PHOTO: Brendan Conte '19 (from left), Jacob Snyder, George Scheibe, and Rachel Grasee '19 are all US Military Veterans and were inducted into the SALUTE Honor Society in April 2019.
For the 10th consecutive year, the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg has been designated a Military Friendly® School by Victory Media.
Now in its 10th year, the Military Friendly® Schools list has come to set the standard for higher education institutions to provide the best opportunities for veterans and their spouses. This prestigious list provides a comprehensive guide for veterans and their families using data sources from federal agencies and proprietary survey information from participating organizations.
Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation are evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey completed by the school. More than 1,300 schools participated in the 2020-2021 survey with 625 schools earning the designation from every state in the country. The complete list is published at www.militaryfriendly.com.
Pitt-Greensburg met and exceeded the Military Friendly Standards in all six categories, including Academic Policies and Compliance, Admissions & Orientation, Culture & Commitment, Financial Aid & Assistance, and Graduation & Career.
On average, 45 to 50 student veterans attend Pitt-Greensburg. The community includes active military and those using military benefits as spouses or dependents of veterans or military personnel.
Pitt-Greensburg serves its military and veteran population through its SITREP Military and Veterans Services program, focusing on key areas of Service, Initiative, Transition, Resource, Education, and Partnership. The Veterans Action Team, comprised of a broad representation of campus departments and services, also maximizes the resources available to these students. Details about the opportunities available to veterans, spouses, or dependents at Pitt-Greensburg are available at www.greensburg.pitt.edu/veterans.
“The Veterans Action Team is committed to identifying opportunities and connections to help veterans transition to campus life here at Pitt-Greensburg, as well as to help them to succeed as students and transition to civilian careers after college,” said Lisa Reffner, the campus’ certifying official for Veterans benefits in Pitt-Greensburg’s Office of the Registrar. “We are advocates for our Veteran community and want to support these students in securing the benefits that will assist them in pursuing their degrees here at Pitt-Greensburg.”
Co-chairing the Veterans Services Action Team with Reffner is Alexander Bittner, assistant director for Admissions at Pitt-Greensburg. Both Reffner and Bittner are former military personnel and veterans. Reffner is a veteran of the US Air Force. Bittner enlisted in the US Army at the age of 17 and currently serves as an Army Reservist with the rank of Specialist.
“In addition to the benefits available through Veterans Services, students may also participate in the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC),” said Bittner. “This program returned to Pitt-Greensburg in 2017 after a year’s absence. It offers scholarships and stipends to assist students in covering college expenses while providing excellent training to transition the students from Cadets to Commissioned Officers in the United States Army.”
Founded in 1963, the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is a publicly assisted, four-year, liberal arts college in southwestern Pennsylvania. Pitt-Greensburg offers 29 baccalaureate degree programs, including majors in Nursing, Healthcare Management, Public Policy, and Education, as well as 26 minors and five certificate programs. With nearly 1,500 students, more than 10,000 alumni, and faculty and staff numbering 260, Pitt-Greensburg provides a vibrant, diverse community that is a dynamic model of a 21st century liberal arts education. As part of the University of Pittsburgh system, Pitt-Greensburg offers the resources of a world-renowned university combined with the individualized and immersive experiences of a small liberal arts college. Creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit permeate the campus and extend into its many collaborative projects with the Westmoreland County community. Nestled in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Laurel Highlands, the campus is surrounded by the region’s outdoor recreation venues and rich history. It is a five-minute drive from uptown Greensburg’s coffee shops, restaurants, art museums, theatres and boutiques and less than an hour’s drive from Pittsburgh.
About Military Friendly® Schools:
The Military Friendly ® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria, and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. Ernst & Young (EY), a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction, and advisory services, independently evaluated the scoring methodology used for the Military Friendly® Schools list using the criteria set forth by VIQTORY. The services performed by EY were limited to advisory procedures and do not assure the scoring methodology. The survey is administered for free and is open to all post-secondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration 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. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer), and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans. For the first time, the methodology included a new measure—the 90/10 Rule and Loophole. Military Friendly® has closed the loophole on our survey and is eager for Congress to follow as it deliberates closing the loophole legislatively.
About Victory Media:
Founded in 2001, Viqtory Media is a service-disabled, veteran-owned, small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational, and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs®, Military Spouse, and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY Media and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept. of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY Media at www.viqtory.com.