Just in time for Veterans Day, William Woods University has earned the 2016 Military Friendly School designation by Victory Media.
First published in 2009, Military Friendly Schools is the most comprehensive, powerful resource for veterans today. Each year, the list of Military Friendly Schools is provided to service members and their families, helping them select the best school to receive the education and training needed to pursue a civilian career. Institutions earning the designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a survey. 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 student veterans.
"William Woods works closely with our military and veteran service members throughout the world and their families, customizing programs and financial aid options that meet their needs," said Kathy Groves, vice president of enrollment at William Woods.
The university offers a wide variety of traditional on-campus, online, and part-time study options, as well as the ability for students to start and stop as military responsibilities allow. In terms of education financing, online and graduate students have a price guarantee, as long as they remain continuously enrolled.
"We are excited to be an official Military Friendly School and continue our long-standing partnership with the military," Groves said.
And students appreciate that welcoming environment.
"The transition from military to civilian life was hard," said Shannon Graziano, a Marine Corps veteran from Holts Summit who is now a junior and physical education major at William Woods and the football coach at South Callaway High School. "At first, I went to a larger school, but I didn't feel comfortable there. Then I came to William Woods. It was peaceful, and I could actually think here. People accept and respect me and what I've been through."
Daniel Lantz, a junior from Columbia, agrees.
"Everyone at William Woods is very friendly," he said. "There's a camaraderie here that is the closest thing I have to the military."
Lantz said he is currently balancing between his military life in the Army National Guard and his civilian life as a criminal justice major and member of the William Woods men's track and field team.
"I went into the National Guard so that I could go to college and join the military," he said. "The professors here are considerate and flexible, willing to work around my schedule. Plus, I was able to apply transfer credits from my time in the military."
To learn more about William Woods' offerings for active military members and veterans, go to www.williamwoods.edu/military.