Supplement to The Pentagram, Journal, Standard, Joint Base Journal, Trident, Tester, Waterline, Capital Flyer and South Potomac Pilot
Educational certificate, degree opportunities abound for active-duty military personnel By Frank Hazzard Special to Comprint Military Publications
When Maj. Martin L. “Marty” O’Donnell, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Army, heard that a partnership existed between the Army Pentagon and Georgetown University that might allow him to get a master’s degree in communications, he was immediately interested. Today he is a full-time student in his final semester at Georgetown. “I went to a Catholic high school and was an ROTC undergraduate in biology at University of Scranton–a Jesuit institution,” O’Donnell said. “When I learned that I could get a graduate degree at Georgetown–also Jesuit and in our nation’s capital–it seemed like a logical extension of my education.” The partnership that attracted O’Donnell was established as part of the Army’s Advanced Civil Schooling program, and was specifically designed to make it easier for public affairs officers to get advanced degrees that will help their careers move forward. The program requires military personnel to attend college full-time and complete courses of study in the shortest time possible. “We still have to apply to the university, take the Graduate Record Exam, and write an essay, but it’s just a little bit easier than it would be without the partnership,” O’Donnell said. “Things like financial aid and logistics are figured out and understood in advance. “This will be about 16 months for me,” O’Donnell said. “The Army pays tuition, and you are essentially relieved of other duties although you are part of the U.S. Army Student Detachment in Ft. Jackson, S.C., and your duty station is the school that you are attending. “Basically it’s a 3-1 ratio for payback,” O’Donnell said. “Three days of service are required to pay back each day of schooling.” Typically, five Army public affairs officers are enrolled in program at Georgetown at any given time, but they are far from the only military personnel at the university. During the spring 2011 semester, the school enrolled 81 undergraduate and 250 graduate-level veterans on its main campus. This included active-duty students using VA education benefits, non-active-duty students using VA benefits, dependents of veterans using transferred benefits, as well as students not using VA benefits who self-identified as veterans, according to Rachel Pugh, a spokesperson for Georgetown University. “We have a number of active military (members) and veterans in our Master of Policy Management program within our Public Policy Institute, as well as within our schools of business and foreign service,” Pugh said. As is the case with many colleges and universities, Georgetown tailors its offerings to meet the needs of busy working professionals, including those in uniform. “Our School of Continuing Studies (SCS) and 2
PHOTO BY TIPH TURPIN, A GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR
Maj. Martin L. "Marty" O'Donnell, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Army, is currently a full-time graduate student at Georgetown University.
our Graduate School of Arts and Sciences are different schools. The graduate school typically has a majority of students who are traditional full-time students pursuing master's degrees. SCS has more professional, practice-based programs and has more students who also work while pursuing a professional studies degree,” Pugh said. At the University of Maryland University College (UMUC), another significant provider of continuing education to members of the armed services, certificate programs are made up of standard, forcredit courses, according to Chip Cassano, a spokesperson for the school. “If a student earns an undergraduate certificate in financial management, he’ll take six three-credit courses from the finance and accounting curriculum. They’re the same courses that someone would take if he or she was pursuing an undergraduate degree in the field, and credits earned will count toward a degree if he or she later chooses to continue his or her studies,” Cassano said. “Instructors may not even know whether the students in their classes are pursuing a certificate or a standard degree.” Often courses leading to certificates (or degrees) at UMUC are part of the school’s extensive continuing studies offerings. “Continuing studies usually refers to undergraduate or graduate-level instruction for nontraditional students–usually older students who aren’t able to attend school full time or live on campus. So graduate studies can be continuing studies; it’s just that the classes will probably be offered on evenings
or weekends, at remote locations, online, or at some other time or in some other configuration that makes them more convenient for nontraditional students,” Cassano said. “The broad spectrum of educational programming at Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies is designed with accessibility, convenience and flexibility in mind. These qualities are attractive to service members and veterans seeking to further their education while serving in the military or after completion of military service,” Pugh said. Although O’Donnell is on waiting lists for military housing at several D.C.