DANTES Newletter (Jan 2017)

DIB

JAN

DANTES INFORMATION BULLETIN

2017

Building VolEd Awareness Through Social Media In this issue: DANTES Information 2 Bulletin Social Media Facebook/Twitter

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Social Media LinkedIn

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Social Media DANTES Blogs

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New SAT & ACT Policies

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New DSST Testing Locations

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Troops to Teachers New Website

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Contact Information

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DANTES Information Bulletin

Knowledge of DANTES Education Programs Fosters Student Success

By Taheesha Quarells, Communications Division, DANTES

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t’s a well-known fact that the attainment of increasing levels of education has many benefits.

Postsecondary education equips service members with skills that are both tangible and beneficial to our military Services and desirable in a competitive 21st century marketplace. Not only do the majority of service members continue to name education benefits as their primary reason for enlistment, but they also consistently named tuition assistance as more valuable than all other quality of life programs combined.

Each month DANTES sponsors targeted communication activities to support the Voluntary Education (VolEd) community in efforts to foster better service members through quality educational opportunities. Monthly DANTES Information Bulletins (DIB), daily social media content and weekly blog articles aim to increase service member and VolEd community professionals awareness of and access to education programs that are designed to ensure military student college readiness and academic success.

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DANTES Information Bulletin This month’s issue of the DIB highlights each online education outreach channel, including digital publications and communication platforms, offered by DANTES to various audiences. Take the opportunity to learn how to stay informed on education program benefits, policies, and resources through these online communication channels.

1- DANTES Information Bulletin (DIB)

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he DoD VolEd community consists of professionals involved in establishing and delivering education programs that help service members achieve their education and career goals.

During 2016, DANTES changed the DIB format to help DoD VolEd professionals understand the importance of leveraging DANTES-sponsored education programs and resources in order to

Feb: DoD Tutoring Services

Mar: DSST vs. CLEP

Jun: DANTES Overview

Jul: Academic Readiness

Oct: Writing Improvement

Nov: SOC CTE

ensure student readiness and future success. Each month, readers can expect to find program or topic specific information with associated tools and resources. The DIB also includes Troops to Teachers updates and Hot News concerning program updates and policy changes.

To catch up on any issues you may have missed in 2016, click on the pics below:

Apr: Joint Services Transcript

Aug: Kuder Journey

May: DoD Virtual Ed Fair

Sep: College Comparison Tools

Dec: Year in Review

To automatically receive a copy of the DIB each month via email, visit http://www. dantes.doded.mil/dib.html and select “Subscribe”.

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Social Media - Facebook/Twitter 2- Social Media

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ocial media is an ever-changing and growing platform used to promote the sharing of DoD VolEd information. On a daily basis, DANTES executes its social media strategy in alignment with DoD VolEd and the Services to deliver key messages to service members: • • • •

Emphasizing the value of an education and why it’s an important strategic investment in their future.

Enhancing service member’s understanding of their education benefits and how to access them.

Inspiring military students to become more informed consumers of their education-career pathway, improve commitment to success and choose active decision-making as opportunities are pursued.

Promoting the value of choosing a quality education that supports military career development, future professional opportunities and personal growth.

Using Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, DANTES creates content designed to be shared with service members and throughout the VolEd community.

Facebook & Twitter

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military education-related post is made on Facebook at least once per day. Tweets are posted on Twitter throughout the day as well. Posts on both platforms offer education program references in the form of motivational quotes, education finance information, success stories, tools and resources that support the pursuit of education. Education counselors and personnel are encouraged to share this information on their education center’s social media platforms. Below are examples of some top posts from 2016:

FOLLOW US & SHARE ON FACEBOOK: DANTES.DOD

FOLLOW US & retweet on Twitter: @DANTES_DOD

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Social Media- LinkedIn LinkedIn - DANTES company page DANTES uses LinkedIn as another social media avenue to enhance collaboration and sharing of information among VolEd professionals and academic institutions. Follow us on our company page and contribute to knowledge sharing by reposting on your LinkedIn accounts.

