OU earns highest rating for support of veterans and military-connected students

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) has awarded Oakland University gold status, the highest rating possible, on its 2024 list of veteran-friendly schools. 

The agency’s Veteran-Friendly Schools program recognizes Michigan educational institutions for serving the educational needs of veterans and military-connected students.

Schools are evaluated based on seven criteria regarding veteran-focused services and programs. Gold status requires fulfillment of six or more criteria, while silver requires four criteria and bronze, three. For the eighth consecutive year, Oakland met all seven criteria, listed below.

• Established process for identifying student veterans
  
  
• Veteran-specific website
  
  
• Active student-operated veterans club or association
  
  
• Veteran-specific career services, resources, advising and/or outcome monitoring
  
  
• On-campus veterans’ coordinator and/or designated staff point of contact 
  
  
• System to evaluate and award credit based on military training and experience
  
  
• Monitoring and evaluation system for student veteran academic retention, transfer and graduation rates. 

“Veterans Support Services is proud to earn gold-level status for eight consecutive years for OU. The efforts of our Student Veterans of Oakland University student organization, a chapter of Student Veterans of America, fulfills an essential requirement in earning our gold-level status,” said Lisa Rhoades, coordinator of OU Veterans Support Services. “The commitment of SVOU in providing social events for our military-connected students allows our students to enjoy the camaraderie of other veterans on campus.”  

Connect with other veterans on campus by joining SVOU through Grizz Orgs. To learn more about OU Veterans Support Services, visit oakland.edu/veterans, call (248) 370-2010 or email [email protected].