Academics

Penn State World Campus recognized as top military-friendly institution

Penn State World Campus has been recognized as a top military-friendly institution. World Campus was ranked No. 8 out of 25 online and nontraditional schools on Military Times' "Best for Vets" 2016 college rankings. In addition, G.I. Jobs designated World Campus as a military friendly school. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State World Campus has been recognized as a top military-friendly online school by two national media outlets.

World Campus is ranked No. 8 among 25 online and nontraditional schools in the Military Times’ “Best for Vets” 2016 college rankings, released Monday (Nov. 9). In last year’s rankings, Military Times ranked World Campus No. 13.

World Campus also has been designated as a 2016 Military Friendly School last week by Victory Media, which publishes G.I. Jobs and other military-focused publications.

“At Penn State World Campus, our employees have worked very hard to create and maintain a culture that supports military and veteran students so they can be successful,” said Craig Weidemann, vice president for Outreach and vice provost for online education. “We will continue to do everything we can to provide a high-quality college education to military students.”

Military Times and Victory Media surveyed universities about their policies and services to determine the institutions that would be recognized.

Among the services and support available to veterans enrolled through World Campus are dedicated military admissions and advising teams. World Campus also offers scholarships and financial assistance, such as the Military Grant-in-Aid program that reduces tuition for undergraduate service members and their spouses.

World Campus has also started two new partnerships aimed at making it easier for military students to access a Penn State degree.

In August, World Campus opened a classroom at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, the first on-base classroom for the University. Also in the fall, 20 Army sergeants major began working on master’s degrees in adult education through a new partnership between the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy and World Campus. The Army selected World Campus to deliver graduate-level instruction to instructors who will then go on to teach the country’s top enlisted soldiers at the academy.

In addition, World Campus launched a new professional development course for faculty and staff at the University over the summer. The online course, “Serving Those Who Serve,” seeks to help employees who teach and serve military and veterans students better understand the challenges they face.

 “Our mission is to teach learners at a distance anywhere, anytime, and these military initiatives are helping us advance this goal,” said Renata Engel, associate vice provost for online programs. “The recognition we are receiving gives us confidence that we are meeting the needs of military and veteran students and that they are in good hands.”

For more information about services for military students at World Campus, visit its website.

Last Updated November 5, 2020

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