Military Credit in Transfer
and Articulation
Duane Short
San Diego Miramar College
Welcome!
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Who’s here?
Your questions?
Introduction
Disclaimers
Overview
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Military students
Sources and uses of credit
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Military training / coursework
Military experience
“Military friendly” institutions
National exams
Best Practices
Military students
Military students
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Five armed services (in order of size)
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Army: Land
Air Force: Air and Space
Navy: Sea
Marine Corps: Land but from the sea
Coast Guard: U.S. coast
Military students
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Reserve components
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Army Reserve
Army National Guard
Air Force Reserve
Air Force National Guard
Navy Reserve
Marine Corps Reserve
Coast Guard Reserve
Military students
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Who are “the military”?
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Active duty (1 in 200 U.S. citizens)
Reserves / National Guard?
Veterans?
Military family members?
Dept of Defense civilian employees?
Military contractors?
About 1 out of every 10 people in the
U.S. is a military veteran
Military students
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It is common for people to move from
category to category, or to be in
multiple categories.
For instance, I know someone who is…
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Civilian contractor working for the Army
Current Navy Reserve
Former Navy active duty
Veteran
Military spouse
Military students
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Military student demographics
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70% of those eligible for military education
benefits use some portion of them
74% are 20-34 years of age
68% male; 32% female
51% never married;
37% married
Military students
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Common military student characteristics
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Serious, motivated
Focused on career goals
Have money and educational
benefits
Mature and disciplined
Possess leadership skills
Military students
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Common military student barriers
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Information: Accurate and complete info
about transfer credit; financial aid; adult
student services
Culture: Feeling comfortable on campus;
mainstreaming
Injury / Trauma: Disabilities; mental health
Financial: Process and time for GI Bill or
other tuition assistance
Military students
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Common military student issues
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Information: Accurate and complete
info about transfer credit; financial aid;
adult student services
Culture: Feeling comfortable on campus;
mainstreaming
Injury / Trauma: Disabilities; mental health
Financial: Process and time for GI Bill or
other tuition assistance
Sources and uses of credit
Sources and uses of credit
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“Military credit” can be thought of as a
category of transfer credit
Prior educational
experience at a
“sending institution”
Fulfills degree
requirements at a
“receiving institution”
Sources and uses of credit
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For traditional students…
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Sending “institutions”
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Prior colleges / universities
AP / IB exams
High school / tech prep
Community college
Receiving institutions
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Community college
Transfer university
Sources and uses of credit
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For military students…
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Types of
military
credit
Sending “institutions”
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Military training / coursework
Military experience
“Military friendly” institutions
National exams
Receiving institutions
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Community college
Transfer university
Sources and uses of credit
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Transfer credit may fulfill…
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Unit requirements
GE / graduation requirements
Major / major prep requirements
As determined by…
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Institutional policy
Articulation
Evaluation
Sources and uses of credit
Topics
Types of credit
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Military training /
coursework
Military experience
“Military friendly”
institutions
National exams
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Source of credit
Documentation
Uses in fulfilling
requirements
The Acronym Game!
But first…
See
Handout 1
Sources and uses of credit:
Military Training / Coursework
Sources and uses of credit:
Military Training / Coursework
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Source of credit
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Training / education provided by the
military to military people
Usually vocational / occupational in nature
Examples
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Basic military training
Air Traffic Controller school
Basic Still Photography school
Sources and uses of credit:
Military Training / Coursework
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Documentation
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The ACE Guide
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See
Handout 2
Standard reference for recognizing learning
acquired in the military
Evaluates and “translates” military courses &
occupations
Provides credit recommendations
Sources and uses of credit:
Military Training / Coursework
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Documentation
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Military transcripts
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DD-295 – Evaluation of Learning Experiences
During Military Service (obsolete)
Army – AARTS
Air Force – CCAF
Navy – SMART
Marine Corps – SMART
Coast Guard – Coast Guard Institute
Sources and uses of credit:
Military Training / Coursework
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Documentation
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Military transcripts
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See
Example
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List military course completions
List military experience
List some national exam results
List other learning experiences (short term /
non-evaluated training)
Sources and uses of credit:
Military Training / Coursework
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Documentation
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DD-214
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Record of discharge from military service
Lists time in service
Lists occupational specialties
Lists military training / coursework (some)
Sources and uses of credit:
Military Training / Coursework
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Uses in fulfilling requirements
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Unit requirements
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As recommended by ACE Guide?
Which categories of ACE Guide credit?
GE / graduation requirements
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Health / PE requirement?
CSU GE Area E?
Language requirement?
Others?
All CSUs will
accept if CCC
certifies
Sources and uses of credit:
Military Training / Coursework
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Uses in fulfilling requirements
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Major / major prep requirements
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Major related to military training or occupation?
Can be a challenge finding sufficient
documentation for articulation
Sources and uses of credit:
Military Experience
Sources and uses of credit:
Military Experience
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Source of credit
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Work experience in a particular occupation
and rank in the military
Examples
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USN Electronics Technician First Class
USA Construction Equipment Operator
Specialist
USMC Military Policeman Staff Sergeant
Sources and uses of credit:
Military Experience
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Documentation
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Military transcripts
DD-214
Translate using ACE Guide
“Occupations” search
Or use ACE Credit Recommendation
entry on military transcript
Sources and uses of credit:
Military Experience
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Uses in fulfilling requirements
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Unit requirements
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GE / graduation requirements
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Award credit for experiential learning?
