ROTC members walk on campus
ROTC members walk on campus

For the 12th consecutive year, UofL has been recognized for its commitment to serving military-connected students by earning “2021-2022 Military Friendly” institution designation. UofL was one of only 29 Carnegie Designated Tier 1 Research institutions in the nation to earn the designation.

According to Military Friendly’s website, institutions designated as Military Friendly “strive towards and succeed in the areas that matter most in helping veterans make the transition from the military to school and, ultimately, satisfying careers in the civilian world.”

To earn the designation, Military Friendly evaluates public data and proprietary data gathered through an annual data-driven survey process. Institutions are evaluated in six weighted areas:

  • Academic Policies & Compliance
  • Graduation & Career Outcomes
  • Culture & Commitment
  • Military Student Support & Retention
  • Admissions and Orientation
  • Financial Aid & Loan Repayment.

Examples of UofL’s commitment to serving this population include the key functions provided by the Office of Veteran and Military Student Services, pending creation of a Military-Connected Student Advisory Council to build on efficiencies and to share best practices in serving this population, offering waived undergraduate and graduate application fees, and offering priority course registration to this population.

“We are very proud of the almost 7% of our student body who are military-connected and of our staff and faculty who serve this population,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “Earning this designation is validation of our ongoing work to make UofL a great place to learn. However, we recognize we can always do more and we remain committed to improving how we serve this important population.”

Story written by Kyle Hurwitz, UofL’s director of Military and Online Initiatives.