DIB
NOV
DANTES INFORMATION BULLETIN
2020
College Credit for What You Know Program In this issue: Credit-by-Examination Matthew Schwantz, Exams Program, DANTES Credit-by-Examination Program
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Hot News
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Contact Information
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DANTES Information Bulletin
The Credit-by-Examination Program helps service members earn college credit for knowledge gained through previous experience. The program directly benefits service members by reducing course completion time, avoiding Military Tuition Assistance costs, and documenting scores on the Joint Services Transcript (JST). The exams are developed, maintained and administered by national testing agencies, Prometric (DSST exams) and the College Board (CLEP exams).
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DANTES continues to seek ways to increase service member access to exams. We are working with the testing agencies to make remotely-proctored CLEP and DSST exams available to service members who do not have access to a National Test Center (NTC). The testing agencies are working now to incorporate technology to launch their exams on remote assessment platforms. The goal is to offer a locked-down testing environment, augmented with artificial intelligence and highly-trained, live test proctors. http://www.dantes.doded.mil
Credit-by-Examination Program COVID-19 and National Test Centers
COVID-19 significantly impacted service member testing opportunities, with many onbase National Test Centers (NTCs) suspending operations for the past few months. College Board and Prometric have issued reopening guidance and recommendations for adjusting test center procedures (see the links, below). CLEP Test Center Reopening Guidance After Covid-19 Restrictions: https://clep.collegeboard. org/pdf/test-center-reopening-guidance-aftercovid-19-restrictions-june-2020.pdf?SFMC_ cid=EM369201-&rid=217352304 DSST Test Center Reopening Guidance After Covid-19 Restrictions: https://www.prometric.com/covid-19-update/ test-center-policies
Test Prep
CLEP and DSST exams can help service members maximize their educational benefits. DANTES sponsors both CLEP and DSST exams which test or the level of knowledge gained through previous experiences. Both the CLEP and DSST exams are comparable to final undergraduate college course exams. Taking and passing these exams enable service members to gain college credit that can be applied to meet degree requirements. DANTES funds the first attempt at these exams through
contracts with College Board and Prometric. Preparing for these exams greatly increases the likelihood of achieving a passing score. There are a number of test preparation sources available for DANTES-funded test takers at no charge.
Free CLEP Study Material eGuides
Service members who register for CLEP exams will automatically receive a free downloadable eGuide. These guides outline the test contents, and provide sample questions, answer keys, test prep tips, and test taking strategies. Create a My CLEP account at https://clep.collegeboard.org/earn-collegecredit/military-benefits. Service members may also directly download an eGuide without registering for an exam.
Modern States
Modern States Education Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to making a high quality college education available and accessible to any person who wants one – at no cost. These video courses are taught by professors at top institutions, and are downloadable for offline viewing. College Board and Modern States have partnered to help service members prepare for a successful testing experience. Visit www.modernstates.org to access courses for each of the CLEP test titles.
Click on the pictures below to watch the videos!!!
DANTES Information Bulletin
http://www.dantes.doded.mil
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Credit-by-Examination Program
Free DSST Study Material
questions to take.
DoD MWR Library (EBSCO Learning Express)
You can also get study material and try one The DoD MWR Library provides free library of DSST’s free online practice exams from resources to all Active Duty, National Guard the Prometric website. and Reserve service members and their families. You can access different digital libraries by logging into Military One Source and clicking on a selected library (e.g. EBSCO Learning Express). Download the Learning Express step-by-step guide to get started. You can also stop by your installation library to get more information on these free resources. Prometric DSST Study Resources After speaking with your education counselor to make sure that your college will accept a DSST exam for college credit, you can start your test preparation to help ensure you pass your exam. You can gain insight into what’s on your test with Free DSST exam fact sheets. These tools provide an overview of the exam subject, references to use, and practice DANTES Information Bulletin
http://www.dantes.doded.mil
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Credit-by-Examination Program - Public Speaking
Principles of Public Speaking Exam Issues and Updates The Principles of Public Speaking DSST Exam consists of two parts, which should be taken in order. Successful completion of both parts of the exam will award three Upper Level Baccalaureate credits. Service members use this exam to satisfy degree requirements at colleges and universities. It is also used to satisfy many Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) degree programs. As always, contact your school’s advisor to ensure they accept DSST credits, and this exam specifically. Part 1 is the multiple choice exam that covers ethical, social, and theoretical consideration of public speaking, audience analysis, adaptation and effect, topics and purposes of speeches, structure/organization, content, research, language and style and delivery. Part 2 is the speech portion requiring the test taker to record an impromptu persuasive speech that will be scored by human raters. Test takers will have 20 minutes to complete this portion, which is then scored by a faculty member who teaches a Public Speaking course DANTES Information Bulletin
