WDT awarded Military Friendly School title
G.I. Jobs, the premier magazine for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has awarded Western Dakota Tech the designation of Military Friendly School. The 2012 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students.
In the past academic year, WDT served 214 veterans. This semester, 147 vets, or 14 percent of WDT’s total enrollment, are attending classes on campus.
WDT serves vets in a number of ways.
WDT recently opened a Veteran's Resource Center on campus, a one-stop location for all students receiving military education benefits. At the center, students can apply for benefits, study, relax, receive tutoring, network with other veterans, and ask any benefit-related questions.
Once a week, WDT hosts an employment specialist from the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation to share employment opportunities with WDT’s veteran students.
WDT partners with the Western Nebraska Community College TRIO-Veteran’s Upward Bound program to support student veterans with tutoring in math, accounting, computers, science, and writing.
All WDT programs are approved for Veterans Administration funding. WDT also offers a Veterans Administration-approved professional truck driving program through the Corporate Education Center.
“Veterans have given so much to our country and state, and we are committed to making sure we take care of them,” WDT President Dr. Craig Bailey said. “Being named a Military Friendly School means a lot to us.”
According to G.I. Jobs, the 1,518 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s Military Friendly School list prioritize the recruitment of students with military experience. These schools are making the grade by offering scholarships and discounts, veterans’ clubs, full-time staff, military credit and other services to those who served. The 2012 list of Military Friendly Schools was compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 8,000 schools nationwide.
About WDT
WDT (www.wdt.edu) is the only technical institute that serves the western South Dakota region. WDT offers more than 20 programs in a variety of fields, including Business and Computers, Construction Trades, Health Services, Legal and Public Services, Manufacturing and Mechanical Trades, and Science and Technology. More than 94 percent of WDT graduates are either working or continuing their education, and more than 82 percent of those placed in careers are working in South Dakota.
WDT faculty, staff, and administration focus their efforts on helping students gain the skills and experiences they need to succeed. Through hands-on learning, internships, and industry partnerships, WDT students graduate ready to make a real and immediate contribution to their employers and to their communities.
Contact WDT at (800) 544-8765, (605) 718-2565, or admissions@wdt.edu. Visit WDT on the web at www.wdt.edu.
About G.I. Jobs
G.I. Jobs (www.gijobs.com) is published by Victory Media, a veteran-owned business which also publishes The Guide to Military Friendly Schools, Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur magazines and annually rates the nation’s “Military Friendly Employers,” “Military Spouse Friendly Employers” and “Best Corporations for Veteran-Owned Businesses.