Follow us & share on LinkedIn: DANTES - Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support

LinkedIn - DANTES Military Education Professionals group DANTES LinkedIn group can be a great resource for sharing and collaborating on education topics, ideas and upcoming events. We encourage education center personnel and other academic institution professionals to join the “Military Education Professionals� group to begin sharing of information.

Follow us & share on LinkedIn: Military Education Professionals group

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Social Media - Blogs DANTES4Military Student Blog

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logs help communicate information to different groups of people. They are written in a more relaxed format and topics change regularly.

The DANTES4Military blog is written to the military student and in a language that is easy to understand. On a weekly basis, DANTES posts blog articles highlighting anything from DoD education programs to other DoD and Service education resources. The student blog tries to encompass a wide variety of information that touches on all areas of post-secondary education, in order to help service members, veterans and family members achieve their education and career goals. For education counselors, the student blog is a great resource: • • •

to help you become more knowledgeable on a program/topic to share with your military members seeking education assistance to highlight on your own communication platforms, such as social media, print, and base communication initiatives

DANTES Pulse Blog

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he DANTES Pulse blog is part of the DoD Live Blogroll. The Pulse is a blog created to build awareness, communicate and share information about DANTES and DoD’s education programs to the general population. It is meant to be the “pulse” of DoD’s education efforts with regularly updated articles highlighting education programs, resources and tools. The Pulse includes, but is not limited to, weekly blog articles, archived DANTES Information Bulletins, DANTES Reference Publications information, and DANTES, DoD and Service education press releases. This blog has a variety of information and can be very valuable to those within the military academic community seeking information to better serve military students.

For education counselors, the Pulse is a valuable tool to: • refer to when gathering program information to share • use to stay up-to-date on the Publications ordering process • find archived volumes of the DANTES DIB monthly newsletter • find DANTES and other Service education press releases

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Program Updates

Hot News New ACT and SAT Policies

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ervice members applying for college admission, officer accession programs, or a militarysponsored academy may need a current ACT/SAT score to include with their application packet.

Members can now take a total of six exams: three ACTs and three SATs, during their total enlistment, when taken at approved testing locations. The exams are funded and/or reimbursed by DANTES. The availability of testing options has increased for service members because they now have one chance to test on a military installation and two additional chances to test at a National/International Test Center.

Exams can be taken at two types of test locations: 1. DANTES Test Sites - generally located on military installations and run by education center personnel. Service members can take (1) ACT and (1) SAT during time of service at these locations.

2. ACT and/or SAT National and International Test Centers - commercially-run organizations.

Service members can take (2) ACTs and (2) SATs during their time of service at these locations.

Funding for exams varies by testing locations: DANTES Information Bulletin

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1. If the initial exam (ACT and/or SAT) is taken at a DANTES test site, funding is provided and no money is exchanged or required by the service member. Re-tests, however, must be paid for by the service member at the time of re-test.

2. If the exams (ACT and/or SAT) are taken at a National/International Test Center, the exam fees must be paid for by the service member at the time of testing. However, reimbursement is provided by DANTES via the DANTES online reimbursement request, located at http://www.dantes.doded.mil/ examinations/funding-and-reimbursement-eligibility/reimbursement-eligibility.html.

A score report is required for reimbursement.

When the exam is taken at a National/International Test Center, the quickest way to receive your exam score report is to create an account at the appropriate website (ACT or SAT). Download your score report to submit with your DANTES online reimbursement request.

ACT: Create your student account at: https://services.actstudent.org/OA_HTML/actibeCAcdLogin.jsp SAT: Create your MYSAT account at: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/scores For more information, visit the DANTES website at www.dantes.doded.mil. If you have further questions, please contact Exams at exams@navy.mil. http://www.dantes.doded.mil

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Program Updates NEW DSST TESTING LOCATIONS

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he top 10 most popular DSST exams are even more accessible than ever before with the addition of 700 new DSST domestic and international testing locations operated by Prometric. It’s easy for service members to schedule and register for their tests in these new centers, too.