-area bases, he doesn’t expect to get it before he finishes his degree. “Living in civilian housing isn’t the worst thing; I have a decent commute,” he said. One of the things O’Donnell likes most about attending a civilian university is the cross-pollination that takes place between civilian and armed-forces students. “Students in the program are varied; some work on the Hill, some work for corporate defense contractors, some are from the nonprofit world. The interaction is mutually beneficial,” O’Donnell said. “There are traits that military students bring to the classroom–leadership and life experience–that serve them well. They are incredibly motivated, have great time management skills and solid work ethics,” said Jennifer Connors, director of military services for George Mason University in Virginia. George Mason has one of the largest military student enrollments in the D.C. area. “Our common data set midterm preliminary census for fall 2011 showed that students using a DoD or VA benefit numbered 1,817, an increase from our spring 2011 number of 1,575,” Connors said. “How those students are utilized–whether they are encouraged to use their leadership and military training–depends on the instructor, but they can be very useful in the classroom,” said Connors, who serves as an Air Force reservist in addition to her position at George Mason. “Military personnel have an established identity, whereas other students sometime struggle with that.” During full-time schooling, academic evaluation reports (AERs) replace officer evaluation reports (OERs). AERs are typically written by the students’ universities and are therefore more generic than OERs, according to O’Donnell. “The real benefit of my degree will come when I go to my next job and should be reflected in my next OER. The degree will not change the timeframe for my promotion, although it won’t hurt my chances when I’m eligible for a first look for lieutenant colonel.” “There really is no reason why military personnel shouldn’t do this,” O’Donnell said. “It doesn’t matter if you are enlisted or an officer; the opportunities to get an education are unlimited. I would encourage anyone to pursue it.” HIGHER EDUCATION & LIFE LONG LEARNING • Winter 2011
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Cybersecurity program ideal for veterans By C.D. Carter
Special to Comprint Military Publications
Defending the U.S. government on the Internet could be a natural extension of military service members’ commitment to national security when their days on the battlefield are over. The University of Maryland University College (UMUC) launched a cybersecurity program last fall. Students enrolled in the online program can earn a bachelor's or master's degree in cybersecurity, a master's in cybersecurity policy, or one of three graduate certificates. UMUC’s cybersecurity program has attracted local veterans transitioning from the military to civilian life in the Washington, D.C., area. Students study national and international policies and combat simulated cyberattacks in UMUC’s virtual security lab, while choosing among a range of career tracks, including chief security officers, cybersecurity analysts and digital forensics experts. “Who better to protect us than the patriots who have already dedicated themselves to this country,” said UMUC President Susan Aldridge. “A lot of (service members) are going to continue to fight for their country, but they’ll be exchanging their rifles for computers and fighting a very different kind of war, a cyber war.” There are about 3,000 students enrolled in the university’s cybersecurity program, with more than 5,000 applications pending, Aldridge said. About 10 percent of UMUC’s current cybersecurity students have served in the military–a percentage university officials believe will grow. Aldridge said there are billions of dollars in government contracts available to firms and companies that can bolster the country’s safety and security on the Internet. With that money available to defense contractors, there remains a desperate search for cybersecurity degree holders with expertise in disaster management, digital forensics and prevention techniques that can stop a cyberattack before it starts. “There are many contractors out there looking for people with the right skill set for the job,” Aldridge said. “These positions are going to be golden for a long time.” The federal government has struggled to keep itsWeb infrastructure safe from domestic and overseas attacks, according to a report released Oct. 3 by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Among 24 federal agencies examined in the GAO report, cyberattacks increased from 5,503 in 2006 to more than 41,000 in 2010. Federal departments did not adjust cybersecurity measures even as the number of attacks skyrocketed during that four-year span, according to the GAO. The largest increases in cyberattacks were in 2009 and 2010. Members of Congress requested the GAO report to 4
METRO CREATIVE CONNECTIONS
gauge how—or if—federal agencies were complying with the Federal Information Security Act, passed by Congress in 2002. According to the report, an underlying reason for these weaknesses is that agencies have not fully implemented their information security programs. As a result, they have limited assurance that controls are in place and operating as intended to protect their information resources, thereby leaving them vulnerable to attack or compromise. Aldridge said service members could fill the gaps in the country’s cybersecurity approach. Johnny Jones, a veteran Marine sergeant who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, said he enrolled in the cybersecurity program in part because the profession would be another way to defend the U.S. against its enemies, even if the enemy was now online.
“Any type of government service that goes after the bad guy, there's a pretty natural connection there,” said Jones, a Gaithersburg resident and a former bomb technician who lost both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan in August 2010. “It was a great fit coming out of the military when I looked at the types of jobs that’ll be available in the future.” Many servicemen and women signed up for military service after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, so homeland security-related fields like cybersecurity will appeal to veterans looking for a post-military profession, Jones said. “[The Department of] Homeland Security is a direct result of 9/11, and so is most of our service in today’s military, so that alone links us together,” Jones said.
