Niagara University chosen by Military Times as a 'Best for Vets' college destination

Niagara University is one of the nation's top institutions when it comes to embracing America's veterans as students, according to comprehensive results released Tuesday by Military Times.

NU is included in the Military Times' "Best for Vets: Colleges 2016" rankings, which factors in school-by-school assessments of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement. This is the sixth year Military Times - the family of publications that includes Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times and Marine Corps Times - has published the rankings.

Military Times' annual "Best for Vets: Colleges" survey asks colleges and universities to meticulously document a large array of services, special rules, accommodations and financial incentives offered to students with military ties, and to describe many aspects of veteran culture on a campus. Military Times also factors in data from the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments, as well as three Education Department sources: the IPEDS Data Center, College Scorecard data and the Cohort Default Rate Database.

"We award the 'Best for Vets' designation to the very best - the colleges that really are setting the example," said Amanda Miller, editor of Military Times' "Best for Vets" rankings and special editions.

The rankings are published in full in the issues of Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times and Marine Corps Times on newsstands the week of Nov. 9; and online at MilitaryTimes.com, as well as ArmyTimes.com, NavyTimes.com, AirForceTimes.com and MarineCorpsTimes.com.

For the full "Best for Vets: Colleges 2016" rankings, visit www.militarytimes.com/bestforvets-colleges2016.

The news comes on the heels of Niagara University recently being named one of U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges for Veterans" and Victory Media's "Top Veteran-Friendly Schools."

"It is an honor to be recognized by these organizations for our commitment to making our nation's veterans, their dependents and active duty military vitally important members of the Niagara family," stated Robert Healy, Niagara University's veterans services coordinator. "As a fellow veteran, I am proud of our efforts to engage and empower the military-connected community, and ensure that they get the most out of their educational experience."

Among the numerous opportunities Niagara offers student-veterans are four-week online courses through the general education mobile program, which are designed specifically for military members. Complete information on the program can be found at www.niagara.edu/gem.

Niagara University also participates in the Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.

This Wednesday, in observance of Veterans Day, the university will host a series of activities, including a keynote address from Vietnam War veteran Bob "Mr. Inspiration" Wieland. Wieland will speak on suicide prevention, one of the leading causes of death among veterans and college students, at 4 p.m. at the Castellani Art Museum on Niagara's campus.

There will also be a moment of silence at 2 p.m. for fallen American servicemen and women, followed by participation in the Remembrance Day National Roll Call, a national event that calls for a synchronized reading of the names of fallen American soldiers.

For more information about Niagara University's efforts to assist American veterans, call 716-286-8341 or visit www.niagara.edu/veterans.