In our recent event, “How Military Friendly Schools Rise Above Their Peers,” we emphasized that true commitment to the military community goes beyond stated intentions. It is reflected in actions and outcomes. Our data indicates that Military Friendly® Schools have a 15% higher retention rate for military students compared to the national average. This blog post explores how Military Friendly® Schools demonstrate and measure their success in serving military students.
Explicit Commitment and Leadership Support for Military Students:
Many Military Friendly® Schools incorporate an explicit commitment to serving the military community into their mission, vision, and values. Support from senior leadership is crucial for driving a military-friendly culture.
Best Practices and Program Offerings:
Best practices include unique markers and graduation recognition, application fee waivers, discounts, scholarships, military-affiliated campus gear, and flexible transfer credit policies. Dedicated support services, student groups, and mentorship programs are also essential.
Program offerings such as evening programs, accelerated courses, weekend programs, credit for work experience, and flexible learning options cater to the unique needs of military students. We have seen that schools offering credit for military training see an increase in applications from veteran military students.
Compliance and Policies as Indicators of Commitment:
Compliance with federal programs like the Choice Act, VA’s Principles of Excellence, the 8 Keys to Veterans’ Success, and the DOD MOU demonstrates a strong commitment to military students. Student-friendly policies related to deployment, on-campus living, payment grace periods, and course fee reimbursement are also crucial.
Measuring Positive Outcomes:
Impressive retention and graduation rates, lower average median loan debt (by $5,000 on average), and higher job placement rates for military students are key indicators of success.
Feedback and Problem Solving:
Formal processes for resolving veteran student complaints, surveys like the NPS Score, and transparent complaint procedures demonstrate a commitment to addressing student concerns. We have found that schools that respond to student concerns within 48 hours have a higher student satisfaction rating.
Conclusion:
Military Friendly® Schools demonstrate and measure their commitment to the military community through explicit policies, dedicated programs, positive student outcomes, and effective feedback mechanisms. A genuine commitment leads to tangible success for military students.
Interested in reaching more potential military students? Connect with one of our Military Marketing Experts and find out what works best for your school: Military Outreach Discussion