HIGHER EDUCATION & LIFE LONG LEARNING • Winter 2011
Baker College Online: Military Friendly, Mission-Ready
Serving our Servicemembers
Our goal is to make a Baker College education affordable and available to anyone in the military who’s serious about preparing for a successful career. We’re also dedicated to providing all the support you need to meet the unique challenges that every serviceperson faces when balancing school and study with the demands of duty and other responsibilities.
Baker College Online takes pride in serving our military students with individual attention to put together a personalized educational program. From admissions through academic guidance, to postgraduate employment assistance, we’ll give you all the attention you need to make the right choices, solve problems, create opportunities, and get the most out of your educational experience. The case of UT2 Nicholas Waldo, USN, is a good example. Nick had attended Baker College of Muskegon, Michigan until joining the Navy Reserve. Because of the required training and travel, Baker College Online became the practical choice for continuing his education while on the move. When Nick was deployed to Kuwait, he thought his education would be put on hold. Yet he soon Photo used with consent from UT2 Nicholas Waldo, USN discovered that even though he was half a world away from home, he was able to continue his studies, earning his BA in Business Administration (with a flexstudy in aviation), a degree he hopes will help him when he applies for Officer Training. “Everyone at Baker pitched in to help me,” he says. “My instructors, advisers, even the Dean. They were always there to answer my questions and they were very understanding and flexible. They never left me hanging. In fact, I got more personalized assistance while I was deployed in Kuwait than my fiancé got from college that she was attending back in the states! I’m planning on a career in the Navy, and I believe that my degree is going to help me advance through the ranks.” While you’re serving your country, we do all we can to serve your needs. As a result, Baker College Online is included in the top 15 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools on the G.I. Jobs 2011 list of Military Friendly Schools.
To help meet this goal, Baker Online offers the following:
Our mission is to prepare you for success. (And we’re ready, willing, and able.)
• Tuition structured around military benefits, to ensure military students pay little or no out-of-pocket expenses. In addition, all undergraduate-level textbooks are included, free of charge for qualified students.
Baker College has been helping people prepare for new careers for 100 years, and today we’re America’s Leading career college with over 44,000 students around the world, more than 25,000 online—many of them in the military. We’ve been a leader in online learning since 1994 when we first saw the value in such a flexible means of educational delivery. As a career college, Baker focuses completely on providing students with the most marketable job skills, in the shortest time possible. Our curriculum is grounded in the real world; most all of our instructors are practicing professionals in the subjects they teach and our classes stress the most current technologies and best practices. Each Baker Online degree program at the certificate, associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral level is targeted at one of the fastest-growing fields in business, health or information systems and can help advance either a military or civilian career quickly, affordably, and successfully. As a member of the military serving your country, you are entitled to receive a quality education. With Baker Online, not only is it possible, now is a great time to get started and make the most out of your time in the service. As long as you have an Internet connection and personal dedication, your degree is within reach, anywhere in the world. Contact a helpful Baker College Online Development Coordinator at (800) 469-4062 or 1040839 e-mail our admissions office at adm-ol@baker.edu to get started today.
Baker Online can make it easier for you to get the education you need—to help you build the military or civilian career that you want. The thought of trying to earn your degree while serving in the military may seem overwhelming and just not possible. That’s why Baker College® Online has developed over 40 degree programs that are compatible with your military service. Classes are available 365/24/7 with no campus requirements for maximum flexibility anywhere you’re stationed or deployed—anywhere in the world. Baker Online is regionally accredited and a longtime partner of the GoArmyEd programs and other branches of the military. We are DANTES, SOC, and VA approved. Plus our programs focus on delivering an education that’s practical, results-driven, and totally dedicated to giving you the skills and knowledge you’ll need to succeed in a military or civilian career.
What “Military Friendly” means to us.
• Both the application fee at the undergraduate and graduate levels and the course fee for your first course, (COL112 College Success Online, regularly $60.00) are waived for qualified military students. • Free and honest evaluations of your military experience, testing, and training credits. • Six-week quarter structure that helps you finish your degree in less time. • Not-for-profit status, which allows us to invest in our students rather than focus on shareholders. • Lifetime Employment Assistance for all Baker graduates—free and forever.
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• A promise to hold your place if you’re deployed while taking classes.
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American Military University offers over 87 degree programs at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s level through its seven distinct academic Schools.
