Q&A Session - Mapping Military Training and Occupations to Postsecondary Credentials
Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2015
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q: Who is the regional liaison for the Pacific Northwest?
ACE: We're still growing and hope to designate someone for the Pacific Northwest. Currently the ACE
CUP staff and other regional liaisons can assist institutions in the Pacific Northwest.
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Q: How do you articulate a military course to a major requirement without reviewing the full military
course syllabus, including required textbooks?
A: The ACE review team does review all instructional materials, including learning objectives and
detailed programs of instruction as well as assessments and the alignment of assessments with the
learning objectives. Please see the following web page for additional information on the ACE review
process: https://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/How-to-Prepare-for-an-ACE-Military-Review.aspx.
Here is a link to an archived webinar on the military review:
http://www.acenet.edu/events/Pages/Demystifying-Military-Evaluations.aspx
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Q: (Directed to Lisa Ferris-McCann at Lansing Community College) Does the transcripted credit translate
to a grade on the student's transcript? If not, how is this fact addressed in the selective admission
process? I'm assuming you have a selective admission program.
A: Transcripted credit is subject specific. For instance, instead of receiving a general Biology credit for
previous coursework in Anatomy when that coursework is not specifically designated as Anatomy, (for
the sake of discussion, let’s say the course attempting credit was titled Human Science), the candidate
would take the Anatomy competency exam (at no charge), and be granted credit in Anatomy. This
course specific identification provides an easier pathway to transfer to other pathways of Healthcare
such as Nursing or Surgical Technology because the Anatomy course mastery is reflected on the
transcript. The grade reflected on all transferred courses is represented with a “TR”, however, we can
demonstrate that the candidate met the requirements for credit in the specific subject. Selective
Admission criteria for pre-requisite courses are based on evidence of completion or mastery of the
subject.
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Q: For these articulation programs how were the issues of faculty credentials addressed for the military
curriculum to college curriculum addressed in relation to regional accreditation?
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A: Military instructors are subject matter experts participating in ongoing professional development.
Faculty credentials re: military training courses are not an issue. Faculty credentials are part of the ACE
review process and recommendations.
Please see the following links for more information on credit for prior learning and accreditation bodies:
1. CHEA statement on transfer credit: http://www.chea.org/pdf/2001_joint_statement.pdf
2. An ACE hosted webinar on credit for prior learning and regional accreditation. Please see the
following link to the archived recording:
https://acenetevents.webex.com/acenetevents/lsr.php?RCID=f2e00044d800236096d83ea8e32
0a05d.
3. http://www.cael.org/pdfs/cael_pla_accreditation
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Q: Are military course syllabi "classified"?
A: The military equivalent to a course syllabus is owned by the respective branch of service and
education training command. These are not open-source public documents. Per the Department of
Defense (DoD) contract, ACE Military Evaluations does not evaluate classified content or courses. If a
military syllabus was classified, ACE would not receive it nor would the course be reviewed.
A: Lansing Community College’s course syllabi are not “classified”, however the MM2P program is
copyrighted. Crosswalk and development work is proprietary.
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Q: The most common barrier I run into is institutions wanting an additional "verification" of ACE
recommendations, such as passing DANTES or CLEP exams or doing a CAEL portfolio evaluation. How did
you get faculty to "buy into" the ACE recommendations?
A: From ACE CUP (www.acenet.edu/cup: This is a common barrier for many institutions. We provide
specific training for faculty, including hands-on experiential learning so that they "simulate" a review
and mapping. Faculty members are encouraged to become ACE faculty evaluators which gives them
first-hand knowledge of the rigorous process leading to buy-in and trust in the ACE recommendations.
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Q: Is there a public report of the 2010 map for success grant?
A: Here is additional information on the FIPSE grant, Maps to Credentials: Creating an Integrated Prior
Learning Assessment Model to Accelerate Postsecondary Attainment:
http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Resources/aaccprograms/cwed/supportingveterantransfersuccess/Pages/m
apstocredentials.aspx
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Q: Is there a cap on the number of veterans who can enroll in any given program?
