Serving Our Military Students: A Sense of Duty, a Source of Pride

Last week, Old Dominion University was once again nationally recognized as a Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs magazine. The university was in the top 15 percent of more than 12,000 Veterans Affairs-approved colleges, universities and trade schools, and was noted for our efforts to support active duty and retired military members and their dependents. It is the fourth consecutive year that Old Dominion received this honor.

Indeed, for more than 20 years, Old Dominion has continually sought opportunities to better serve service members and their families. Approximately 25 percent of our student body is military-affiliated and more than 2,600 veterans are using their post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for an ODU education. Our location in one of the most military dense regions in the world makes our commitment to the military an obvious business decision. But the reality is that we believe it to be our duty. Moreover, on a campus that celebrates its rich mix of nationalities, cultures and life experiences, our service men and women are an integral part of that fabric.

That campus culture is a primary reason that we were named this past summer by the Chronicle of Higher Education to its Great Colleges to Work For honor roll. We were cited for achieving excellence in diversity, collaborative governance, respect and appreciation, and teaching environment, among other criteria.

Our guiding principle at Old Dominion is student success. It is, in fact, the first goal of our strategic plan: "Provide students with the tools to succeed." That is why we provide innovative, engaging and relevant learning opportunities. It's why we strive to keep tuition low and can boast of our students graduating with the third lowest public doctoral debt burden in the country. It's why we foster a campus culture that revels in its diversity and the knowledge that comes from exposure to so many different ideas. And it is most certainly why we provide support and initiatives to place us among the best schools in the nation for the military.