FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama was recently awarded the No. 1 designation for Military Friendly Schools in the public universities with 10,000 students or fewer category.
UNA was ranked in six categories: academic policies and compliance; admissions and orientation; culture and commitment; financial aid and assistance; graduation and career; and military student support and retention. UNA scored the highest in the culture and commitment category, followed closely by the financial aid and assistance category.
UNA President Dr. Ken Kitts said this was one of his goals when he arrived at the University.
Dr. Ken Kitts, UNA
“We honor military service and want to support those who have served,” said Kitts. “We’ve worked hard in both Student Affairs and our Office of Military and Veteran Affairs to make education more accessible to service members and veterans. This designation tells me we’re taking the right steps,” he said.
Michelle Dailey, Veteran Affairs specialist for UNA, said the University specializes in providing current or former military service members with a smooth transition into the university-level academic atmosphere through the Military & Veteran Service Center, an all-encompassing facility dedicated to ensuring a successful completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree program. The Military & Veteran Service Center contains a computer center, a lounge, a conference room/study area, and provides access to counseling and job mentoring services. The center also hosts the Military & Veterans Alliance, a registered student organization dedicated to the military community.
Michelle Dailey
“It’s steps like the new service center that certainty help with this recent designation,” said Dailey. “And we’re already reaping the rewards. We just received word about our designation and I’ve already received inquiries from interested students related to it, so we’re excited about what the future holds,” she said.
According to the website, Military Friendly® ratings and resources provide service members and their families with the information they need to make decisions about civilian careers and education opportunities. The survey-driven Military Friendly® lists have been published every year since 2003.
UNA’s profile can be found here: https://militaryfriendly.com/schools/university-of-north-alabama/
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA
The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Sciences, and the Anderson College of Nursing. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals. UNA also operates a renowned collegiate athletic program in NCAA Division II’s Gulf South Conference. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age or national origin.
About Military Friendly® and Victory Media:
The Military Friendly® Employers and Military Friendly® Schools designation process includes extensive research and a data-driven survey of leading companies and colleges nationwide. The survey, methodology, criteria and weightings are developed with the assistance of an independent advisory council of educators and employers, and tested by EY based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media. The survey is administered for free. Criteria for consideration and recipients of the designation can be found at: https://militaryfriendly.com. Founded in 2001, Victory Media is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, entrepreneurial and education opportunities through its G.I. Jobs®, Military Spouse, Vetrepreneur®, STEM JobsSM and Military Friendly® brands. Learn more about Victory Media at www.victorymedia.com.
Media Release/UNA/Bryan Rachal, APR
p: 256.765.4392 c: 256.483.9392
Director, University Communications