A: Lansing Community College does not have a cap on the number of veterans enrolled in a program as
long as there are seats available in a section and the 85/15 rule is not compromised. Federal funding
requires that no more than 85% of the students in a course of study be military.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has School Programmatic Approval guidelines that stipulate that
Program enrollment by VA beneficiaries may not exceed 85% (85-15 rule). State Approving Agencies
(SAA) are generally responsible for the approval of education and training programs in their respective
states. They are the pathways into VA for a program’s recognition and identification as being eligible for
the payment of VA education benefits. According to the VA web page,
https://gibill.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1481, this important safeguard prevents the
specific targeting of veterans benefits as well as offers a measure of assurance that the quality and cost
of the program is such that at least 15% of those willing to enroll and pay the expected tuition and fees
are from the general population Exceptions: VA may approve programs that exceed 85% veteran
enrollment I the course is offered under contract with DoD or DHS and is given on, or immediately
adjacent to, a military facility.
The VA’s 85/15 rule is at the program level and not at the course level; even though the language of the
statute actually says “course.”
Here’s the language from the VA that went out in a recent notification letter to institutions:
“Course, for the purpose of the 85-15 percent ratio, means a major field of study and/or concentration of
courses leading to a standard college degree listed separately in the school catalog.” (Email from L.G.
Corder- West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
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Q: Who were your central allies on campus to support awarding credit to veterans & military students?
There has been resistance on our campus about ACE recommendations for fear that it may "cheapen"
the degree. How do you create buy-in?
A: Institutions, systems and initiatives that are successful make sure that faculty members are engaged
from the outset in policy and practice, provide opportunities for ongoing professional development and
share data and success stories on enrollment, retention and performance. It’s also important to keep in
mind that the ACE teams of faculty reviewers are made up of current teaching faculty who are SME’s in
their fields and who are committed to student success. They do not want to make credit
recommendations for training that does not adequately prepare potential students for the next level in
an academic degree program.
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Q: Do your institutions award credit for all of the coursework recommended by ACE or is it posted based
on the student's specific major and whether it is degree applicable? How does this impact SAP?
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A: This varies by institution depending upon the data system used. To lessen the impact on SAP, several
institutions only award credit for courses required in their degree program. If the student changes
majors, the JST would have to be re-evaluated. If the data system allows the credit to sit on the
transcript as non-course credit, such as with developmental courses, all of the credit may be applied at
once without negatively impacting the SAP.
Many state systems are examining the issues, exploring solutions and making recommendations. For
one example, see:
https://www.ohiohighered.org/sites/ohiohighered.org/files/uploads/military/Toolkit/SAP-SurveyReport_FINAL_CORRECTED%20with%20stats.pdf
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Q: If you have multiple military occupations evaluated by ACE for the same course subject, say,
Leadership. Would you give credit more than once? If so, how would you map out the credits to
students course requirements?
A: No, credit would only be awarded once. If the service member attended several courses and all had
an ACE recommendation for Leadership, the service member would receive credit for one Leadership
course.
For more information on awarding credit recommendations for occupations and related training in a
manner that avoids duplication, please see the following link: http://www.acenet.edu/newsroom/Pages/Military-Guide-Frequently-Asked-Questions.aspx, #7 under credit recommendations.
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Q: Is course mapping done in general by ACE and then each institution has the option to adopt or not
adopt the ACE credit award guidelines (army bio=bio 101), or does an individual institution map each of
its courses using ACE guidelines?
A: Course mapping is determined by each institution. The ACE review and recommendations provide
general recommendations based on national standards in subject disciplines and professions. Each
institution decides if/how those recommendations map to their degree programs.
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Q: What is an MOS?
