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JERSEY CITY, N.J. | (NJCU), led by its Office of Military & Veterans Services, has again been recognized as a 2023-2024 Military Friendly® School and , militaryfriendly.com announced on March 8. It is the second consecutive year NJCU has been honored with the top designation by the publication.

NJCU also was recognized as a Military Friendly Gold institution in the Small Public category after receiving the designation for the first time during the 2022-23 review period. The university had previously been honored as a bronze and silver-level recipient in prior years for its dedication to the military community.

“As our university renews its focus on student success and retention, and the benefits that will produce for our entire student body, the Office of Military & Veterans Services has long led in this area,” praised NJCU Interim President Andrés Acebo. “We thank Elaine Gargiulo, Randi Fontanez, and the entire Office of Military & Veterans Services for their efforts every day, and the leadership of Dr. Jodi Bailey and the Division of Student Affairs. We are all appreciative of their work to create an incredible experience for those men and women who sacrificed so much for our country.”

“NJCU is incredibly proud to continue to be recognized for our work with our military students,” said Jodi Bailey, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management. “Through the Office of Military and Veterans Services, we want to ensure our students are seen, heard and know that they make our campus a better place.”

Elaine Gargiulo, Director of Military & Veterans Services at NJCU, added: “NJCU is proud to have earned a gold designation for the second year in a row. We continually strive to create an environment that is not only inviting, but conducive to learning that encourages the peer ����̽�� and student engagement of fellow service members. Our office ����̽��s veterans, service members, and their families. We are constantly looking for ways to improve, and look forward to partnerships with all organizations that can further enhance our students’ experiences.”

Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated and assessed through the evaluation of both public data about the institution and responses from a proprietary survey. The assessment was offered at no cost to more than 8,800 institutions nationwide.

Evaluated categories include academic policies and compliance, military student ����̽�� and retention, graduation and career outcomes, admissions and orientation, culture and commitment, and financial aid and loan repayment.

NJCU’s ranking as a Military Friendly Gold institution means it scored within 10 percent of the 10th highest ranked small public school institution in the country.

More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2023-2024 survey with only 530 earning special awards in the Gold, Silver or Bronze levels, including 250 selected for ‘Gold’ award status in one of the following 11 school classifications:

• Graduate School 
• Large Community College 
• Large Public
• Non-Traditional
• Online / Vocational
• Private not offering Doctorate
• Private Offering Doctorate
• Small Community College
• Small Public
• Tier 1 Research
• Tier 2 Research

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

The 2023-2024 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in G.I. Jobs magazine’s May issue and can be found at or by .

Kayla Lopez, National Director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly, said: “Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process. Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and ����̽�� services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, going over and above that standard.”

For more information about NJCU’s student veteran programs, visit /student-life/campus-services-resources/military-veterans-services

����̽�� Military Friendly Schools:
The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at .

����̽�� NJCU:
����̽�� is an institution of higher learning dedicated to the development of our students, our city, our communities, and our state. We are a game-changing force for our students and have been recognized as one of the top colleges in the nation improving their upward economic mobility. Whether enrolled in one of our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs at our three locations, NJCU students have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally ����̽��ive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.

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Contact:
Ira Thor, Senior Director of University Communications and Media Relations | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301