[February 13, 2020] RVU has been awarded the Military Friendly® School Gold Award for its exemplary military educational programs and veteran initiatives. Under the non-traditional school category, RVU has been honored with the Gold distinction, which is reserved for schools scoring within the top 10% of their category. RVU ranked 3rd of all schools in its category, receiving the additional Top Ten School designation.
The Military Friendly® awards provide a competitive view of how an organization is performing compared to similar organizations. To be considered for the award, schools must first receive the designation of Military Friendly® from VIQTORY, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. Schools are scored and ranked based on several benchmarks including graduation rate, job placement rate, and armed forces tuition assistance funding. These rankings set the standard for the colleges demonstrating positive employment and education outcomes for veterans and their families.
During the 2019-2020 academic year, RVU had 102 military students enrolled in the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), which offers students comprehensive tuition assistance for an advanced medical degree in exchange for service commitment in their chosen branch of the military. An additional 17 veterans were also enrolled in the University.
RVU commissions military students at the start of their program. The Office of Military Affairs provides an overview and introduction to military medicine and incorporates surgical simulation using the Cut Suit®, immersion-based reality training, and leadership and discipline skills. In addition to innovative program offerings, RVU hosts an annual Military Appreciation Ceremony to honor students, faculty, staff, and members of the community who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces.
Students and faculty on the Southern Utah campus also work closely with the Southern Utah Veterans Home (SUVH) to provide long-term osteopathic medical care for the veterans, Gold Star parents, and military spouses who reside there.