School of Arts and Humanities The University is unique in offering a full range of online degrees in arts and humanities that are based on the great ideas, works, and thinkers that have defined civilization as embodied in the “great books” tradition. The curriculum addresses humankind’s fundamental topics through study of courses in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Coursework is designed to develop high-level research, analytical, and interpersonal skills and prepares students for a broad range of professional careers.
American Military University www.amuonline.com/comprint 111 W. Congress St. Charles Town, WV 25414 Admission Phone: 877-777-9081 Financial Aid Phone: 877-372-3535 Military Programs Email: info@apus.edu
Associate Degrees Associate programs are designed for students who seek a twoyear degree as either their final degree in higher education or the foundation for further study at the bachelor’s level. An associate degree typically requires 61-64 semester hours (20 courses and 1-4 labs). Students must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent to be admitted to an associate program.
Bachelor’s Degree The bachelor’s degree program is also open to students who possess a high school diploma or its equivalent. This minimum 120-124 credit program is the standard “four-year” undergraduate degree desired by most employers and prepares the student for graduate study. All students who enroll in the bachelor’s degree program must enroll in COLL100 - Foundations of Online Learning as their first course.
Master’s Degree AMU accepts students for graduate-level study who have earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. To earn a master’s degree, students must complete a minimum of 12 courses and take a final comprehensive examination, thesis option, or capstone/applied research project at the end of all course work.
School of Business The School of Business offers a flexible, dynamic and interactive program to accommodate many types of learners. We integrate new technologies to keep the classroom interesting and up-to-date. Students are taught not only the concepts but also the “real world” application of the materials. The curriculum provides the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge for students seeking preparation or advancement in business and leadership roles in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.
School of Education
Graduate programs in the School of Education are designed to meet the most rapidly growing demands of the profession. Our certification programs are built to the highest state and national content standards. We provide opportunities to practicing teachers to enhance their professional training in critical needs areas such as special education, reading and literacy, TESOL, and Gifted Education.
School of Management
The curriculum provides the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge for business and leadership professionals in private, public and nonprofit sector. The School of Management offers relevant and dynamic management programs for students seeking broad managerial knowledge, skills, and abilities. Specifically, specialized degrees are designed and offered in the high growth areas of sport sciences and the transportation and logistics management career fields. Students will address traditional and topical management and leadership matters, while at the same time be influenced by foundational and conceptual underpinnings that remain vital in today’s competitive markets.
School of Public Safety and Health
The School of Public Safety and Health houses several of the University’s flagship programs designed for emergency and disaster management, criminal justice, and homeland security professionals. It is also the home of up-and-coming programs for security management, legal studies, and public health professionals. It is also the home of up-and-coming programs in security management, legal studies, and public health. Our faculty combine top academic credentials with practical expertise. Our programs in many cases are professionally accredited or recognized in their industries. These recognitions include the Foundation of Higher Education for the emergency and disaster management program. Additionally, the public health program is an applicant for accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Other accreditations are pending with professional organizations.
School of Science and Technology
Science and technology professionals are vital to society’s continued innovation. Academic programs in this school help students cultivate the problem solving, creative, and technological skills necessary for advancements in their chosen field - whether it be pursuing innovations in environmental policy, space studies, or one of the many professions within the information technology field.
School of Security and Global Studies
The programs taught in the School of Security and Global Studies truly embody our motto, “Educating Those Who Serve.” Students with majors in this school have an understanding of the world - appreciating differences in political, economic, and social cultures. Our faculty members are highly credentialed and respected leaders in their fields, and many of them currently work in the U.S. government and in the U.S. intelligence community. Our graduates are employed in leadership positions at agencies ranging from the Department of State, Defense, and Homeland Security to the intelligence services, as well as private businesses throughout the world.
