in tuition money, now available with the recent passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, has intensified an already strong desire by colleges to court veterans into their classrooms. “This list is especially important now because the recently enacted Post-9/11 GI Bill has given veterans virtually unlimited financial means to go to school,” said Rich McCormack, G.I. Jobs publisher. “Veterans can now enroll in any school, provided they’re academically qualified. So schools are clamoring for them like never before.  Veterans need a trusted friend to help them decide where to get educated.  The Military Friendly Schools list is that trusted friend.” 

A team of staff members works with veterans interested in attending York College to accommodate their needs, according to Debra Shimmel, who handles Veteran Administration Education Assistance benefits in the Records Office. “The Admissions Office is very receptive to inquiries from veterans,” she said. “After they’ve spoken with an admissions counselor, veterans come to me to find out more about their benefits. Once they’ve been accepted, they visit the Registrar’s Office, where they are awarded credit for military service and for military occupational specialties when appropriate.”

“York College provides an excellent, affordable academic experience to veterans returning from service to our country,” said President George W. Waldner. “We work hard to ensure they receive the assistance needed to make their transition to college as easy as possible.”

A full story and detailed list of Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools and on a poster, both of which will be distributed to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in September. A new website will launch in September with interactive tools and search functionality to assist military veterans in choosing schools that best meet their educational needs.