Not only does Touro University Worldwide have a scholarship program for active duty, Guardsmen, Reservists, retirees, veterans and military dependents, but it has a foundation for success.
Monique Bergman, TUW’s lead student veteran advisor, says that advisors are trained by military certifying officials, like Registrar and Provost, to make sure staff and faculty are best able to serve the needs of its military students. Additionally, the school has many foolproof methods in place to guide military-connected students to success.
“We accept military experience as potential transfer credits when applicable to their degree plan and contingent on the student providing their military transcript(s),” Bergman said. “We offer disability services to those students who wish to apply, and we have a career resources page for students that they may find helpful.”
Furthermore, the university has a flexible add/drop policy that allows students to not be penalized when the military interferes with completing a course.
Dr. Shelia Lewis, a TUW professor, has worked with many military students and appreciates how disciplined and goal-oriented they are. She also understands that deployments and permanent change of stations can be disruptive.
“The major struggle to help them overcome is to know that we are here to help them and not to worry when they fall a little bit behind based upon deployments,” Lewis said. “The greatest achievement is when they learn that, as military students, they actually have quite an edge in higher learning and they know more than they gave themselves credit for.”
A cost-effective education
The Military Achievement Scholarship provides up to 40% off tuition at TUW, and applies to any of its degree offerings ranging from an associate in general studies, bachelor’s in social work, to a master’s in psychology. Plus, the GI Bill is accepted.
Active-duty Marine Leah Connell is currently undergoing TUW’s Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program, and says she chose the program because not only is it accredited, but it also allows her to take classes wherever the military sends her and was one of the only schools that provided the program she was interested in. Plus, it’s affordable.
“It [the scholarship] has benefitted me enormously as I am an enlisted member and out of pocket college costs can be expensive,” Connell said, “so any amount really helps to keep my dream on track of completing my master’s degree.”
Former Marine Sgt. Brian Ngo also benefited from the scholarship when he utilized it to obtain a doctorate in Human and Organizational Psychology.
“[It] provided the most cost efficient way for me to attain my doctorate with my GI Bill benefits having been exhausted,” he said.
In the end, it is all about Connell and Ngo achieving their education goals by getting a degree in hand. For Ngo, he has been able to pursue a teaching career, and use the groundwork he learned at TUW to begin creating better work outcomes for veterans. Connell also wants to give back to the community.
“I plan to work as an LMFT for service members and military veterans specifically assisting with those experiencing PTSD, trauma and everyday military-related stresses,” Connell said. “I want to help this community because I have lived and understand that lifestyle.”
Their career goals started by reaching out to TUW advisors and working with them to break down the multiple benefits offered. From there, it was giving their best efforts despite any hurdles military life put in their way.
Visit Military Achievement Scholarship to learn more about how Touro University Worldwide helps military-connected students reach their education goals.
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