GI Jobs Magazine has named schools to its 2013 Military Friendly Schools list. Schools from the area that made it to the list include: Central Virginia Community College; Dabney S Lancaster Community College; Ferrum College; Jefferson College of Health Sciences; Liberty University; Lynchburg College; National College; Radford University; Roanoke College; Virginia Highlands Community College; Virginia Tech; Virginia Western Community College; Washington and Lee University; and Wytheville Community College.

The list honors the top 15 percent of higher education institutes that do the most to ensure the success of military members, veterans and their spouses as students. To see a complete list of schools, visit www.militaryfriendlyschools.com.

Here is a press release from Jefferson College of Health and Sciences.

ROANOKE, Va. (Sept. 25, 2012) — Jefferson College of Health Sciences (JCHS) has been named to the 2013 “Military Friendly Schools®” list by GI Jobs Magazine, a publication of Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The 2013 Military Friendly Schools® list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.

“Inclusion on the 2013 list of Military Friendly Schools® shows Jefferson College of Health Sciences’ commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, Director for G.I. Jobs and Vice President at Victory Media. “As interest in education grows, we’re thrilled to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”

The Military Friendly Schools® website at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com features the full list of military friendly schools, interactive tools and search functionality to help military students find the best school to suit their unique needs and preferences. The 1,739 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience.

“Our goal is to not only welcome back and honor our veterans’ service,” said JCHS President Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop, “but also to help these valued members of our community find their professional paths in life. And we think the incredibly diverse and exciting world of healthcare is the perfect fit for these courageous individuals.”

Now in its fourth year, the 2013 list of Military Friendly Schools® was compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 12,000 VA-approved schools nationwide. The survey tabulation process, methodology and weightings that comprise the 2013 list were independently verified by Ernst and Young LLP.   Each year, schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from schools across the country.

Complete survey methodology is available at http://www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/Article/methodology-press-kit.

A full story and detailed list of 2013 Military Friendly Schools® will be highlighted in the annual G.I. Jobs Guide to Military Friendly Schools®, distributed in print and digital format to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in early October.

Jefferson College of Health Sciences is a private higher education institution that “prepares, within a scholarly environment, ethical, knowledgeable, competent and caring healthcare professionals.”  The College focuses on providing healthcare education and is an affiliate of Carilion Clinic. Founded in 1914 as the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing, JCHS now provides more than 1,000 students with opportunities to become part of the healthcare profession, serving communities from southwest Virginia to the Shenandoah Valley and beyond. The school’s graduates are building healthier tomorrows in our region and across the country every day. More information is available at www.jchs.edu.