Health / PE requirement?
CSU GE Area E?
Major / major prep requirements
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Internship / work experience requirements?
Sources and uses of credit:
“Military Friendly” Institutions
Sources and uses of credit:
“Military Friendly” Institutions
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Source of credit
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Accredited institutions of higher education
(just like us!)
Might be…
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Civilian college or university
Military-affiliated traditional university
(Annapolis; West Point)
Military-affiliated community college (CCAF)
Military-affiliated graduate university (Naval
War College; National Defense University)
Sources and uses of credit:
“Military Friendly” Institutions
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What is a “military friendly” institution?
Sources and uses of credit:
“Military Friendly” Institutions
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What is a “military friendly” institution?
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Military affiliated institution (academy, etc.)
Large military population?
Offer courses on base?
Others?
Sources and uses of credit:
“Military Friendly” Institutions
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What is a “military friendly” institution?
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Military affiliated institution (academy, etc.)
Large military population?
Offer courses on base?
Others?
SOC Consortium member
Sources and uses of credit:
“Military Friendly” Institutions
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What is a “military friendly”
institution?
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SOC Consortium member
SOC Consortium is a diverse group of
more than 1750 institutional members
who pledge to support military and
veteran educational endeavors
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SOC institutions agree to a set of
“military friendly” principles and criteria
Is your institution in SOC?
Sources and uses of credit:
“Military Friendly” Institutions
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SOC Principles and Criteria
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Equal opportunities
Appropriate accreditation
Flexible educational programs
Reasonable transfer of credit policies
Reduced residency requirements
Credit for military training / experience
Credit for national testing programs
Sources and uses of credit:
“Military Friendly” Institutions
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Documentation
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Official transcripts (just like us!)
Articulation agreements (just like us!)
SOC DNS articulation
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Two-way / bilateral articulation
Organized by discipline “networks”
Separate two year and four year systems
Student degree guarantee agreements
Sources and uses of credit:
“Military Friendly” Institutions
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SOC DNS articulation example…
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Student degree agreement with Miramar as
the “home campus”
Requires Miramar’s ADJU 230
Student is now stationed in Hawaii
How can the student complete Miramar’s
ADJU 230 requirement?
???
Miramar
To
Hawaii
Sources and uses of credit:
“Military Friendly” Institutions
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SOC DNS articulation example…
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How can the student complete Miramar’s
ADJU 230 requirement?
Take Honolulu Community College’s AJ 220
Sources and uses of credit:
“Military Friendly” Institutions
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Uses in fulfilling requirements
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Unit requirements
GE / graduation requirements
Major / major prep requirements
Just like we do for any other accredited
institution!
Sources and uses of credit:
National Exams
Sources and uses of credit:
National Exams
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Source of credit
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Subject matter competency demonstrated
through a standardized examination
Examples
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AP
IB
CLEP
DSST
Sources and uses of credit:
National Exams
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Documentation
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Military transcripts
Sources and uses of credit:
National Exams
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Documentation
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Score reports from testing agency
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CLEP – The College Board
DSST – Prometric
Many exams are…
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Free to military personnel
May be free to families, DoD civilians, veterans
Sources and uses of credit:
National Exams
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Uses in fulfilling requirements
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Unit requirements
GE / graduation requirements
Major / major prep requirements
Consider using SOC DNS Credit
Evaluation Supplement to aid in
decision-making about this
Sources and uses of credit:
National Exams
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SOC DNS Credit Evaluation Supplement
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“Translates” various kinds of credit sources
to SOC DNS course categories
Includes…
CLEP
DSST
ECE
ASE
CCAF
DANTES ISC
Best Practices
Best Practices for Institutions
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Articulate to GE or major requirements
if possible (career-tech programs)
Military-friendly webpage/one-stop
information portal
Priority registration
Distance learning/flexible scheduling
Best Practices for Institutions
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Military/veterans support committee
Military/veterans student club, support
center, lounge
Extended/flexible enrollment deadlines
Deferred tuition payment plans (to
accommodate TA and VA lags)
Scholarships
Best Practices for Counselors
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Designate counselor(s) specializing in
military students
Ensure military transcripts are on file
and evaluated
Use military training/experience to
certify CSU GE area E
Ensure military credit is used in
calculations of CSU-transferable units
Best Practices for Counselors
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Consider petitioning to substitute credit
from military training for major
requirements (CTE programs mostly)
Encourage SOC DNS degree guarantee
agreements (if your college
participates)
Resources
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ACE Military Guide
www.militaryguides.acenet.edu/
SOC
www.soc.aascu.org/
CLEP
www.collegeboard.com/
DSST
www.getcollegecredit.com/
Conclusion
Questions?
Discussion?
For copies of this presentation,
questions, or information,
please contact…
Duane Short
(619) 388-7812
dshort@sdccd.edu