A: The term, Military Occupation Specialty (MOS), is used mainly for Army and Marine Corps to describe
the type of jobs/occupations available to those who enlist in the Armed Forces. All service branches
have occupational specialties but use different terms. For example, the Navy and Coast Guard use the
term, Ratings, to refer to their occupational specialties; the Air force uses the term Air Force Specialty
Code (AFSC). For more information about occupations, see: http://www.acenet.edu/newsroom/Pages/Military-Guide-Frequently-Asked-Questions.aspx, occupations.
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Q: How do other colleges (2 year and 4 year) work with transfer students who have earned credit?
A: There are state systems now working on transfer policies so they are more standardized practices-OH is one good example as are others engaged in multi-state collaborative efforts in the Midwest. Here
is more information on initiatives related to transfer policies:
Multi-State Collaborative on Military Credit (Midwest):
http://www.mhec.org/multi-state-collaborative-on-military-credit
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities:
http://www.mnscu.edu/military/transfer.html
Although still in the beginning stages, many states, along with those in the Midwest that are part of the
multi-state collaborative, are joining this effort, including North Carolina, Georgia, and Colorado. Texas
has launched College Credit for Heroes with 2-year and 4-year institutions:
https://www.collegecreditforheroes.org/?q=schools
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Q: What schools do you know of that have open source maps listed online for examples to view?
A: Fayetteville Technical Community College’s maps are located on their website at www.faytechcc.edu
under the “Military” tab.
Ivy Tech Community College’s maps are located on their website at http://www.ivytech.edu/pla and
click on “Military Crosswalk”.
You can access the decisions made by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities online at
https://webproc.mnscu.edu/college-search/public/military.
Lansing Community College information can be found under www.lcc.edu/veterans
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Q: The MOS mapping seems to be all geared toward technical/vocational associate degree's.
A: Those are certainly areas in which we are focusing on today. There are others at the 4 year level,
including management, IT, health care, and engineering, as noted during the webinar.
The Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Degree Network has institutional agreements for
bachelor’s degrees: http://soc.aascu.org/socdns/GrntdTransfCrs.html
Another example: Old Dominion University Engineering Roadmaps:
https://online.odu.edu/military/navy-college-ratings-and-roadmaps
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Check out the following colleges as well for a wide range of undergraduate degrees that map military
credit:
http://www.umuc.edu/active-duty-military/transfer-credits/military-education.cfm
http://www.tesc.edu/degree-completion/Military-Training.cfm
http://cme.excelsior.edu/army/
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Q: What is a good resource for determining high volume MOSs?
A: Institutions and systems often work with state agencies, veterans’ groups, and military bases in
identifying the MOSs of transitioning veterans to help align those occupations with appropriate degree
programs.
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Q: Other than medic to nursing, what other examples of MOS's map to 4-yr theoretical/research
oriented degrees?
A: Lansing Community College is developing mapping in the areas of Information Technology, Cybersecurity, and Aviation Technology.
Consider degrees that focus on professional careers:
The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) has worked with a consortium of 2-year and 4year institutions to articulate military credit to engineering programs:
http://www.asee.org/Transitioning_Veterans_to_Engineering_Related_Careers_Workshop_Report_Ma
y_2014.pdf
As mentioned earlier, see State of Texas as well as the SOC Degree Network.
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Q: There is a lot of emphasis on the 2-year programs, but can anyone speak to the direct articulation/
mapping to a 4-year program? Or between a 2 and 4 year?
A: The model that LCC works with for each discipline is designed to give the student a “stackable”
degree option by including foundational classes in the first two years in the event that the student
chooses to pursue a 4 year degree. To that end, we have partnered with eleven other universities in
Michigan that have developed or are developing a 4 year track that builds on the first two years at LCC.
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Q: Do you have experience with mapping just the ACE credit recommendations, rather than trying to
map every MOS. For instance, if ACE recommends an equivalency to 3 SH of PE credit, why not map to 3
SH of PE wherever it shows up in any MOS?
A: Minnesota has done that and I will share that on Thursday. (view Part 2, June 18)
A: Yes, we are focusing more on the ACE recommendations and not the occupation.
