UMA earns national recognition for work with veterans

AUGUSTA — The University of Maine at Augusta has been recognized by two national organizations for its exceptional service to veterans, military service members, and their families. UMA has earned the 2020-2021 Military Friendly School designation and was also named a 2020 Best for Vets by Military Times.
“UMA is honored to receive these designations,” said UMA President Rebecca Wyke. “This reflects the dedication of the faculty and staff of UMA to be a welcoming community for our military service members and veterans,” Wyke continued. “UMA’s Veterans Academic Center continues to grow and is one of the major student hubs on the Augusta campus.”
Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation are evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey completed by the school. Methodology, criteria, and weightings are determined by VIQTORY with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.
More than 1,000 schools participated in the 2020-2021 survey with 695 earning the designation. The 2020-2021 Military Friendly(R) School list will be published in the May 2020 edition of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com
For the Military Times Best for Vets ranking, institutions were evaluated in five categories: university culture, student support, academic policies, academic outcomes/quality, and cost and financial aid.
Amy LIne, UMA director of military and veterans’ services, said, “We are very pleased with the longstanding and continuing recognition by Military Friendly School and Military Times to UMA’s commitment in supporting our military service members and veterans, and their families. Support and assistance for service members begins on their first day on campus right through to graduation.”

PHOTO: Keith Witherspoon, UMA 2019 graduate (UMA photo)