Southeast Missouri State University was selected by Victory Media, a veteran-owned business dedicated to finding top-tier schools for military-affiliated students and their spouses, to be among 1,600 universities nationwide that qualified for the Military Friendly School distinction this school year.

Southeast is one of 36 schools, including colleges, universities and trade schools, in the state of Missouri that earned the title this year.

In order to achieve this label, Southeast was required to complete a data-driven survey compiled through extensive research that measured several military-based categories.

According to the methodology page on MilitaryFriendly.com, nearly 75 percent of the scoring was attributed to military support on campus, academic credibility, percent of military students, academic credit for military service and flexibility for military students. Military support on campus was worth 24 percent of the overall score.

Southeast's overall campus support of military students is one of the top reasons for maintaining its Military Friendly School ranking, according to Jeremy McBroom, director of Military and Veterans Services. There is an office located in the University Center, room 302, with the sole purpose of assisting veterans.

"Over the past six years, the university has incrementally improved its program," McBroom said. "We have over 700 military-affiliated students who we assist. We make this place a home for everyone, catering to both young and older veterans with a family atmosphere. The dedicated space and staff members we have are devoted to our veterans and are imperative for building bonds that may not necessarily have happened otherwise. We help them with anything they may need, such as counseling or job searches. We also assist their spouses and dependent."

The Office of Military and Veteran Services has made an effort to raise awareness of their program across Southeast's campus by hosting student engagement events, such as a Veteran's Day Luncheon.

The event will be held on Nov. 7, the Friday before Veteran's Day. This will be the third year that Military and Veteran Services host the event. Attendance has grown significantly, with 150 attendees in 2013 compared to 50 attendees in 2012.

McBroom and the Military and Veteran Services staff have also worked with Campus Life and Greek Life to educate Southeast students.

"We try to raise awareness of the issues and challenges of veterans. Not only that, but also how traumas, such as 9/11 and war, affect our nation as a whole," McBroom said.

The mission of the program is to ensure that students involved in military life will not feel alone and can receive support educationally, emotionally or financially.

McBroom ensures Southeast is setting the bar high for its veteran support system and will continue to implement procedures that will help the population of military-affiliated students.