RAPID CITY, S.D. (Nov. 20, 2012) –The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology moved into second place in the 2013 Military Times EDGE magazine’s “Best for Vets: Colleges” survey. The evaluation process included survey responses from 650 colleges and considered the accommodations for veterans and active-duty service members within each institution.
The university was ranked eighth in the magazine’s 2012 survey.
“Providing excellent services for our veterans is a small way to give back for the larger sacrifices they’ve made for us. Our student vets contribute greatly to our legacy of excellence,” said Acting President Duane Hrncir.
Services offered at the School of Mines Veteran Resource Center include assistance with scholarship searches and applications, as well as resumes and cover letters; counseling and referral services for VA benefits, G.I. bills and community veterans organizations; academic- and life-skills advising and instruction in areas such as learning styles, test preparation, note taking, time management, stress management and wellness; and tutoring.
“We are extremely proud and honored to be ranked so highly among the thousands of fine colleges and universities in the nation. This would not have occurred without the dedicated and collaborative support our veterans, active duty, Guard, and Reserve members receive from School of Mines staff and faculty, our community partners and Veterans Upward Bound,” said Cathy Payne, Veterans Resource Center coordinator and scholarship coach.
The top five rankings, in order, are Eastern Kentucky University, the School of Mines, Rutgers, University of South Florida and D’Youville College. Among factors considered in the rankings: whether the per-credit-hour tuition rate is at or below the military tuition assistance cap; whether the university is a yellow ribbon program participant; whether the university offers relaxed state tuition residency; whether it accepts academic credit for military training; whether it participates in the Veterans Upward Bound program; and whether the institution has a veterans office.
In September, the university was ranked as one of the most military friendly school by G.I. Jobs magazine. For more information about the School of Mines veterans program visit http://vrc.sdsmt.edu/.