Two local colleges have ranked high on Military Times’ national list of 60 technical and career colleges that are “Best for Vets.”
• Stevens-Henager College, specifically its West Haven and Layton campuses, shared the No. 8 ranking with Virginia College (which has campuses in the nation’s southeastern states).
• And Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College, based in Ogden, ranked 16th in the poll.
The poll was based on answers provided by colleges that took the survey. The Military Times asked colleges to reveal whether they had specific features or programs helpful to veterans, then ranked schools based on the results.
“Veterans and the military are a priority for us,” said Tony Kiser, Stevens-Henager College military liaison.
Kiser, based on the school’s Layton campus, got the job about a year ago, when the position was created.
“The biggest change was in hiring a person to focus strictly on the military. I can facilitate issues military students may have, and act as a go-between between the school and students,” Kiser said.
Kiser said other advantages the for-profit college offers is a 121-year history in Utah, paired with small campuses.
“It’s along the lines of a family atmosphere,” he said. “You pretty much know everybody on campus, students and faculty alike.”
Stevens-Henager (www.steven shenager.edu) has 459 students enrolled at its West Haven campus and the Layton satellite site.
Students with military experience also seem to appreciate the shorter, more intensive classes, and the accelerated path to a degree, Kiser said.
“Classes are four weeks, and you take one or two at a time. The work load is manageable, and the learning style is more in line with the military structures. You don’t take breaks, and you get an associate degree in 20 months, a bachelor’s in 36 months or a master’s in 15 months.”
Cathy Bolin, director of student services at Ogden-Weber Tech, said one thing that makes her college “Best for Vets” is the fact that veterans can demonstrate their pre-existing competency in fields they are studying and get credit for their skills.
“If you have done something in the military, like welding for example, and you have the skills, you are going to get progress hours for what you have accomplished,” Bolin said. “Your skills can be validated toward a certificate, which can lead to employment. Even if you want to study something else, you can be employed while you are studying. Being able to work a job in high demand can help our students graduate with less debt or no debt.”
Bolin said another big positive at Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College, a nonprofit school, is the associate of applied science degree students can begin at OWATC and continue at Weber State University.
Also key to many students is the flexibility to choose study pace and fit school into available hours, Bolin said. Many students schedule their studies around work and family responsibilities.
Bolin said the school has been researching local support groups for veterans, and hopes in the future to provide a staff counselor for veterans, when funding for such a hire becomes available.
Veterans already can get help with paperwork associated with their degrees, Bolin said.
Ogden-Weber Tech (www.owatc.edu), established in 1971, has 1,600 adult students enrolled, and 2,285 when high school enrollees are included.
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