Military Times ranks UTSA a 'Best for Vets' university for 2015

By Mark Langford
Associate Director of Strategic Communications

(Nov. 13, 2014) -- The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) has been recognized in the Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges 2015 rankings.

Now in its fifth year, the Best for Vets rankings consider the factors that make an organization a good fit for service members, military veterans and their families. A detailed survey requires schools to document an array of services, special rules, accommodations and financial incentives offered to military and veteran students, along with a description of veteran culture on campus.

"We factor in what is, to our knowledge, the most detailed school-by-school data on veteran students' academic success anywhere, including graduation, retention, persistence and course completion rates," says Amanda Miller, editor of Best for Vets. "By recognizing only the schools that do the most, we believe we're helping to raise the bar in veteran student services."

About 10 percent of UTSA's enrollment, almost 3,000 students, are military veterans, active duty military or military dependents. The university provides numerous services and programs for its military community, including the Veterans Certification Office, the VetSuccess on Campus program (VSOC), which provides two full-time experienced vocational counselors from the Deparment of Veterans Affairs, the Student Veterans Association (SVA) and the Veteran Services Advisory Committee (VSAC).

From 2009 to 2013, UTSA certified more individuals with Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits than any other public, four-year university in Texas, according to the Veterans Administration.

"Veterans, their dependents and active duty military are vitally important members of the UTSA family," said Ret. Col. Lisa Firmin, UTSA associate provost for diversity and recruitment. "We make every effort to ease their way into academic life and make sure they get the most out of their educational experience."

UTSA has been recognized several times this year for its veterans outreach programs. The university was recently designated as one of the nation's top Military Friendly Schools, for the fifth consecutive year, by G.I. Jobs magazine. In addition, Military Advanced Education awarded UTSA the designation of a Top School in its 2015 Guide to Colleges & Universities.

In September, the Department of the Army presented UTSA President Ricardo Romo with its Outstanding Civilian Service medal in recognition of the services and support that UTSA provides to members of the military and their families. The award, established in 1959, is the third highest honor that a private civilian can receive from the United States Army.

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For more information visit the Best for Vets: Colleges 2015 website.

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The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

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