at an accredited college or university. As of August 4, 2020, multiple DSST centers are reporting that DSST Public Speaking Part 2 candidates are unable to test audio in TC Net, the DSST testing platform. The error message states “You must have Silverlight installed and enabled on your browser to take this test.” This occurs even though Silverlight is installed and enabled. Uninstalling and re-installing Silverlight and clearing cache does not solve this issue. A fix was deployed to TC Net on Sunday, September 27, 2020 to take care of this issue. This means candidates were able to resume testing the Public Speaking Part 2 exam on September 28, 2020. Prometric will identify impacted candidates and provide retake vouchers, as needed. Candidates can also call Prometric’s DSST customer service line at 877-471-9860, fill out the contact form on their website (www. getcollegecredit.com), or email Prometric at getcollegecredit@prometric.com. If candidates have fallen out of the 30 day window from when they took Part 1 of the exam, they should request an exception to take part 2. http://www.dantes.doded.mil
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Credit-by-Examination Program
COLLEGE CREDIT BY EXAMINATION PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
STUDENT BENEFITS:
The Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education (VolEd) Program, through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), offers the Credit-by-Exam program to help service members earn college credit* for knowledge gained through previous experience, independent study, and/or training. Credit-by-exam tests, funded by DANTES, include:
Earn college credit* for prior knowledge Reduce course completion time; the average exam takes only a few hours vs. 8-15 weeks of course attendance Decrease time to complete a degree; reduces the number of courses taken to complete a degree
CLEP: The College Board’s College Level Examination Program
Save money; DANTES funds one attempt per exam title for eligible examinees
DSST: Owned and managed by Prometric; formerly known as DANTES Subject Standardized Tests
Avoid tuition assistance costs for courses replaced by credit earned through testing
*College credit recommendations for these exams are made through the American Council on Education (ACE) and are subject to the acceptance of individual academic institutions.
Exam scores are included on a service member’s Joint Services Transcript (JST) Test prep and study materials are provided online, via mobile apps, and are available at installation libraries and education centers.
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY: All active duty, National Guard and Reserve component service members, in all military Services, including the U.S. Coast Guard, are eligible for this program. U.S. Coast Guard spouses (active and Reserve) maintain eligibility through funding by the Coast Guard. Air Force DoD civilian employees (excluding contract employees) are also eligible through funding provided by the Air Force.
COUNSELOR RESOURCES:
2/17/2020Information Bulletin Updated: DANTES
Education Programs and Tools Video: https://youtu.be/G5J1TFmn8rw Test Transcript Video: https://youtu.be/zIE8RfcWj0Q Military Pass Rates: www.myvoled.com/infographics Test Prep with EBSCO Learning Express: www.myvoled.com/infographics
850-452-1919/1936 exams@navy.mil www.MyVolEd.com/CLEP www.MyVolEd.com/DSST College Board/CLEP: www.clep.collegeboard.org Prometric/DSST: www.getcollegecredit.com
Helping Service Members Achieve Their Education Goals http://www.dantes.doded.mil
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Hot News
TTT Program Registration Update
by entering code GOCLEP at registration checkout. To receive the discount, service members Due to the uncertain FY21 budget, Troops to must have taken a CLEP exam between January Teachers Program registrations or bonus applications are not being accepted at this time. The 1, 2020, and November 30, 2020, before signing up for the half-price retest. Use this flyer https:// Troops to Teachers Program and State offices www.dantes.doded.mil/documents/flyers/ will continue to assist current participants with teacher licensing and hiring assistance. Current CLEP-Discount-Flyer%20_1_.pdf to share the discount with students. program participants can continue to access and update their records via the Jobs2Teach link Kuder Journey 101 for Counselors on www.proudtoserveagain.com. Mark your calendars! DANTES and Kuder Jour Service members and veterans interested in be- ney will partner together for an interactive coming a program participant should complete Webinar on Thursday, November 19, 2020, 1100 EST/1000 CST/0900 MST/0800 PST. The webinar the “Program Interest” form located on www. will be hosted by Ms. Mareba Mack, Program proudtoserveagain.com. This form provides basic contact information so you can be notified Manager, DANTES, and Mr. Joe Pittman from directly if program funding becomes available. Kuder Journey. The following topics will be covered: • How users can explore careers and prepare Additional program updates will be provided for employment. via the website at www.proudtoserveagain. • Job search tools and resources to build recom. sumes, cover letters, and references. • Building and leveraging the system’s shareReminder: Service members can save able portfolio, the e-profile. 50% on a CLEP Exam retest DANTES funds service members’ first attempt For more information go to https://www.dantes. for each CLEP exam. So what are service members options if they didn’t pass a CLEP exam on doded.mil/Resources/WebinarRegistration.html their first try? Now through November 30, 2020, or email counseling@navy.mil service members can get 50% off a CLEP retest DANTES Information Bulletin
http://www.dantes.doded.mil
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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
www.DANTES.DoDed.mil www.proudtoserveagain.com
DANTES INFORMATION BULLETIN
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.
Jeff Allen, Director Michelle Alexander, Editor DANTES Information Bulletin
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