UM Earns National Recognition for Service to Veteran Students

MISSOULA – The University of Montana recently received two honors from a national organization that measures institutions based on the best practices in military and veteran supportive education.

On Dec. 8 the Military Friendly organization announced that UM has earned a Silver award in the Large Public School category for offering outstanding programs and support to student veterans and their families. Military Friendly rates companies and colleges on their programs to recruit and retain military veterans as employees and students.

In November, the same organization named UM to their list of 2017 Military Friendly Schools. For the 2017 school rankings, Military Friendly increased its ranking criteria to compare graduation rates, retention rates, loan default rates and job placement rates between veterans and the general student population. View the full 2017 rankings at https://militaryfriendly.com/schools/.

“At UM we have a special appreciation for our students who have served in the armed forces,” said UM President Royce Engstrom. “We are committed to helping veterans succeed during their time as students here. These rankings recognize that commitment.”

“UM has made a concerted effort to improve services for our veterans and their beneficiaries over the past several years,” said Shawn Grove, director of UM’s Veterans Education and Transition Office. “The great support our students receive would not be possible without the collaboration of many at UM.”

In addition to the Military Friendly honors, UM recently received other accolades recognizing the University’s commitment to veterans. This past summer, the VA conducted its annual compliance audit at UM and found zero discrepancies for the third year in a row. In February 2015, UM was officially designated a Purple Heart University – recognition that places it among a handful of select universities in the country to receive the honor. UM remains the only Purple Heart University in the Northwest.

To learn more about the services that UM’s VETS Office provides, call 406-243-2744 or visit http://www.umt.edu/veterans/.

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