Rider named top school for veterans, military spouses

By Hannah Newman

Rider was named a top school for veterans and military spouses by a national ranking organization based on its efforts to continue educating veterans and their family members, a university article published in April said. 

The organization, VIQTORY, states in the article that the university earned gold status in a survey that consisted of 1,800 schools.

According to Assistant Dean of Students Keith Kemo, who oversees Rider’s Dr. Eugene Marsh Center for Veterans and Military Affairs, the ranking has to do with the resources the university has for active duty service members, veterans and their families. 

“We have a group of people here who spend extra time making sure that veterans and their families can navigate college, whether it be the financial aspect, getting registered for courses or getting them in touch with an adviser,” said Kemo.

Rider has 65 active military students from different sectors of the Veteran Readiness and Employment program, including Chapter 35 for dependents and Chapter 33, which grants benefits that fully cover their expenses at Rider, according to Sue Stefanick, registrar and school certifying official.

Not only does Rider have strong organizational support for these students, but the university provides classes that fit all military and veteran job schedules at a variety of ages, according to Terrence Bolton, a graduate student and intern for the Veterans and Military Affairs Office.

“As a continuing education veteran, [I see that] a lot of the programs are geared toward online [courses], because they know that the majority of us come in at an older age, and it’s much easier for us to take the online courses to allow us to work and be a student at the same time,” said Bolton. “However, I am different. I am able to come to classes in person and be here physically, which shows other veterans how to get acclimated back [in]to the civilian sector.”

The university’s Veterans and Military Affairs Office is located on the second floor of the Bart Luedeke Center.

“A lot of it had to do with the location because of all the assistance that’s available right here [in the BLC],” said Stefanick. “The Bursar’s Office, Financial Aid, myself and the registrar are all in this one-stop area.” 

Eugene Marsh was a Rider alum and veteran who died in 2021. Marsh’s family donated money after his passing, which enabled the university to build a bigger and more convenient space for the university’s veterans and their families.

There will be a flag planting ceremony Nov. 9 and Nov. 10 in honor of Veteran’s Day on the Campus Green.