USF ranked fifth in the nation for its services to veterans

The University of South Florida has been ranked fifth in the nation by the Military Times Edge in its “Best for Vets: Colleges 2011.”

According to the USF’s web site, they created the rankings by polling more than 500 veterans on what they considered the most important school services for veterans.

The military publication rated the schools based on academic accreditation, central veterans’ offices and staff knowledgeable on veterans’ issues. USF received five out seven categories including: Under $250 per credit, under GI Bill Gap, yellow Ribbon Program, veterans’ office and accepts ACE credits, according to MTE’s web site. USF was ranked number eight last year.

For many years, USF’s Office of Veterans’ Services has worked in close cooperation with the Veterans Administration to help veterans, active duty servicepersons and members of the Selected Reserve, as well as dependents of benefits eligible veterans, enrolled at USF, with their financial and academic needs.

Early this year, USF became partners with Tillman Military Scholarship program. The educational program provides scholarships for veterans and active service members and their families.

Adding to USF’s efforts in veterans’ services, In July 2011 Dr. Carrie Elk was appointed as Nursing Military Liaison to build and maintain relationships with service members and their families, military agencies and veteran groups by increasing the visibility and involvement of the College in the military community locally, regionally and nationally. Dr. Elk will also explore and encourage education, service and research collaborations.

Since her appointment, Dr. Elk has been involved in many service and veterans activities throughout the Tampa Bay area raising the visibility of the USF’s College of Nursing programs and opportunities. Her involvement and military knowledge has gained her news coverage in news stations around the Tampa Bay area including TBO.com and WFLA-Channel 8.

To contribute to those efforts, USF College of Nursing established RESTORE LIVES to develop evidence-based methods to help veterans and service members overcome psychological stress and other health problems that result from serving in combat operations. Through a grant from the U.S. Army & TATRC, the RESTORE LIVES  Center includes five sub-studies, which aim to help improve the emotional health and quality of life among service members with disabilities, develop and evaluate treatments to complement services to the military provided by the VA Healthcare System, TRICARE and the conventional healthcare system. One of those sub-studies, the Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), has been prominently featured in the news.

As solders serving in Iraq prepare to return home, the USF’s College of Nursing is constructing a larger reintegration strategy for veterans to tap into our vast inter-professional resources in education, research and services to honor and better serve soldiers and veterans.

For more information on the USF’s efforts to assist veterans please visit http://www.veterans.usf.edu/.