It’s almost Veterans Day and University has been named the top institution of higher education for veterans in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore region, and one of the top 12% of universities nationwide, according to new rankings released by The Military Times on Nov. 5.
“I felt honored and humbled by the results,” said Curtis Addleman, executive director of the (OMVP) at Catholic University. “This ignites us to continue to strive to do better for the military-connected community. Not for the recognition, but because it’s the right thing to do.”
This is the third honor for the University’s military programs this year. In March, Catholic Universitywas named a top ten Military Friendly® School in a survey of 1,800 schools, and a Military Spouse friendly school. In October, Jennifer Ross, OMVP’s director of Veterans Upward Bound, was one of six veterans nationwide selected to be a 2024-2025 .
OMVP serves all military-connected students: ROTC members, veteran-students, and the spouses and dependents of active-duty military. The office provides services, facilitates scholarships, and builds camaraderie and support. Another important aspect is community service.
Approximately 200 students at Catholic Universityare veterans, military-connected students, or in ROTC. The university is the only one in the metropolitan region that covers room and board expenses not included in ROTC scholarships. Through participation in the federal Yellow Ribbon Program, the university also covers the financial gap between cost and the G.I. Bill for veterans who enroll as students.
Supporting Formerly Incarcerated or Unhoused Veterans
In October, 40 student volunteers participated in a clean-up day at a U.S. Vets residential building that serves homeless veterans. OVMP also led a computer and financial literacy workshop for 18 local veterans moving out of incarceration or homelessness through the Veterans Upward Bound Program, and works with the local nonprofit Veterans on the Rise. OVMP raised funds to help install a computer resource center and staff provide dinner monthly and work with residents on mapping out a plan for success.
“I believe the mission of this Universityincludes being involved in the community. We want to be better stewards and good citizens of the nation and world. To do that, we have to build the community around us. I want to set the standard of what an institution of higher education can truly do to better veterans’ lives,” Addleman said.
The Military Times’ rankings are based on an extensive survey of higher education institutions that considers a range of benefits such as academic and career support, participation in VA work-study, and the Yellow Ribbon Program, veterans services, and mental health services.