USM recognized as 'military-friendly' school

Photo / Courtesy of the University of Southern Maine Veteran students at the University of Southern Maine gathered at the Portland campus for an open house to kick off the fall 2024 semester.

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By Tina Fischer

The University of Southern Maine, where 185 veterans are enrolled this spring, has been designated a "military-friendly" school for providing a range of services to students with military ties.

The accolade comes from a national survey of more than 1,800 schools by Viqtory, a Pennsylvania-based small business that connects veterans with employment and educational and entrepreneurial opportunities. The survey was conducted in partnership with the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in higher education and military recruitment.

USM's Military-Affiliated Student Hub (abbreviated as MASH) was cited for its wide range of services and resources for students at campuses in Portland, Gorham and Lewiston.

USM, part of the statewide University of Maine System, also has peer mentor programs for incoming student veterans and dedicated lounges and workspaces specifically designed to meet their needs. Financial aid is available through the Veteran Completion Scholarship.

“At the University of Southern Maine, we are deeply committed to supporting the success and well-being of our student veterans and military-affiliated students,” said student hub director Lorrie Spaulding in a news release.

“These individuals bring unique experiences, leadership skills, and a strong sense of purpose to our campus community, and we are proud to create an environment that honors their service and supports their academic and personal goals," she added.

In addition to the 185 veterans currently enrolled at USM, she said that 153 dependents are financing their studies via the G.I. Bill that provides education benefits to veterans.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly designation were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the latest survey with 830 earning special recognition.

Ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with 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.

USM, which earned "gold-level status," was also cited as a Military Spouse Friendly School.