Royal Oak, MI – November is Veterans and Military Family Appreciation Month, and as Veterans Day approaches, Baker College honors the service, sacrifice, and strength of our military-affiliated community which includes students, alumni, faculty, staff, and families who embody what it means to serve with purpose.
Baker College has been awarded Gold Status as a Veteran-Friendly School by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA), the highest level of distinction, reserved for institutions that lead in supporting veterans, dependents, and all military-connected learners. Baker has maintained this status since the 2019-2020 academic year, demonstrating a commitment to excel and maintain a high standard in providing comprehensive support and resources for veterans and military-connected students.
Achieving Gold Status is attributed to the college’s enhanced efforts in tracking the progress and success of its veteran student population. By implementing a system to monitor the retention, progress, and graduation rates of veteran students, Baker has strengthened its commitment to serving military-connected individuals, continuously enforcing a student-first philosophy.
Currently, Baker enrolls more than 150 veteran and military-connected students, and this achievement reinforces the college’s pledge to continue supporting them in their educational journey.
The criteria for achieving Gold Status as a Veteran-Friendly School in Michigan includes:
- An established process for identifying current student veterans
- A veteran-specific website
- An active student veteran organization or club
- Veteran-specific career services, resources, advising, and outcome monitoring
- An on-campus veterans’ coordinator or designated staff point of contact
- A system to evaluate and award academic credit based on prior military training and experience
- Monitoring and evaluation of student veteran academic retention, progress, and graduation rates
“Baker College’s Gold Status reflects the work being done to understand our military-connected students’ needs, track their progress and help them succeed,” said Dr. Voula Erfourth, Chief People Officer at Baker College. “Many of these students are balancing their education with military service and responsibilities across the country and around the world. We will continue to innovate ways to engage these Baker students virtually and find meaningful ways to connect them with the resources, guidance, and opportunities they need, wherever they are,” said Erfourth.
The MVAA Veteran-Friendly Schools program, established in 2015-16, acknowledges academic institutions committed to providing robust support for veterans and military-connected students. These institutions are awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze status based on the depth of their veteran-centric services and programs. Baker College’s achievement exemplifies its unwavering commitment to serving veterans and military-connected students, further solidifying its place as a leader in higher education.
As Veterans Day is observed, Baker extends deep gratitude to those who have worn the uniform and to the families who stand beside them. Your service is inspiring.
Established by Executive Order in 2013, the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency’s mission is to serve as the central coordinating agency, offering support, care, advocacy, and services to veterans and their families. MVAA collaborates with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, state departments, county agencies, and community and veterans service organizations across Michigan. The agency operates the Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center, a 24/7/365 call center in partnership with Michigan 211. Veterans, family members, and service providers can access a comprehensive network of resources and services by calling 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838). Learn more at Michigan.gov/MVAA.
Baker College is an independent, private, non-profit institution that grants associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees on six campuses across Michigan and online. Founded in 1911, the institution’s mission is to provide an inclusive, innovative, and transformative educational experience, driven by a student-first philosophy. Learn more at Baker.edu and follow on X, Meta, and Instagram.
