What Sets Us Apart
The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology believes that veterans should not just receive assistance, but more importantly, support. Our “village of support” is campus- and community-wide:
- On-site Veterans Resource Center (VRC) for veterans, active duty members, and families (http://vrc.sdsmt.edu)
- On-site VA benefits adviser/VA certifier
- Partnership with Western Nebraska Community College TRIO Veterans Upward Bound program (on-site Veterans Upward Bound office located in the VRC)
- Ranked #2 in nation by Military Times Edge magazine in their 2012-2013 "Best for Vets: Colleges" survey
- Designated a Military Friendly School for 4 consecutive years by G.I. Jobs magazine
- Ranked #7 in nation by BestCollegesOnline.com in their May 2012 article "25 Colleges With Incredible Veteran Support"
- Per Businessweek magazine in September of 2012, School of Mines graduates earn higher starting salaries than Harvard University's graduates
- Veterans’ orientation each semester
- Veteran-to-veteran tutoring and mentoring
- University success workshops and women’s wellness workshops for veterans
- Faculty/staff training on veterans’ issues, PTSD, TBI
- Veterans’ Day celebrations annually
- Student Veterans of America (SVA) affiliated Veterans Club
- In-state tuition for all veterans
- Army ROTC on campus since 1918 (Mount Rushmore Battalion)
- Close proximity to Ellsworth Air Force Base and the South Dakota National Guard Headquarters at Camp Rapid
- Regular, monthly visits to VRC by veterans’ representative from the South Dakota Department of Labor and the patient advocate from the VA Black Hills Health Care System
- Pre-college preparation classes in math, computers, and writing (free of charge through Veterans Upward Bound)
- VRC Coordinator assists veterans with scholarship searches and applications, as well as resume development
