West Chester University (WCU) has earned the 2021-22 Military Friendly School designation and has advanced to Gold status in recognition of leading practices, outcomes, and effective programs for members of the military and veterans enrolled at the university. West Chester is one of only six universities in Pennsylvania that earned the Gold designation.

Military Friendly measures an organization's commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community. More than 1,200 schools sought Military Friendly designation by participating in the 2021-22 proprietary survey. Institutions were also evaluated using public data sources. Of the 747 institutions that earned the general designation, only 162 nationally were selected for Gold status, which is reserved for schools that scored within 10% of the 10th ranking school in their category.

WCU strives to create an intentional culture of understanding, acceptance, and success for veterans, active military members, National Guard service members, and those who support them. Services and resources for members of the military and veterans at WCU are centralized through the Greg and Sandra Weisenstein Veterans Center. The Weisenstein endowment has been established to provide annual support in scholarships and programming for WCU student veterans. In addition, a licensed professional counselor, dedicated specifically to the needs of WCU's student veteran population, is now on staff.

The Veterans Center also offers student veterans spaces to meet formally, study, relax, recharge, and socialize, plus resources and events that connect veterans at WCU with those in the local community. A dedicated parking spot for current or prospective active military members or veteran military members has been added directly behind the building, which recently saw upgrades, including changes to its handicapped-accessible ramp/porch.

A new Military Veterans Coordinating Committee has been established. It will be involved in developing and sustaining programs and initiatives that expand and support the experience of current and future military veteran students and their families.

The complete 2021-22 Military Friendly schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at http://www.militaryfriendly.com.