A: LLC starts with the ACE recommendations and build from there if the student has experiential
learning that may qualify.
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Q: In most states, the National Guard has a state education coordinator. This person could probably
provide information about the density of certain MOSs throughout the given state.
A: The National Guard has a Web page that will provide you the contact information for the Education
Services Officer in each state. http://www.nationalguard.com/contacts/eso.
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Q: How is the experiential credit evaluated?
A: Are you referring to the review of occupations? The review team looks at the technical
documents/assessments for the occupation and interviews those in the occupation. For more
information on the occupation review, please go to the following webpage:
https://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Military-Occupation-Reviews.aspx
For experience in the field that has not been validated by ACE, institutions can offer individualized
assessments. Minnesota is one higher education system that has done so.
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Q: What did you all do for applying credit for MOSs that do not do the same training? For example,
some MOSs, just as the Linguists, all go to the same school regardless of branch; but other MOSs have a
separate school/training depending on branch.
A: When mapping an MOS, the general training is matched to curriculum courses first then additional,
more MOS specific courses are matched. Just as with transfer students, each service member’s JST must
be evaluated to verify the training on the map was completed before awarding credit.
A: Lansing Community College starts with the ACE recommendation for the specific branch of service
and then considers any prior experiential credit that may qualify based on the JST.
Look at the military guide course exhibit for the specific training location, which is included in all training
that has been reviewed and has credit recommendations.
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Q: How receptive was program accreditation agencies-COAEMSP, ACEN/CCNE, NCCER/ ASE.
There has been a growing awareness among professional accrediting bodies on the need to recognize
relevant military training in education and career pathways. This is one of the stakeholder groups
participating in state and national efforts to streamline licensing and credentialing.
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Q: How long does it take to complete an ACE review?
A: For the ACE Military Evaluations (MilEval) program, a Department of Defense (DoD) contract
managed by DANTES (http://www.dantes.doded.mil/) establishes the criteria of eligibility for each
branch of service. There is a service-specific Program Manager that liaises with each education and
training command to determine which courses and occupations need to be evaluated. The American
Council on Education does not select the courses and occupations for review.
The fiscal year (launching in October) is mapped out in May and June. Once the annual schedule is
established, the ACE MilEval team executes a project management cycle starting with 120-work days
prior to the review. The scope of the review is finalized 30-days prior. Once the review is completed, by
contract, a final report is released within 30-work days. Then, 72-hours after that final report is released,
the results synchronize with the Military Guide online (www.acenet.edu/militaryguide). Each fiscal year,
MilEval conducts an average of 50 reviews with approximately 600 courses and 100 occupations
evaluated.
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Q: How do you become an ACE evaluator? Is there a website to go to?
A: You can learn about the requirements to become an ACE evaluator at www.acenet.edu/evalutors and
if you have additional questions, please email evaluator@acenet.edu.
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Q: Do you have a quick link for the ACE Military Guide?
A: www.acent.edu/militaryguide
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Q: Does anyone have any experience mapping to general education requirements?
Yes, Fayetteville Tech has mapped many MOS’s to general education degrees. Please refer to their
maps located on the institution’s website: www.faytechcc.edu under the “Military” tab.
Examples of other institutions and systems include SUNY Empire State, Thomas Edison State College and
Ohio 2- and 4-year institutions.
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Q: If training partially qualifies a student for credit, and that student's experience fills the gap, how is the
resulting credit awarded (student prepares PLA portfolio, or gets non-collegiate sponsored education)?
A: The partial credit is bundled with another form of PLA, such as a portfolio or challenge examination.
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Q: ACE covers Navy, Marine, Coast Guard, and Army. How do you include mapping and transfer credits
from CCAF?
