NICC named to "Military-friendly schools" list

For the second consecutive year, Northeast Iowa Community College has been named to the "Military Friendly Schools" list.

The recognition is given to the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America's veterans as students. G.I. Jobs, an online resource for U.S. military personnel, compiled the listing.

Criteria for making the Military Friendly Schools list included efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students, results in recruiting military and veteran students, and academic accreditations. To place NICC on the list, educators and Veterans Administration (VA) officials examined how the college awards credit, degrees and certificates; provides installation and base support to veterans; offers financial assistance, flexibility, support services and social outlets; and accreditation.

G.I. Jobs noted several categories in which NICC received 100 percent recommendation: NICC is VA approved, accepts the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), gives credit for CLEP and awards academic credit for military training and experience.

The G.I. Jobs organization also cited Northeast Iowa Community College's flexibility and an option for veterans to complete one of 20 academic online programs. This option is particularly important for veterans who are stationed overseas or reside outside of Iowa. Currently, students from 40 states and several regions outside of the U.S. area enrolled in at least one online class at NICC.