Le Moyne College Moves Up in U.S. News Rankings, Recognized for Vet's Program

Founded in 1946, Le Moyne College welcomed veterans utilizing the post-World War II G.I. Bill® among its first students. In 2009, in response to the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® and another significant influx of returning soldiers, Le Moyne established a Veterans Program.  

One of Le Moyne’s unique features is its Veterans House, where veterans and service members can grab some coffee, unwind, or study. Le Moyne has recently outfitted two rooms in the house with beds. They are not intended for use as on-campus housing, but offer veteran students an option to stay safe and on campus during situations such as winter storms, when travel may be hazardous. Former Rep. Dan Maffei, who was on hand for the dedication of the Veterans House, noted, “I couldn’t even find a college with something like this — this is special.”

Periodically, events to recognize veterans and their accomplishments—on Veterans Day, for example, and for graduation—are held at the house. It is also the meeting place for the newly instituted Veterans Club, and a veteran work-study is available at the house for several hours each week. Mike Venditte, an accounting major and treasurer for the Veterans Club, hit the ground running his first semester at Le Moyne. “The Veterans House and the club have been tremendous resources for me,” he noted. In turn, he and other members of the club are planning new ways to become involved on campus and to give back to the larger Syracuse community.

The coordinator for military educational services—also the Veterans Club moderator—frequents the house in addition to being available in the Center for Continuing Education. The coordinator helps students identify and choose appropriate educational benefits, offers academic advising, assists in transfer credit assessment (including credit for military training and coursework), and serves as a liaison with Veterans Affairs (VA), other campus offices, faculty, and community agencies.  

Many veteran students, and many dependents of veterans, take advantage of Le Moyne’s status as a Yellow Ribbon (YR) school; the program covers 100% of the tuition and fees for eligible participants. Beyond being a YR institution, the College has been consistently recognized for its support of military-affiliated students by a number of organizations, including Victory Media/G.I. Jobs and Military Advanced Education, and Le Moyne was ranked #3 in the “Best Colleges for Veterans” category for Regional Universities North by U.S News & World Report. In addition to the recognition for supporting veterans, Le Moyne ranked high on other lists in the “Regional Universities North” classification: it earned a #6 ranking in the “Best Value Schools” listing; #24 on the listing of institutions with highest retention rate, with 85%; and made the top 20 in “Best Colleges” overall for the North, moving up five spots over last year and placing #19 on the list. Le Moyne has also been rated by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best institutions for undergraduate education, and was included in The Best 378 Colleges, the 2014 college guide released on Aug. 6. 

Most importantly, though, at Le Moyne, people matter more than rankings. Small classes emphasize the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis, or care for the whole person, and foster supportive relationships and vibrant intellectual exchanges. Personal attention—from both faculty and staff—is characteristic of the school. In this supportive atmosphere, respect, diligence, and scholarship are both expected and rewarded. All of these attributes combine to create an atmosphere that is an outstanding fit for many veterans and service members. In turn, the presence of these dedicated students enhances the entire Le Moyne community. President Linda LeMura noted, “The ideals that have been part of the College since its inception – integrity, responsibility and a strong work ethic – are also deeply ingrained in the men and women of our armed services. The veteran community has clearly played a vital role in the College’s history, and will continue to do so in the future.”