For the second straight year, the Oswego State School of Business earned the 2016 “Best for Vets” award by the Military Times.
The Military Times, a publication for military news and discussions, ranked Oswego State No. 47 among the 77 schools of business listed across the nation. The publication only considered colleges and universities providing graduate level business degrees.
According to Oswego State director of MBA programs Irene Scruton, the business school employs a student centered approach that focuses on customized support systems from faculty and staff.
“We are very proud that our staff and faculty are being recognized for working with our nation’s military,” Scruton said. “The military students can have unique scheduling challenges and our staff works very hard to accommodate their needs.”
Earlier this year, the college was ranked No. 20 in the country by U.S. World News and Reports for the standard of their programs and faculty.
“We are honored to be recognized as a campus; to be delivering that level of quality to our military students,” Scruton said.
The Oswego State School of Business evaluates a veteran’s educational experience and assess their career, family and community responsibilities to help design a plan that supports their success.
The MBA program offers online classes to increase course accessibility to non-traditional and military students.
According to the Military Times, veterans accounted for at least 17 percent of the graduate students at the schools that were awarded.
Oswego State offers up to 30 college credits for military experience through the Joint Services Transcript System (JST).
The financial burden of a higher education can often put a economic strain on active military members. If a service member is called to duty during a semester at Oswego State they are eligible for a refund of tuition and fees.
“Due to the nature of military responsibilities and deployments, we work to be flexible with course rotations and advisement,” Scruton said. “The School of Business also works closely with other departments on campus that provide services for our military to ensure that we have a coordinated effort.”
Veteran affairs certification officer and financial aid counselor, Jennie Hoffman, helps veterans navigate their financial options, as many are unsure of the funds that they can receive.
According to Richard Skolnik, the Dean of the Oswego State School of Business, the MBA program, the Graduate Office and the Division of Extended Learning are partnered to meet the needs of active military personnel and veterans.
The MBA program offers College-Level Examinations (CLEP) for veteran students to demonstrate their knowledge in fundamental courses.
The graduate program also accepts the American Council of Education (ACE) credit, a U.S. higher education agency that connects workplace learning with colleges and universities to help students gain academic credit.
Benjamin Parker, the coordinator of Veteran and Military Services, said veterans require transitional assistance.
“They are leaving a very structured, regimented military life and are trying to transition to college where free thinking and self-exploration are valued,” Parker said. “They are also transitioning back to civilian life and those with families may be faced with a new role within their family structure.”
According to Parker, the procedures, structure and culture may not be easily understood for veterans at first, but they work to integrate into the college environment.
