Angelo State Named a National ‘Military Spouse Friendly School’

ASU is one of only 346 U.S. institutions and one of only four Texas public universities to be named a Military Spouse Friendly® School for 2022-23. The complete list is published in the July/August issue of Military Spouse magazine.

To be considered for the Military Spouse Friendly® School designation, institutions must first be named a Military Friendly® School. Angelo State earned that designation for the 14^th straight year in March, and also received a Gold Award for ranking in the top tier of the 72 institutions in the Large Public University category.

According to Military Friendly, the Military Spouse Friendly® Schools list has been a reliable resource for military spouses and has set a standard for higher education institutions to provide the best post-secondary education experiences for spouses of service members since 2009.

Phillip Nichelson “It’s no joke that being a military spouse is the toughest job in the military,” said Phillip Nichelson, ASU director of military and veteran services. “As a retired Marine, I want military spouses to know that we will do everything in our power to ensure they and their families have the best possible experience at Angelo State University. We are their source for information and many other resources, and we are here and ready to help.”

Maria Hawkins “I spent over 30 years as a military spouse,” said ASU First Lady Maria Hawkins. “So, I know firsthand that while I may not have worn a uniform, military spouses can experience many of the same issues as their active-duty spouses when it comes to higher education. They may need help utilizing military education benefits, accessing flexible class schedules, and getting involved in the campus community. It’s heartening to know that Angelo State remains committed to addressing their concerns and ensuring they have a quality and complete college experience. This national recognition lets military spouses everywhere know that the Ram Family welcomes them with open arms.”

To determine the Military Spouse Friendly® Schools list each year, a vast amount of data is collected from the Military Friendly® survey and various federal agencies. Schools are carefully selected based on their overall accommodations toward students in the military, academic credibility, academic support, career planning resources, flexibility, military family support, campus support systems, federal approval, and population percentages and outcomes.

Selected schools have constructed their admissions, retention, career counseling and mentoring programs to help alleviate the difficulties faced by military spouses. They also provide flexible learning options and degree continuation programs that are designed to accommodate deployments and relocation.

ASU’s programs for military and veteran students and their families are overseen by the Office of Affiliated Military and Veteran Services, which is housed in the Veterans Educational and Transitional Services (VETS) Center in the Houston Harte University Center.