The Catholic University of America is the top institution of higher education for veterans in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore region, and one of the top 12% of universities nationwide, according to new rankings released by The Military Times on Nov. 5.
“I felt honored and humbled by the results,” said Curtis Addleman, executive director of the Office for Military and Veteran Programs (OMVP) at Catholic University. “This ignites us to continue to strive to do better and to provide for the military-connected community. Not for the recognition, but because it’s the right thing to do.”
This is the third honor for the University’s military programs this year. In March, Catholic University was named a top ten Military Friendly® School in a survey of 1,800 schools, and a Military Spouse friendly school. In October, Jennifer Ross, OMVP’s director of Veterans Upward Bound, was one of six veterans nationwide selected to be a 2024-2025 Veterans of Foreign Wars-Student Veterans of America legislative fellow.
OMVP serves all military-connected students. This includes ROTC members, veteran-students, and the spouses and dependents of active-duty military. The office provides services, facilitates scholarships, and builds camaraderie and support. Another important aspect is community service.
“I believe the mission of this University includes being involved in the community and especially making our local area a better place. We want to be better stewards and good citizens of the nation and world. To do that, we have to build the community around us. I want to set the standard of what an institution of higher education can truly do to better veterans’ lives,” Addleman said.
Bettering Our Community
In October, that meant bringing 40 volunteers, including the men’s baseball team, for a clean-up day at a U.S. Vets residential building that serves homeless veterans.
The Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) program, led by Ross, offered a computer skills and financial literacy workshop for 18 veterans this fall. VUB’s mission is to help veterans who have been homeless or incarcerated move toward success in life by addressing basic needs and helping them take steps toward an education and/or career. Participants received a free laptop after completing the program.
OVMP also raised $10,000 to help install a computer resource center for the Washington, D.C.-based Veterans on the Rise. Program staff provide a monthly dinner and work with residents on mapping out a plan for success.
Addleman said, “We want to provide that full wraparound service from someone interested in getting back to school all the way up to graduation and matriculation. We focus on the whole person. We want to make sure they are successful.”
Currently, approximately 200 students at Catholic University are military-connected, as a veteran, military-connected student, or ROTC. The University is the only University in the metropolitan region that covers room and board expenses not included in ROTC scholarships. The University covers the financial gap between cost and the G.I. Bill for veterans who enroll as students through participation in the federal Yellow Ribbon Program.
On the horizon is a new speaker series to address balancing faith and military service. In the future, Addleman hopes to restart a legal clinic to work with veterans.
The third annual Military Appreciation Tailgate will be held at Cardinal Stadium this Saturday, Nov. 9, when Catholic University plays Wilkes University in football. The event, held just before Veterans Day, is open to the full campus community. The national anthem will be led by Carolyn Schaeffer, a second-year student in the Rome School who grew up in a military family. ROTC students will be recognized prior to the game.
During the spring semester, the University’s ROTC branch holds the annual Cardinal Cup, which includes five athletic events. An academic component is being added in 2025.
Learn more about the Office of Military and Veterans Programs. The Military Times rankings are based on an extensive survey of higher education institutions that considers a range of benefits such as academic and career support, participation in VA work-study, and the Yellow Ribbon Program, veterans services, and mental health services.
