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USF ranks No. 1 for vets

 
Published Nov. 4, 2016

America's moral obligation to do right by its military veterans is as urgent now as it was when the nation first acted on it near the end of World War II with the creation of the GI Bill.

That's why it is heartening to see the University of South Florida declared No. 1 "Best for Vets" in a new survey of 130 institutions of higher education — a ranking based on staff support, commitment to best practices, affordability and graduation rates.

But more than just the right thing to do, helping veterans to realize their potential holds the same promise now to benefit the community and the nation as a whole as it did when the GI Bill began transforming post-war American society.

This landmark federal initiative fueled the development of the middle class and, in the view of scholars such as Cornell University's Suzanne Mettler, revitalized democracy: Americans who came of age at the time joined groups and organizations and engaged in politics at rates that made the era a civic "golden age."

Today, universities like USF are serving their highest purpose when they work with veterans to smooth the path to a degree. They improve the prospects for success of individuals who most deserve it — an all-volunteer force willing to put its life on the line for the country — and they hit a bullseye in targeting broad community goals.

This is especially true at USF.

For one, the aging population of Tampa and Florida has created an alarming shortfall in nurses, and USF is graduating them — in part, through a special program called V-CARE that grants credits to veterans with military medical training.

For another, as many as 200 of the 1,600 veterans enrolled at the university are pursuing degrees in engineering — one of the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math that have been identified as crucial to helping the region and state compete in a modern economy.

What's more, veterans here are proving to be a good investment of the public money that helps fund their higher education: The graduation rate for veterans at USF is 68 percent compared to 50 percent for students overall, according to data used in the annual Best for Vets ranking by the independent publication Military Times.

Florida lawmakers have helped make its universities appealing to veterans by keeping tuition low overall and by granting them in-state status if they live here at the time of enrollment, regardless of for how long.

At USF, the Office of Veterans Success has taken it from there.

Established in 1973 as the Office of Veterans Services, the agency was renamed this year. The list of services it offers is long, including help when GI Bill benefits run out and a hangout called the Veteran Achievement Center where expansion is planned in the coming years.

These services all spring from recognition of what makes veterans unique among non-traditional students — those who don't roll straight from high school to college, says Larry Braue, the retired Army lieutenant colonel who runs the university's veterans office.

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The life experience veterans bring often proves an asset for the university community, making them ideal mentors for younger students. But like all students, they face a challenge that rivals their academic coursework when it comes to navigating the world of higher education and financial aid.

In the case of veterans, they often roll in from a highly regimented work and social community — the military — that provided, to varying degrees, for their every need. The Office of Veterans Success helps replicate that close-knit community within a new, often confusing world.

USF rates "Best for Vets," but it's far from biggest when it comes to veteran enrollment. Eighteen universities on the list of 130, including St. Petersburg College, enroll more veterans than USF.

But that's likely to change. A No. 2 ranking on the Best for Vets list last year, Braue said, may have contributed to a bump of about 100 in the number of veterans enrolling at USF.

If No. 1 brings another boost, as it should, the university will be ready for it.