UW-Whitewater: Named military-friendly school

Contact: Janice Nordin

(262) 472-1580

nordinj@uww.edu

WHITEWATER ­ Efficient programs and a knowledgeable veterans affairs staff landed the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on G.I. Jobs magazine¹s list of Military Friendly Schools for 2010.

G.I. Jobs magazine helps people make the transition from military life to civilian life by providing education and job assistance. Making the G.I. Jobs Military Friendly Schools list means that UW-Whitewater ranks in the top 15 percent of all schools nationwide.

“UW-Whitewater has always been a leader,” said Jodi Hare-Paynter, interim registrar and interim director of admissions. “We have been very proactive in getting information to and tracking veterans.”

The Office of Admissions is also taking a closer look at military transcripts to find ways to accept more transfer courses for veterans. “Going the extra mile and keeping an open door policy makes UW-Whitewater a welcoming place for veterans and their families,” Veterans Coordinator Janice Nordin said.

The university has a general policy for students called to active military duty that gives them options for withdrawing from their classes with the least amount of penalty, such as withdrawing with a full refund or taking an incomplete for all courses in which they are enrolled.

UW-Whitewater also has a short-term policy that allows student veterans who are active in the National Guard or Reserves to miss up to two weeks of class for military obligations without penalty. UW-Whitewater is the only school in the UW System with a short-term military policy. With nearly 400 students receiving military benefits, policies like this make a big difference.

“This is an honor to be recognized for working with and educating our student veterans and their families,” Hare-Paynter said.

For more information on veterans services at UW-Whitewater, contact Janice Nordin at 262-472-1580 or go to http://www.uww.edu/registrar/vets.