They just need to follow the four steps below to ensure a smooth process: •

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Visit www.getcollegecredit.com/institutions/ and click the “Locate an Institution” tab at the top of the page. Click on the button, “Take a DSST Exam at a Prometric Test Center.”

Review the information on the scheduling page and check the DANTES Funding guide to confirm eligibility.

Click “Schedule My Test” at the top of the page and complete the registration process.

Print the confirmation email and bring it to the Prometric test center.

things in order to take an exam at these new locations. They include the following: • • •

New test centers are only available to DANTESfunded eligible service members.

All Prometric locations are fully-funded to eligible service members and are not available to military re-testers or civilians.

Test takers are required to have one valid government-issued identification card and Common Access Card (CAC) at the time of check in.

Testing for the top 10 most popular DSST exams at more locations is just another way that DSST is striving to support our service members as they pursue their educational goals both during and after their service ends. To learn more, visit www. getcollegecredit.com

It’s important for service members to know a few

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Troops To Teachers - New Website Updated Troops to Teachers (TTT) Website

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he Troops to Teachers program has updated its official website: www.proudtoserveagain.com. The website’s launch page focuses its messaging on TTT’s two main target audiences, those who want to teach and those who hire teachers.

A first-time visitor to the website can scroll down the main page to the four steps of becoming a teacher with the Troops to Teachers program: Eligibility, Apply, Counseling and Teach.

The new site is full of beneficial information. One area that is very helpful to a person seeking employment as a teacher is the United States map. Click on a state to find details about teacher salaries, certification and employment, Veteran Administration (VA) facilities, and more.

Further on down the main page are testimonials from TTT participants, various news articles about the Troops to Teachers program and the success of its participants, and information about teaching on a reservation or with American Indian students.

As a visitor navigates the website, they’ll find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), participant spotlights, and other valuable information to help make the transition to teaching easier. “Contact” and “Apply” links are also conveniently located at the top left of every page of the website. TTT wants visitor feedback to ensure the website continues to provide the right information, so a “Feedback” link is conveniently located at the bottom right on every page.

The mission of TTT is to assist transitioning service members with meeting the requirements necessary to become teachers and to facilitate employment as a teacher when eligible. The TTT website serves as a resourceful first step to become familiar with the Troops to Teachers program and the steps necessary to get started on a career transition from service in the military to service in your community.

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TTT Social Media - Facebook/Twitter Facebook & Twitter

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ocial media is an ever-evolving way to promote the sharing of TTT’s mission and increase program awareness throughout military and education communities. Several times a week, a teacher and/or education-related post is made on both Facebook and Twitter. Posts on both platforms offer a variety of information to include teaching resources, TTT website updates, motivational quotes, and success stories that support the role of teaching within K-12 education. Below are some top posts from 2016:

Follow us & share information on: FB: TTT.DANTES and Twitter: @TTT_DANTES Linked In Company Page: Troops to Teachers - DANTES/DoD

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ocial media platforms attract and communicate to different audiences. LinkedIn tends to connect and be used for a more professional means, like networking and job seeking. LinkedIn is an easy place to connect with like-minded individuals and people in your industry or those you share similar interests with. It is a platform to ask questions, share information, and learn about trending events. When seeking employment, it is important to be in touch with people in your industry and to build connections with them, and LinkedIn helps you do just that.

Follow us & share information found on: Linkedin.com/Troops to Teachers-DANTES/DoD

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DANTES Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support

DANTES OCONUS European Advisor (Contingency Operation Support)

6490 Saufley Field Road, Pensacola, FL 32509 (850) 452-1901

011-49-611-143-544-1230/1210

usarmy.badenwur.usareur.mbx.dantes-euro@ mail.mil

DANTES_Outreach@navy.mil

www.DANTES.DoDed.mil DANTES4Military.Education

DANTES INFORMATION BULLETIN

DANTESpulse.DoDlive.mil

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

The Secretary of the Navy has determined this publication necessary in the transaction of business required by law of the Dept of the Navy.

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