After being disappointed once, a slice of Ohio University’s population received a victory this week with OU’s designation as a military-friendly school.
OU received word Monday of the designation, which is awarded and published by G.I. Jobs magazine.
In addition to increasing awareness of veterans’ affairs on campus, the new label should attract the attention of more veterans looking to continue their education, said David Descutner, dean of University College.
During the last five quarters, the number of veterans on the Athens campus has increased by 130 percent, Descutner said.
“Most importantly, (the military-friendly designation) shows that we recognize and honor our student veterans, and we want to make sure we do everything we can to meet their needs,” said Angela Lash, assistant director of the Allen Student Help Center, who helped apply for the designation. “It doesn’t mean we’re perfect, but we’re working hard to meet their needs.”
Although the university applied to be on the list of military-friendly schools last year, it did not meet G.I. Jobs’ criteria. The list contains only the top 20 percent of U.S. universities with respect to their commitment to veterans.
Prior to her position in the help center, Lash began working as a full-time coordinator of veterans’ academic services at OU in Sept. 2010. Descutner said he believes the creation of this position is one of the largest factors in OU’s recognition this year.
Lash worked as the advisor until July 2011. Her primary responsibility in the position was to work closely with student veteran organizations and to collaborate with the registrar’s office to provide academic advising to veterans.
Although she now works in a different office, Lash is working with another University College employee to ensure there is no interruption of service for the veterans until a replacement is hired.
During the 2010-11 school year, there were about 550 student veterans and military personnel on OU’s main and regional campuses, including students who are dependents of veterans, Lash said. Between 260 and 270 of those students were on OU’s main campus, she said.
The growing enrollment of student veterans has caused the administration and student organizations to take a harder look at current OU veteran programs.
“Student leadership genuinely mattered in this case,” Descutner said.
Currently, none of OU’s branch campuses are listed on the G.I. Jobs list for 2012. Because many veterans live close to the regional campuses, regional administrators are trying to work more with student veterans, Descutner said.
“One of the things that we’re hoping to do is connect systematically with the regional campuses and to make this a one-university effort to improve veteran’s services,” he said.
Descutner added he did not see the new label as the sole objective of veterans’ services programs but rather as a sign that OU is making progress with these programs.
“What I’m hoping is this designation is a recognition of the progress we’ve made, but it’s also, to me, a clear sign that we have a heck of a lot of progress to make yet,” Descutner said.
The next steps are to start searching for a permanent veterans advisor to take Lash’s place, to further connect with community organizations such as the Athens chapter of AMVETS and to expand the commuter lounge in Bromley Hall, which will now be called the “Commuter, Adult Student and Veteran Lounge,” Descutner said.
He said he hopes veterans will take a closer look at OU now that it is officially military-friendly.
“Students come here, and we try to create every opportunity for them to succeed, and I think veterans are going to find this a congenial place to succeed,” he said.
Lash said although the designation is an accomplishment on the part of the many people involved, there are still many improvements to make. Next year, OU will apply for the title again, she said.
“I think it’s something we should be proud of,” she said, adding that the majority of departments across OU’s campus play a role in supporting student veterans.
“I think it’s a motivator for us to continue to try to improve.”
bv111010@ohiou.edu
