Butler Named to Victory Media’s 2016 Military Friendly® Schools List

Butler Community College has again been designated a Military Friendly® School by Victory Media, the leader in successfully connecting the military and civilian worlds, and publisher of G.I. Jobs®, STEM JobsSM and Military Spouse. Now in its seventh year, the original, premier Military Friendly® Schools designation provides service members and their families with transparent, data-driven ratings about post-military education and career opportunities.

Serving the military is not something new to Butler. Butler has had a long time partnership with McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita and in February, they celebrated 40 years of Butler classes at McConnell. 

During that event., Dr. Terry Harrison, who is retired from the United States Air Force and teacher of history and minority studies at the McConnell campus, said, “When a student comes to me, I treat them just like a bald eagle with a bay eaglet. When a student is getting weak, I swoop down, take them back to my nest and I nourish them until they are ready for their solo flight out into the world. So do not hold back. Let them come to Butler and I guarantee we will take good care of them. Let them come, and we will make them fly.” Harrison began teaching at McConnell in 1991.

In addition, this fall, Butler’s Veterans Across Campus organization completed a renovation on a Veteran’s lounge at the Butler of Andover 6000 Building attached to Andover High School. The project was made possible by a grant awarded from the Butler Foundation.

“So many of our students are making the transition from carrying a military weapon on the other side of the globe to wearing a backpack and sitting in a classroom here in Kansas,” said Associate Professor of Economics and Chair of Butler Veterans Advisory Board Kristine Estes. “Embracing their challenges and recognizing their talents makes our student body more engaging and diverse. Our students named our new break room Rally Point, a place to meet up which symbolizes success and a place from which to move forward. We can't think of a more perfect name!

Butler will be showcased along with other 2016 Military Friendly® Schools in the annual Guide to Military Friendly® Schools, special education issues of G.I. Jobs® and Military Spouse Magazine, and on MilitaryFriendly.com.

The Military Friendly® Schools designation is awarded to the top colleges, universities, community colleges and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success both in the classroom and after graduation. The methodology used for making the Military Friendly® Schools list has changed the student veteran landscape to one much more transparent, and has played a significant role over the past seven years in capturing and advancing best practices to support military students across the country.

 “Post-secondary institutions earning the 2016 Military Friendly® School award have exceptionally strong programs for transitioning service members and spouses,” said Daniel Nichols, Chief Product Officer of Victory Media and Navy Reserve veteran. “Our Military Friendly® Schools are truly aligning their military programs and services with employers to help students translate military experience, skills and training into successful careers after graduation."

The Military Friendly® Schools designation process includes extensive research and a data-driven survey of thousands of schools nationwide approved for Post-9/11 GI Bill funding. The school survey, methodology, criteria and weightings are developed with the assistance of an independent Advisory Board comprised of educators and HR, diversity and recruitment professionals from schools across the country. The survey is administered for free and is open to all post-secondary schools who wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found on their website, www.militaryfriendly.com.