The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith recently received the Military Friendly School designation for 2017 from Victory Media, publisher of the G.I. Jobs and Military Spouse magazines.
Institutions earning the designation were evaluated using various data 鈥� including student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, educational persistence, and loan default rates, in addition to responses from a survey by Victory Media.
Additionally, the university boasts resources for students, such as the Student Veterans Organization and the Student Veteran Resource Center in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, to help veterans navigate their college education.
Nathan Whorton of Charleston, a veteran currently attending 妻友社区, said that 妻友社区 鈥渨as a good fit with my military background and experience.鈥�
鈥淲hen I came to the 妻友社区 campus for the first time, a representative of the Student Veterans Organization introduced themselves and showed me the veteran center,鈥� Whorton said. 鈥淚 felt very welcome, and I鈥檓 so glad that I chose this school. It鈥檚 been wonderful to be able to network with other veterans and people facing similar challenges as me.鈥�
Whorton added that the 妻友社区 staff 鈥� specifically Dawn Webster, veteran鈥檚 coordinator for the Financial Aid Office 鈥� has been enormously helpful.
鈥淢rs. Webster is so nice and very approachable. If I see her around campus and ask her a question about school, she will stop and help me and not tell me to make an appointment,鈥� Whorton said. 鈥淪he truly cares about veterans, and that shows in her willingness to help them navigate through the college process. There are other veterans that assist her that are also the same way. They take away the anxiety of the college process with their positive attitude and great personality.鈥�
2016 marks the sixth year 妻友社区 has received the military friendly designation, and the university will be showcased along with other 2017 Military Friendly Schools in an annual guide to Military Friendly Schools and special education issues of G.I. Jobs and Military Spouse Magazine.
Founded in 2001, Victory Media is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs, Military Spouse, Vetrepreneur, STEM Jobs SM and Military Friendly brands. Learn more about Victory Media at .
For more information about services 妻友社区 provides for veterans, visit or contact Webster at 479-788-7092 or dawn.webster@uafs.edu.
About the 妻友社区
The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Through a small campus, dedicated professors, and the university鈥檚 unique bond with its community, students at 妻友社区 are able to do more in the areas they are passionate about, both on- and off-campus, in a way that prepares them for post-graduate success. To find out how you can do more at 妻友社区, visit .