Enlisting in Education

After retiring from the United States Marine Corps, a 20-year career that took him to 32 countries and into combat operations Desert Storm in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, John Bowers has once again charged forth into unfamiliar territory.

This time, that territory is a college campus.

“I came to Wright State because everyone here makes veterans feel very comfortable,” said Bowers, now an accounting major at the university.

“It’s a welcoming, supportive environment,” he said. “I’m often thanked by faculty and staff for my service, a really nice gesture.”

For three consecutive years, Wright State University has been named a Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs Magazine. The magazine recognizes institutions that do the most to help America’s veterans and their families succeed in higher education.

That national recognition is no accident. It’s the result of a conscious effort to support our nation’s heroes.

In early 2010, Wright State established a 24-member Veteran and Military-Connected Student Committee. The committee created a two-year strategic plan to advocate for military-friendly policies across campus.

The committee builds on many of Wright State’s strengths. Located near a major military base and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, the university is home to two ROTC regiments and more than 300 military veteran faculty and staff.

“Wright State has had a long and fruitful relationship with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,” said Jacqueline McMillan, Ph.D., vice president for Enrollment Management.

“We are proud to work with and serve our diverse student population of enlisted and veteran military personnel,” she said. “We’ve spent the last several years researching and planning, building a foundation and implementing a number of large initiatives that have a positive effect on this group and on the university itself.”

Some of these initiatives include:

• Awarding college credit for military service
• Launching a Military and Veteran Student Center website
• Not penalizing service members who are called up for active duty mid-quarter
• Offering special housing and roommate matching with other military students
• Helping students write resumes that showcase their military experience
• Offering online orientation
• Creating a section of English 101 specifically geared toward veterans
• Designing a first-year seminar focused on helping military students
• transition to college.

“We’re fortunate to have an office devoted full-time to the success of military students,” said Amanda Watkins, assistant director of the Wright State Office of Veterans Affairs.