G.I. Jobs announced the release of its 2010 list of Military Friendly Schools. The list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace the United States of America’s veterans as students.
The College of Staten Island, a senior college of The City University of New York, was recognized for its commitment to serving the needs of students with military experience, and its wide array of services specifically designed for current, new, and future Veteran students.
“The Office of the Registrar and Student Veteran Center currently uses a ‘One-Stop’ approach to assist with the transition from soldier to student,” said Vito Zajda, Deputy Registrar at CSI. “The services offered include individualized workshops with each student to discuss benefits, advisement, financial aid, registration, college life, and a detailed graduation plan.” He added that the College also has a Veterans student club, as well as an Armed Forces Club, where students can meet, network, and plan activities.”
Zajda, who is also the Veterans Advisor Certifying Officer and a Transfer Evaluation Specialist, adds that CSI is “anticipating an enrollment of over 200 Veterans this semester.”
These students also have the resources of the CSI Student Veteran Center, which is available online at www.csi.cuny.edu/veterans. Services include confidential personal and academic assistance provided by a professional counselor, sensitive to veterans’ issues. The Center also works closely with many other campus departments providing readjustment counseling, academic advisement, and educational and financial aid benefits, along with information and referrals to disability and mental health services, academic support, health and wellness services, academic and vocational counseling, and various community resources.
To further serve the increasing population, CSI will be offering a required general education course called Core 100, which will be specifically designed for Veterans for the first time this fall. Zajda will be teaching this section and serving the Veterans in the dual role of administrator and faculty member, providing the students with ready access to information pertinent to veterans’ affairs.
“I am very pleased that CSI has been honored by being named a Military Friendly School. This is in no small part due to the efforts of Vito Zajda, Rose Meyers, and Urszula Echols, who have worked so hard to make CSI a welcoming place for returning veterans,” commented Donna Scimeca, the Core Program Coordinator at CSI. “Our new course, Core for Veterans, will also provide an informal student support network and is designed to help make the transition to civilian life just a little bit easier for these brave young people.”
“Veterans need a trusted friend to help them decide where to get educated. The Military Friendly Schools list is that trusted friend,” said Rich McCormack, G.I. Jobs publisher.
The list was compiled through exhaustive research starting last May during which G.I. Jobs polled more than 7,000 schools nationwide. Methodology, criteria, and weighting for the list were developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Committee (AAC) consisting of educators and administrators from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Toledo, Duquesne University, Coastline Community College, and Lincoln Technical Institute.
A detailed list of Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools. A new Web site, www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, will launch in September with interactive tools and search functionality to assist military veterans in choosing schools that best meet their educational needs.
