DIB
APR
DANTES INFORMATION BULLETIN
2021
Left to Right: Vicky Reeves, Amy Thomson, Patrick Loggins, Katrina White
Little Rock AFB Education Office Epitomized the Spirit of a Prep-a-Thon
In this issue: Prep-a-Thons are a game changer for Service Prior Learning Assessment: Prep-a-Thons
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Contingency Area Education Support
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Hot News
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Press Release: Modernized ACE Military Guide Contact Information
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DANTES Information Bulletin
members taking Credit-by-Exams
Beci Hilgeman, Exams Analyst, DANTES
In early 2019, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Activity (DANTES) reached out to education offices who had previously supported successful preparation-focused testing events. DANTES team members identified best practices, finding out what worked and didn’t. The potential was clear: education centers holding successful preparation events reported significant pass rate increases (from 43% to 59%) and tuition assistance savings valued at $1.3M for three preparation-based events. The DANTES team incorporated a
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number of these proven concepts into a Prep-a-Thon Handbook, providing a roadmap other education offices could follow. “Education Centers and Service members loved Test-a-Thons. These events generated excitement and interest in voluntary education, but were really focused on test volume”, said Beci Hilgeman, DANTES Exams Analyst. “DANTES wanted to take that concept and inject a focus on counseling and preparation.
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Prior Learning Assessment: Prep-a-Thons This shift from volume-focused to preparationfocused events promises to increase the return on DoD investments for CLEP and DSST exams. Most importantly, we want to help service members make progress toward meeting their educational goals. The efforts of the Little Rock Air Force Base education office epitomized the spirit and intent of a Prep-a-Thon.” The Prep-a-Thon model provides effective study practices to Service members in advance of relevant credit-by-exams. Events focus on three main tenets: counseling on degree-applicable exams, resources to support preparation (i.e., time to study effectively, base-provided preparation spaces, and approved study materials), and delivery of preparation-based courses. Little Rock Air Force Base began planning its Prep-a-Thon in December. The four-week event took place in February and was coordinated by Education Specialist Amy Thomson. “Amy felt so passionate about doing the courses. Airmen have been told about CLEP and DSST
DANTES Information Bulletin
exams, but many never really knew how to study for them. The Prep-a-Thon showed them how” said Patrick Loggins, Little Rock AFB Chief of Education and Training. He continued, “our goal was to make sure Airmen at Little Rock AFB were knowledgeable in the different resources that were available to assist them with completing their Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) degree. The Prep-a-Thon prepared our Airmen with the knowledge and confidence to take and pass CLEP and DSST exams.” Due to COVID Event Restrictions, the base was careful to limit participants to a small cohort. The education office chose two subject areas that align to Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) degrees, and participants took part in two weeks of preparation classes led by voluntary facilitators. The third week included independent learning with small study groups and accountability partners. The Prep-a-thon concluded 26 February 2021, after four days of testing.
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Prior Learning Assessment: Prep-a-Thons
Participants spanned a range of ranks, from Senior Airman (E4) to Master Sergeant (E7). For many in the group, this was the first time they signed up to take a Credit-by-Exam. A Senior Non-Commissioned Officer who passed two CLEP exams directly contributed his success to the preparation provided. “Your Prep-a-Thon was exactly the nudge I needed. The process was so easy and unintimidating. All I had to do was send an email and show up the first day. After that, everything else was provided for us. The study resources were amazing and greatly helped me pass both my CLEPs. Now that I know how easy it is, I’m bringing two of my troops over next month for their first CLEP exams”, he said. Due to the popularity and success of the Little Rock Prep-a-Thon, the education center looks forward to hosting its next event this summer. For more information on hosting a preparationfocused event at your base, download the Prep-aThon Success Kit from www.myvoled.com. These kits include the Prep-a-Thon Handbook, checklists, templates, and more. SSgt Demetrius Williams, Voluntary Facilitator for Analyzing and Interpreting Literature DANTES Information Bulletin
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DANTES Goes Expeditionary!