A: Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
(http://www.au.af.mil/au/barnes/ccaf/accreditation.asp) and CCAF is part of the Air University (AU)
system (http://www.au.af.mil/au/index.asp). The American Council on Education (ACE) is not directly
involved with CCAF degree programs or mapping. However, there are many academic institutions that
have partnered with the Air University Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC) Program, a
special initiative between the Air Force and civilian higher education institutions designed to offer
baccalaureate degree opportunities to every Air Force enlisted member. If you Google AU-ABC program,
you will find a number of open source curriculum sheets for a variety of programs. You can also visit the
Air Force Virtual Education Center (https://afvec.langley.af.mil/afvec/Public/ABCPrograms.aspx). Note:
This is a secured site so you will need to accept the certificate warning and continue to the website.
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Q: What is the maximum amount of credits institutions will accept as credit for prior learning? (out of
120 credit hours for a bachelor level degree)
A: This varies by institution and accrediting body policy. For example, SACS requires 25% of degree
requirements be met at the degree awarding institution. Institutions governed by SACS may allow up to
75% of the degree requirements to be met through credit for prior learning and transfer credit.
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Q: How does an administrator at an institution become an evaluator at their own institution? What is
required?
If you are referring to evaluating PLA tools, such as portfolios, challenge examinations, etc., at your
institution, and your institution has a PLA Department, you could start your inquiry there or with the
Chair of your department. If you are referring to becoming an ACE evaluator, please visit the following
link for additional information: www.acenet.edu/evaluator.
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Q: When ACE is reviewing MOS or Rating are they comparing the training to college trainings, because
most often when our faculty review the training descriptions on the JST it does not have the academic
content that our Liberal Arts faculty look for?
A: Yes. Review team members are currently teaching in accredited universities. They review the training
and occupations with college-level equivalencies in mind. If they are not able to determine the
equivalency to a course currently taught in a higher education institution (vocational, lower division,
upper division or graduate level, they do not make a credit recommendation. All credit
recommendations use the CIP codes framework. It may help faculty to use the military guide on line for
fuller descriptions of course objectives, instructional materials, competencies and assessments.
www.acenet.edu/militaryguide
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Q: Can a non-faculty member become an evaluator at their institution?
A: ACE evaluators must be faculty members currently teaching in the particular curriculum being
evaluated. Institutions may designate a non-faculty member to evaluate the JST and/or military training
using the ACE Military Guide to create the maps.
For institutional evaluation, such as departmental exams and portfolio assessment, each institution
determines its process for the assessment of prior learning. Generally PLAs are faculty-driven.
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Q: Some institutions will award credit at a higher level or award more credits than ACE recommends for
some military training. While I understand the credit award is up to the institution, do any panelists have
experience or insight to share?
A: When mapping military training to curriculum credit, it is important to use all of the information
found in the ACE Course or Occupation Exhibits to match curriculum courses Because course
requirements vary from institution to institution, the learning objectives may or may not be met by the
military training. If an institution’s learning objectives have been met, based on the exhibit, it is
reasonable to award more credit than recommended by ACE.
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Q: Can lecturers (adjunct faculty) serve as ACE evaluators?
A: Yes, adjunct faculty can service as ACE evaluators provided they are currently teaching and meet all of
the specified requirements.
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Q: How often do military training courses change? Once the ACE evaluation is complete, is it safe to add
to the college transfer equivalency tables or will a re-evaluation be necessary on some regular basis?
A: Military credit recommendations are valid for 10 years unless there are changes to the training. In
those cases, training will be re-evaluated sooner and the course will have different versions. ACE’s
Military Programs is working with the Service Program Mangers for each branch to look at the need for a
more frequent review cycle. All versions of the training are included in the military guide with date
ranges identified. Institutions then consider academic currency. It is safe to add these to the transfer
equivalency tables. For additional information, see: https://www.acenet.edu/newsroom/Pages/Military-Guide-Frequently-Asked-Questions.aspx, Credit Recommendations, #4.
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Q: Beyond MOS document and interviewing a service person, what other documents for a specific
occupation are available? For instance, for a welder?
A: The formal training courses that are linked with the occupation. –Those courses are included on the
JST. Other learning experiences (OLE) that have not been evaluated by ACE are also included on the JST.
