The University of Akron is described as "a standout in attracting student-veterans" through its academic and support services in a May 7 Crain's Cleveland Business article on military-friendly universities. Currently, UA has approximately 1,400 student-veterans on campus, in addition to 135 faculty and staff members who are military vets.
Stephen Motika, assistant dean for student success for Summit and University colleges and the adviser of the Military Veterans Association, was interviewed for the article.
"Our veterans come all the way from being crewmen on atomic-powered submarines, which is very technical, to being infantry soldiers," said Motika, himself a veteran, in the article. "They come with a variety of combat experience; a good number of our folks have been deployed three or four times in combat zones, others have never left the state. Each of our veterans is a little different and because of that we try to customize our services to them as much as we can."
In addition to the variety of academic and support services available to student-veterans on campus, Motika also noted Musson Veterans Lounge, and, just coming online, the Telehealth program. The technology will provide specialized therapies and clinical health services in the lounge's soundproof conference room through UA's partnership with the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Administration Medical Center.
"Telehealth is an innovation from the VA to touch veterans virtually and to do many of their medical services virtually," noted Motika in the Crain's article. "As I understand it, we will be the first university in the United States to come online."