Mobile Testing Teams provide CLEP & DSST Exams in CENTCOM & AFRICOM The DANTES Credit-by-Exam program is focused on providing access to relevant College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)/DSST exams for prepared service members. In remote locations throughout Central Command (CENTCOM) and Africa Command (AFRICOM), there are a number of bases that do not have an Army or Air Force Education Center or Navy College Office, and no access to testing services. The DANTES Mobile Testing Team concept was designed to bridge this gap, providing the right people and right equipment to deliver counseling and CLEP/DSST testing services to the deployed Service member. In December 2019, DANTES completed a proof-ofconcept pilot for mobile testing at Camp Simba, Kenya. The pilot successfully demonstrated the viability of the program: technology functioned as expected and the testing team was able to safely reach and deliver on-site testing to forwarddeployed Service members in remote locations. In November 2020, a second pilot was completed at Nigerian Air Base 201, Niger. The goal of this pilot was to determine if the program could safely DANTES Information Bulletin
operate in a CV-19 environment, and obtain pass rates similar to those of traditional on-base test centers. The Niger event delivered in both areas, demonstrating the worth of the Mobile Testing Team concept. Service members were given sufficient notice ahead of the Mobile Testing Team’s arrival to AB 201, providing time to study and sign-up for classes. The Mobile Testing Team administered 140 CLEP and DSST exams over a period of ten days. Service members earned 264 college credits through the event, the equivalent of $63,000 in tuition assistance dollars. Both events resulted in Airmen receiving their Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) degrees, allowing forward-deployed service members to pursue their education goals in way that would have otherwise not been possible. “Thanks to this event, I was able to pass seven CLEP and DSST exams earning 24 credit hours,” said Senior Airman Taylor Shultz, 724th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron Firefighter. “I will leave with my CCAF degree, and combined with my current college courses, and will begin my Bachelors of Emergency Management degree.”
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Take a DSST from anywhere: Remote Test Proctoring is Here!
Technology expanding Service member access to DANTES-funded exams Testing has come a long way since the traditional paper-based exam. Testing agencies across the industry are working to deliver their exams directly to test takers. For the CLEP and DSST exams, this direct delivery will be called Remote Testing. • Remote Testing is the ultimate way to provide access to service members who are in remote locations or otherwise do not have access to an NTC. The test taker just needs a personal computer and an internet connection. • Tests will be delivered via a lockeddown testing environment. The test administration is monitored live, in realtime, by trained and certified professional proctors.
DANTES Information Bulletin
• With a simple system validation and minimal setup requirements, Service members will be able to schedule exams for delivery on their personal devices, anywhere at any time. • DANTES has worked with the US Coast Guard, Army National Guard, and US Air Force, to pilot the use of this technology in remote locations. Pilots focused on the importance of counseling and preparation as a critical foundation for Remote Testing success. Remote Testing for College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams is coming soon. There are currently twenty DSST exam titles available for delivery on the Remote Testing platform. Education Service Officers can use these instructions to assist Service members with scheduling DSST exams for remote testing.
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DSST ProProctor Appointment Scheduling Click the picture below to schedule a DSST appointment through Prometric's Remote Proctoring platform!
$300M TA Cost Avoidance in FY20 Education Service Counselors contribute to DoD Budget Execution
DSST ProProctor Appointment Scheduling Walk-Through
1. To schedule a DSST appointment through Prometric’s Remote Proctoring platform, you w
need to visit www.prometric.com/dantes enter the “DSST/DANTES” DANTES conducted a voluntary pilot to identify and define the impact oftoPrior Learn-landing page on th Prometric.com website. a. If you are starting from www.getcollegecredit.com, you can ing Assessment (PLA) credits awarded to military members and veterans. DANTES isredirect to the Prometric.com landing page by visiting the “Find a Test Center” tab, and clicking t green button that states “ServiceMOU Members Take a Remotely Proctored Exam”. compiling the data received from some of the top TA participating DOD institutions, and the initial findings are compelling. For FY20, Department of Defense Voluntary Education PLA credits led to: · Education officers helped service members save 99,108 years to degree completion.
· 1,185,667 PLA credits applied at 6 institutions, avoiding TA costs of $295,996,250 DANTES is working to continue to identify the ways in which credits are applied and will share our findings with VolEd professionals.
2. Once you have arrived on the Prometric.com DSST/DANTES landing page, you will select t “Schedule” icon found under “Remotely Proctored Exam”.
DANTES Information Bulletin
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Contingency Area Education Communication
CONTINGENCY AREA EDUCATION SUPPORT PROGRAM OVERVIEW: The Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education (VolEd) Program, through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) ensures Contingency Area Education Support for deployed military members and those stationed overseas in the USEUCOM, USCENTCOM and USAFRICOM AORs (areas of responsibility).
CONTINGENCY AREA STUDENT EDUCATION BENEFITS:
THE DANTES EUROPEAN ADVISOR: Manages institutional partnerships that provide contingency area education support
Access to face-to-face academic counseling services Opportunities to earn college credit and meet certification requirements Expanded test center accessibility for military members Academic skills and foreign language instruction Availability of undergraduate and graduate academic programs
Coordinates mobile testing opportunities at down range locations Conducts training workshops and attends local education fairs Encourages military components to stay updated on DANTES education programs Obtains feedback from education center staff about DANTES material and operations
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY: All active duty, enlisted, officer and warrant officers, National Guard and Reserve components, in all military services, including the U.S. Coast Guard are eligible to use Contingency Area Education Support services. 011-49-611-143-544-1230 usarmy.badenwur.usareur.mbx. dantes-euro@mail.mil www.MyVolEd.com
DANTES Information Bulletin
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Hot News
Reimbursement Update:
Due to required system maintenance reimbursements are not able to be processed at this time. •
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Even though we are temporarily unable to issue Exam Reimbursement payments at this time, Service members may continue to submit reimbursement requests. DANTES continues to assist applicants with submissions, approve requests, and respond to customer inquiries. Service members are advised to expect delays beyond the six weeks for the deposit of Electronic funds Transfers (EFT) or the issuance of a U.S. Department of Treasury check. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and are working to resolve this as quickly as possible.
