Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) was recently named to the Military Times’ 2013 Best for Vets: Colleges list. Military Times annually ranks participating four-year colleges and universities based on which ones do the most for U.S. veterans (to see the Military Times college ranking methodology, visit http://militarytimes.com/jobs/best-for-vets/military-best-for-vets-colleges-2013-methodology-110812/)

This year, Oregon Tech ranked in the top ten percent of the 650 participating schools.

The 150-question survey assesses widespread efforts by schools to accommodate veterans and active-duty service members. Schools were measured on numerous factors based on what veterans indicate they value most in a college or university.  Some of those criteria include participation in the U.S. Veteran Affairs Department’s Yellow Ribbon program during the 2012-13 school year, support of a veterans’ office, acceptance of ACE (American Council on Education) credits, participation in the Veterans Upward Bound program, offering classes at or below the $250-per-credit-hour cap on military tuition assistance in the 2011-12 academic year, and institutional accreditation, among other items.

Kristin Sayles, Veterans Certifying Official in the Oregon Tech Registrar Office, commented, “Oregon Tech is indeed a Yellow Ribbon School for those out of state students using the Post 9/11 GI Bill® to further their education.  In fact, Oregon Tech is one of the two public universities in Oregon that does not limit the number of students or the dollar amount granted through the Yellow Ribbon program.”

According to the Oregon Tech Registrar’s Office, 179 enrolled veterans use the GI Bill® at the university for the Fall 2012 term.

Joseph Miranda, a senior majoring in renewable energy engineering and environmental sciences at Oregon Tech, served in the U.S. Marines and is using his GI Bill® benefits to obtain his bachelor’s degree. 

“The acknowledgment of Oregon Tech as a university that is ‘Best for Vets’ is a great honor for our veterans who go to school here, as well as for the university,” said Miranda. “The Oregon Tech Veterans Association (OVA) became a program a year ago. OVA Program Director Armando Davila and I have spent many hours trying to network and help the university gain recognition as a ‘veteran friendly’ school. We’ve formed multiple committees, most notably the Veterans Action Committee, to encourage veterans to use their benefits not just at our school, but at any school. We feel that veterans fully deserve every benefit that has been awarded to them. This honor from Military Times proves that our efforts have not gone unnoticed.”

Regarding his personal experience as a veteran at Oregon Tech, Miranda commented, “I have had a great experience going to Oregon Tech as a veteran. We now have many programs in place to assist with the transition phase from military life back to student life. Any question that a veteran has can be answered by one of many professionals on campus whether staff, faculty, or other veteran students. We strive for excellence in veteran awareness on this campus and greatly appreciate the honor of being a veteran friendly school.”

The 2013 Best for Vets: Colleges list can be found on the Military Times website at http://militarytimes.com/projects/jobs/best-for-vets/2013/colleges/4-year. To read more about four-year colleges and universities that provide support services to military veterans, visit the Military Times website at http://militarytimes.com/jobs/best-for-vets/military-best-for-vets-colleges-2013-main-110812/. The Military Times network provides members of the U.S. Military and their families with independent, award-winning journalism. The Veteran Students Information website at Oregon Tech can be found at www.oit.edu/registrar/veterans.

 

About Oregon Tech
Founded in Klamath Falls in 1947, Oregon Institute of Technology is one of seven universities in the Oregon University System, and the only polytechnic university in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon Tech provides degree programs in engineering and health technologies, management, communications and applied sciences that prepare students to be effective participants in their professional, public and international communities through hands-on learning. Oregon Tech has a traditional, residential campus in Klamath Falls and an urban campus in Wilsonville. The university also has sites in Beaverton, Salem, La Grande, and Seattle, as well as online degree offerings. Visit www.oit.edu to learn more about Oregon Institute of Technology.