The University of Mississippi has again received the Military Friendly Advisory Council’s highest ranking for its support of veteran and military-connected students.
Military Friendly ranks colleges and universities across the nation on their support for veterans, active-duty service members and dependents or family members. This year, the council awarded Ole Miss gold status for overall military friendliness.
“We are proud to support the veteran and military-connected students who call Ole Miss home,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce said. “These individuals and their families have given enormously, and they deserve a university community that shows up for them with the same dedication.
“Our longstanding recognition as a Military Friendly School reflects that commitment.”
Ole Miss improved its Military Friendly ranking from bronze and silver in 2020-21 and 2021-22 to gold in 2022-23 and 2023-24, and again this year. The reason for that continued success is the team working in the Office of Veteran and Military Services, said Jeremee Alexander, the office’s director.
“Military families go through a lot, and a lot of people don’t really understand that,” he said. “Not just the veteran, but their spouse, their children – the whole family.
“That’s why our office is dedicated to making sure that all members of a military family know we care about them and that we’re here to help them have the same chance that any other student does to be successful at Ole Miss.”
In 2021, the university dedicated the George Street House, centrally located near the Lyceum and J.D. Williams Library, to the Office of Veteran and Military Services. The office serves as a liaison between the university and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, helping students access the GI Bill and other VA benefits.
The office also offers an in-house counselor who is knowledgeable about issues facing student veterans and their families, oversees a work study program for military-connected students and supports the Student Veteran Association, a veteran-focused registered student organization.
“The VMS office at Ole Miss has been invaluable in helping provide students with a network and resources to be successful in higher education,” said Ryan James, a student in the School of Law and vice-president of the Student Veteran Association. “I think for many veterans, we do not always immediately realize how much we miss the camaraderie of the military.
“In the military, you are constantly surrounded by people with similar backgrounds, similar demeanors and a shared purpose. When that goes away, it can take some time to adjust. The Student Veteran Association tries to help fill that gap for student veterans.”
Having all veteran-related support under one roof means students always know where to go when they have a question, face a challenge or need space for studying and community-building, Alexander said.
“We have completely revamped this office over the last year, and this designation shows that what we’re doing is working,” he said. “This is a benchmark moment for us. It’s a great place to be, but we’re nowhere near done.
“The goal is to keep improving, keep asking for feedback and keep getting better every day.”