Check out how to access service members Test Prep materials through EBSCO..... Accessing Your Test Prep Materials The DoD MWR Digital Library offers free resources to help you prepare for critical military exams such as DSST, ASVAB and AFOQT. Use these step-by-step instructions to access these materials.
Step 1 Visit Military One Source: www.militaryonesource.mil
Step 2 Click on “Menu” on the top right-hand side of your screen
Step 3
Check out the April Webinars
Under “Quick Access” click the link “MWR Library”
EBSCO LearningExpress Library • 22 April 2021 at 1100 ET / 1000 CT / 0900 MT / 0800 PT – Job and Career Resources in EBSCO LearningExpress Library DSST • 29 April 2021 at 1130 ET / 1030 CT / 0930 MT / 0830 PT – DSST Remote Testing Visit https://www.dantes.doded.mil/Webinars/index.html frequently to see what is being offered.
DANTES Information Bulletin
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Press Release for the Modernized ACE Military Guide Modernized ACE Military Guide Expands College Credit Opportunities for Military Learners Washington (April 1, 2021)
The American Council on Education (ACE) launched a modernized Military Guide that will help militaryconnected students easily find college credit for their military education and training and enable academic institutions to readily evaluate ACE credit recommendations and make credit awards. Service members, veterans, and academic institutions can now upload an official Joint Services Transcript (JST) document into the ACE Military Guide system. This provides a streamlined side-by-side comparison and efficient review for the award of college credit to military-connected students. "This opens a new world for military-affiliated learners," said ACE President, Ted Mitchell. “This service will transform how our institutions support current and former service members who are talented, driven, and ready to succeed.” The modernized ACE Military Guide gives academic institution users an advanced technology platform to evaluate military learning for academic credit, regardless of existing knowledge of ACE or military learning. Additional features include integration with their own course catalogs, an inclusive workflow to involve faculty and administrators to approve credit awards, and a repository for prior credit award decisions. Academic institutions can take advantage of this transformative new decision support tool by signing up for an ACE Military Guide Institution Account. For military-connected students, the modernized ACE Military Guide simplifies the credit search experience with the ability to upload their JST, and quickly see ACE course and occupation credit recommendations for their military learning. Service members and veterans can use the application to share details with a military or civilian college counselor during academic counseling sessions. The modernized ACE Military Guide places detailed information at their fingertips in a matter of minutes and provides the tools to speed their progress towards achieving their educational goals. Under the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), Military Training Evaluation Program (MTEP), ACE evaluates military training and occupational experiences and makes credit recommendations based on those evaluations. The results of ACE evaluations appear on a military learner’s JST along with details about other learning experiences. Colleges and universities use the JST and the ACE Military Guide to make decisions about awarding academic credit. Jeff Allen, DANTES Director, said, “The new features of the modernized ACE Military Guide make it easier for colleges and universities to evaluate and accept ACE credit recommendations, which saves time and money for service members, veterans, and government organizations.” The ACE Military Guide is the sole source of information for credit recommendations and detailed summaries for all military courses and occupations evaluated by ACE from 1954 to the present. ACE credit recommendations are based on ACE re views conducted by college and university faculty members who are actively teaching in the areas they review. These credit recommendations appear on the service member’s JST. For more information, visit the ACE Military Guide at www.acenet.edu/militaryguide. ACE is a membership organization that mobilizes the higher education community to shape effective public policy and foster innovative, high-quality practice. As the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities, strength lies in our diverse membership of more than 1,700 colleges and universities, related associations, and other organizations in America and abroad. ACE is the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting institutions: two-year and four-year, public and private. For more information, please visit www.acenet.edu or follow ACE on Twitter @ACEducation.
DANTES Information Bulletin
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DANTES Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support
DANTES_Outreach@navy.mil
DANTES OCONUS European Advisor (Contingency Operation Support)
011-49-611-143-511-1230
usarmy.badenwur.usareur.mbx.dantes-euro@ mail.mil
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DANTES INFORMATION BULLETIN
Jeff Allen, Director Michelle Alexander, Editor DANTES Information Bulletin
Youtube.com/DoDDANTES
@DANTES-DoD DANTES Information Bulletin The DANTES Information Bulletin is published monthly to inform education personnel about DANTES programs and to help promote more efficient customer service to service members. Email all inquiries to DANTES_Outreach@navy.mil. Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted for any purpose of the United States Government, except that copyrighted materials cannot be reproduced without written permission from the copyright owner. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by DANTES of the linked websites, or the information, products, or services contained therein. http://www.dantes.doded.mil
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