Southern Maine Community College has been awarded the 2022-2023 Military Friendly® School designation, given to institutions for their commitment and dedication to students who have served in the military.
SMCC received a Silver Award designation from Military Friendly®, which evaluates colleges and universities using public data and responses from a proprietary survey. Institutions are graded on student retention, graduation, job placement, persistence and other measurements for all students, with an emphasis on student veterans.
SMCC provides numerous services for its veteran student population, including veterans-only student orientations, priority registration, a Veterans Resource Center and an official College Veterans Medallion at graduation, said Amy Lainoff, Director of Veteran and Military Student Services. SMCC was the first college in Maine to install Purple Heart parking spaces on its South Portland Campus and Midcoast Campus in Brunswick, and the College holds a Veterans Day breakfast and a September 11 remembrance ceremony each year.
“SMCC is honored to receive the Military Friendly® designation for a second straight year, and to be elevated to the Silver Award level. This serves as a constant reminder of our responsibility to serve our veterans to the best of our ability,” Lainoff said. “Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and it’s our duty to help them reach their educational goals and align them with a bright future after the military.”
Military Friendly® is owned by VIQTORY, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands.
The 2022-2023 Military Friendly® Schools list, which includes 665 institutions, will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found on the Military Friendly® website.