San Marcos, CA – California State University San Marcos has earned the Military Friendly® School designation, receiving a Silver Award for scoring within 30 percent of the 10th-ranked organization.
“We are delighted to once again be ranked in the top 3 percent of the 941 colleges and universities in the country that were designated ‘military friendly,’ ” said Patricia Reily, director of CSUSM’s Veteran Services
“We not only make it our job to ensure that our military and veteran students are successful in college, we take it one step further to facilitate their transition into successful careers.”
Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. For the first time, student survey data was taken into consideration for the designation. More than 1,400 schools participated in the survey.
The Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com. Methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by Victory Media with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community.
Among the unique programs offered by CSUSM’s Veteran Services was the Energy System Technology Evaluation Program (ESTEP), a workforce development program funded by the Office of Naval Research. The success of ESTEP served as a catalyst for Veterans To Energy Careers (VTEC).
Launched this year, VTEC is part of a Department of the Navy initiative to develop the nation’s STEM workforce with the leadership and experience of our military veterans. Powered by a grant from the Office of Naval Research, VTEC facilitates the transition of military veterans into sustainable energy careers through a collaboration between higher education, government and industry.
The VTEC program includes a combination of formal or technical education, basic career prep, internships, and/or fellowships based on the needs of each veteran for their desired career.
Transition is a stressful time for many veterans, with unique challenges and stressors that are uncommon to the general college population. The all-veteran VTEC team supports and mentors participants toward their individualized goals. CSUSM takes a holistic approach to the transitioning veteran to ensure they smoothly navigate various choke points veterans often encounter.
Learn more about CSUSM’s Veteran Services online.
About California State University San Marcos
Building on an innovative 28-year history, California State University San Marcos is a forward-focused institution, dedicated to preparing future leaders, building great communities and solving critical issues. Located on a 304-acre hillside overlooking the City of San Marcos, it is the only public four-year comprehensive university serving North San Diego, Southwest Riverside and South Orange Counties.
The University enrolls nearly 17,000 students. With approximately 2,000 employees, the institution is a Great College to Work For® (The Chronicle of Higher Education). As a recipient of the annual HEED Award since 2014—a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion—CSUSM is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment.
