Appalachian, a 2019–20 Military Friendly® School, earns Gold distinction

BOONE, N.C. — For nearly a decade, Appalachian State University has held the Military Friendly® School designation awarded by VIQTORY (formerly known as Victory Media) in recognition of its efforts in helping military-affiliated students thrive on campus and in the surrounding community.

This status continues as the university has been named to VIQTORY’s “2019–20 Military Friendly® Schools” list with Gold distinction among U.S. schools in the “Large Public” category. Appalachian is the only North Carolina higher education institution named in the “Large Public” category and one of only four schools in the category to receive the Gold distinction.

Across the nation, 766 schools were designated as being Military Friendly®.

“We are pleased to earn a place once again on VIQTORY’s Military Friendly Schools® list,” Chancellor Sheri Everts said. “Our faculty and staff are committed to the success of our student veterans and we are honored to serve them on our campus. On average, these veterans achieve higher educational attainment than earlier generations and the general U.S. population. We are committed to and proud of making this campus welcoming for them.”

The designation means Appalachian is among those colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus. It has been awarded to Appalachian every year since 2010.

“To have the Gold designation means we are not only providing a quality environment for our military-affiliated students, but we are continuing — year in and year out — to find ways to improve this quality environment,” said Eric Gormly, program director of student veteran services at Appalachian.

Appalachian’s chancellor serves on the University of North Carolina System’s Board of Governors Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.

With the opening of the Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center in 2016, Appalachian has been able to build its programming and services for the military-affiliated population, Gormly said. As of fall 2018, approximately 300 of Appalachian’s students self-identify as veterans.

“We have campus partners such as the Career Development Center, University Tutorial Services, Belk Library and others that make time to come into the Resource Center and work with our military-affiliated students one-on-one, and it is services like these, among others, that put us above and beyond the standards in servicing this population,” he said.

Appalachian’s services and resources for student veterans:

• Student veteran-specific grant opportunities.
• Targeted orientation and advising sessions for veterans and military-affiliated students.
• The Appalachian Student Veterans Association, which helps veterans adjust to and become successful in civilian and college life, raises awareness for veterans issues and promotes community service and volunteerism.
• Appalachian’s Military Affairs Committee, which supports the success of military-affiliated students, staff and faculty by advocating for veterans, their dependents and other military-affiliated community members.
• The Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center, which serves the needs of Appalachian military-affiliated students who are active duty military personnel and veterans.
• Appalachian’s Office of Admissions webpage for veterans and military service members considering enrolling at the university.
• The Career Development Center, which assists student veterans with career planning and veterans preference programs.
• Appalachian’s in-state tuition without residency requirements for some recently discharged service members and military students who are in the N.C. National Guard or on active duty at a military base within North Carolina.

Gormly said one of his future goals is to “build relationships with veteran services offices at community colleges to help with the transition of those military students who will be coming to Appalachian.”

The list of Military Friendly® Schools at MilitaryFriendly.com is aimed at service members and their families, helping them select the best college, university or trade school to receive the education and training needed to pursue a civilian career.

Ratings methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by VIQTORY with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence or degree advancement and transfer and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

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Student Veteran Services

Our instititution is more dedicated than ever to helping military-affiliated students thrive on campus and in the community. This dedication begins during their transition from service to education, and lasts through to graduation and entering the workforce.

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About VIQTORY

Founded in 2001, VIQTORY (formerly known as Victory Media) is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs®, Military Spouse, Vetrepreneur®, STEM JobsSM and Military Friendly® brands. Learn more at https://www.viqtory.com.

A Military Friendly® School since 2010

Since 2010, VIQTORY (formerly known as Victory Media), the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has awarded Appalachian the designation of Military Friendly® School. The designation places Appalachian in the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation. In addition to a number of existing services, the university opened the Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center in November 2016.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls more than 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.