By: John Houser
Military Friendly, a division of Victory Media — a service-disabled, veteran-owned business — has named Eastern New Mexico University in Portales as a Silver Level “Military Friendly School” for 2018.
This distinction makes ENMU among the top 30 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide in assisting the military community.
The list was determined through research into thousands of higher education institutions on the services, benefits and special attention offered to the military community.
In order to receive the designation, ENMU had to first be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for meeting or exceeding its “Eight keys to veteran success,” and be recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs for achieving its “Principles of excellence.”
According to their website at militaryfriendly.com, “Military Friendly rates companies and colleges on their programs to recruit and retain military veterans as employees and students…Our mission is to create maximum professional opportunity for our nation’s military service members, veterans and military spouses.”
Military Friendly measures how well a company’s or institution’s military recruiting program does in three primary areas:
- Engages the prospective military student or employee in a recruiting environment.
- Educates the military student or employee once he or she is part of the company or school.
- Employs the military student or employee in meaningful employment.
ENMU exceeded the standard in all six criteria: Academic Policies and Compliance; Admissions and Orientation; Culture and Commitment; Financial Aid and Assistance; Graduation and Career; and Military Student Support and Retention.
A few of the services that ENMU provides military members includes providing a Veterans Administration counselor, helping with waivers to pay in-state tuition, giving them academic credit for elective courses based on their military experience (at the discretion of individual departments), waiving physical activity course requirements, providing military scholarships, and offering evening and online classes for their convenience.
“We are gratified to be named a ‘Military Friendly School,’” said Jeff Elwell, ENMU president. “With Cannon Air Force Base just a few minutes away, we believe our Military Friendly designation attests to our sensitivity to the needs of military members who serve our country with such distinction.
“We will do everything we can to help the military, their family members and veterans achieve their educational goals for advancement in the military or for a successful transition to civilian life.”
“We encourage military members to contact us and let us know how we can personally assist them.”
For more information, contact the ENMU Veterans’ Assistance Line at 575-562-2195.