An institution could carry out an individualized assessment if the institution deems it appropriate.
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Q: Someone mentioned a website to get an overview of MOS? Can you provide that information?
A: http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Military-Guide-Online.aspx
A: Each military Service provides a list of the careers and occupational specialties within their branch of
service. For Army, go to: http://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs.html. Information about Coast
Guard Ratings can be obtained at http://www.uscg.mil/petaluma/TPF/Ratingsinfo/RatingInfo.asp
Navy Ratings are presented at: http://www.navy.com/careers.html; Marine Corps listing at
http://www.marines.com/being-a-marine/roles-in-the-corps/view-all-roles
Air Force AFSC: http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104609/enlisted-afscclassifications.aspx
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Q: I have completed several Defense Acquisition University courses that do not show up on my JST but
the course stated that it is ACE recommended. Will my credits be accepted and how if they are not
showing on my JST?
A: You may be able to obtain a transcript from ACE reflecting your training outside of the military that
has been evaluated by ACE. We have a separate transcript system for "civilian" courses. Email
credit@acenet.edu and we will help you.
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Q: If a credit recommendation is for a minimal passing score of 65%, does that mean if credit is on the
JST it is awarded and the student received the minimum passing score? The minimum represents the
score that must be made in order for the course to be listed with credit recommendations on the JST.
The minimum is determined by the type of training or occupation. Generally with military training,
passing scores are “C” at the undergraduate level and “B” at the graduate level. In some cases,
participants must perform at higher levels before moving to the next level. For more information on
passing scores, see the following link: https://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Military-GuideFrequently-Asked-Questions.aspx, Credit Recommendations, #6.
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Q: Does anyone have any time limitations on courses or MOS's the individual has taken?
A: Each academic institution establishes their own policy and practice with respect to the transfer and
award of credit. Yes, there are some institutions that have established currency protocols based on the
team review date of the course or occupation. There are some institutions that accept credit
recommendations from courses but do not accept the credits from an occupation. There is a lot of
variety based on the academic institution's mission, culture, policy, governance, etc. Actual credit
transferred is solely at the discretion of each individual college or university; the American Council on
Education does not prescribe these standards or expectations.
A: Usually time limitations coincide with those accepted for transfer credit. For example, training in IT
and Healthcare would have designated limitations due to the fast changing industry but training in
leadership may not.
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Q: Who - at a university/college - typically initiates the process of beginning to establish policies and
create a framework for using military credit? (For instance, is usually an initiative from the provost,
president or chancellor?)
A: It varies according to the institution, and can come from any of the senior leadership you have
identified as well as through externally funded initiatives that have engaged faculty, student services,
veterans’ services and the students themselves.
Q: What is the minimum length of time that a service person must have in an occupation to receive MOS
credit?
A: This varies by MOS and training. Many institutions award credit PE credit for Basic Training which is
achieved the first few months of service. For more information on occupations, please see the following:
https://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Military-Guide-Frequently-AskedQuestions.aspx#occupations
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Q: Here is the link to the HLC hours requirement for transfer credit:
http://policy.hlcommission.org/Policies/assumed-practices.html
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Q: Is the military credit applied as transfer credit or is it awarded as the college or university's credit?
A: Transfer credit.
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Q: What is the Army (etc.) doing about making this easier and provide a cleaner path to credit granting?
A: The Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard recently adopted the JST which provides a uniform
transcript of service members’ training. ACE course numbers have also been added to the JST to provide
institutions with the tools to award credit. JST Operations collaborates with ACE, institutions and other
stakeholders to provide training. It also has surveyed institutions to get feedback on improvements that
could be made.
For more information, view the archived JST Stakeholders webinar:
http://www.acenet.edu/events/Pages/JST-Stakeholders-Information-Session.aspx
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Q: I am working with a team of four to start an accelerated military medic to BSN. We need your help
late this summer or fall. We need to talk more, okay?
A: (Lisa) I would be happy to assist you. (Lansing Community College)
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