A renowned website recognized UF for fostering a positive environment for military families.
The website, Military Friendly, released its 2017 Military Spouse Friendly School list in February. Included in the list was UF, recognized for creating and promoting positive environments for the families of military personnel, wrote Anthony DeSantis, the associate dean of student affairs, in an email.
“Military Friendly-designated organizations are in good federal standing and have met or exceeded benchmarks for recruitment, retention, advancement, support and job placement of veterans,” DeSantis said.
The website collected information about the schools through public data and surveys, he said. Selection was based on features like veterans’ access to career and mentorship programs and how well universities accommodated veterans’ and their families’ needs.
Veteran Joe Schwartz, a UF nance student, said UF ensures that benefits veterans have access to, such as the federal GI bill and the Collegiate Veterans Success Center in Yon Hall, are available to their dependents and spouses.
“UF is accommodating in that they treat people who are dependents almost like they treat vets,” the 21-year-old said. “They take steps to make sure that dependents who grew up around military personnel stay connected.”
Veteran David Redman, a UF family, youth and community sciences senior, said the federal government has improved how military members and their dependents are supported. He said UF has been ready to accept those changes and build on them, while working to make sure veterans are welcomed and included on campus.
“It kind of breaks down the stigma by facilitating interaction between vets and non-vets,” the 33-year-old said.