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Webster University prepares students for success Webster University’s National Capital Region is investing in students today, to prepare them for tomorrow. Currently, the region consists of four main campuses: Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Joint Base Andrews, Fort Belvoir, and the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. This region of the St. Louis-based, notfor-profit University is focused on providing quality degree programs and curriculum that prepare students for success in life, the classroom and at work. Receiving top rankings by U.S. News & World Report and ranked as one of the Top 25 MilitaryFriendly Colleges/Universities by the Veterans Benefits GI Bill, the Washington, D.C., region has a variety of programs to offer. Strategically situated throughout the Washington, D.C., region, Webster University currently offers seven unique programs that are in high demand across the National Capital Region: Information Technology Management; International Relations; Procurement and Acquisitions Management; Business and Organizational Security; Management and Leadership; Master’s of Business Administration; and Human Resource Management. The region also offers a certificate in Government Contracting and has a partnership with Defense Acquisition University (DAU) for a cooperative degree program. To meet the flexible needs of working professionals and our servicemen, several of the programs are offered on a rotating basis to the various campuses, affording students the opportunity to move around or attend just one campus based on their individual needs. The National Capital Region has also implemented two degree programs at the Southern Mary-
land Higher Education Center, a Master of Arts in Procurement and Acquisitions Management and a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management. All of the programs offered in the National Capital Region can be completed in a traditional face-toface setting, in a combination of traditional and online settings, or completely online. In addition to these programs, Webster offers nearly 30 online degree programs. In our Nation’s Capital with many prestigious universities, what makes Webster University unique? The Webster Way is simple: a quality education at affordable rates; small class sizes that focus on student learning outcomes; and a one-of-a-kind faculty drive this university. The region’s faculty feature notable judges, company vice presidents, lawyers, managers and game changers in their fields. Whether it is working in IT for the government or handling defense contracts, Webster University’s faculty members are living examples of real world success, and bring their daily career experiences into the classroom to benefit students. “ I am a proud Webster graduate, and product of Webster’s Master of Arts, Procurement and Acquisitions Management program, so when my company was looking for a senior acquisition logistician analyst and a contracting cost/pricing analyst, I immediately thought of the Webster program,” Travis Jones said. Not only is the faculty at Webster a dynamic resource to the students, but students also gain invaluable experience through interaction with fellow classmates. Although the classroom sizes are small
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(averaging 12 students), the region’s student body is often comprised of working professionals with many years of experience in different fields. Having been a longtime partner with the U.S. military, our student body and some faculty bring diverse experience of military, foreign service and non-military career experience. The breadth of experience found in the classroom among the students and the faculty prepare new students for success in any field.With more than 100 campuses worldwide, the university has a sincere commitment to global study. Webster is the nation’s only Tier 1, private, nonprofit institution offering a network of international campuses. The university’s study abroad program was ranked in the top 2 percent in “America’s Best Colleges” 2012 edition of the U.S. News & World Report. Students who travel for work or are deployed can continue their degrees online or take courses at other campuses in London; Vienna; Shanghai, Chengdu or Shenzhen, China; Bangkok; and Geneva. Consistently ranked as one of the best colleges by U.S. News & World Report, Webster is a small university with global opportunities. Providing quality services and academic degree programs to the military, Webster has been ranked among the top 2012 Military Friendly Schools by G.I. Jobs. The university awards more master’s degrees to minorities than any other traditional, nonprofit U.S.-based college or university. Webster University is award-winning, internationally known and fully accredited. The Webster way is simple: providing students with real world knowledge, for real world success.
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California University of Pennsylvania 250 University Avenue California, Pennsylvania 15419 Web Address: http://www.calu.edu/go Admission Phone: 724-938-4404 or 1-888-412-0479 Financial Aid Phone: 724-938-4415 Military Programs Contact: Millie Rodriguez Military Programs Phone: 1-866-595-6348 Veteran Military Programs Contact: Robert Prah Veteran Military Programs Phone: 724-938-4076 Military Programs Email: calugo@calu.edu or veterans@calu.edu Type of School: 4-year public
Online Courses Available
Top 5 ONLINE programs at Cal U: - MS Exercise Science-Wellness and Fitness - MS Exercise Science- Performance Enhancement - MS in Legal Studies-Homeland Security - MS in Legal Studies- Law and Public Policy - BS in Sport Management Does your school offer credit for work experience? We accept up to 90 transfer credits at the undergraduate level, we accept up to 6 credits at the graduate level, we waive all general education requirements to students with an Associate’s Degree, we also accept CLEP, and Military Credit HIGHER EDUCATION & LIFE LONG LEARNING • Winter 2011
Tuition: Undergrad $242.00 per credit; Grad $387.00 per credit Other costs: Fees are $116.00 full-time and $135.00 full-time
Servicemember Opportunity College participant Special tuition rates available for military, spouses &/or children: We offer Pennsylvania in-state rates for active-duty military, their spouses, and dependants.
Admission Requirements: Admission requirements vary per program. Please visit www.calu.edu/go for program-specific information.
Why this school is the right choice for a member of the military, veteran, and/or family member: We are dedicated to making our campus a place that serves our military students with the best customer service possible. From the programs in which we participate, such as MyCAA, GoArmy, and the Post 911 GI Bill, to our offices dedicated to student success, we strive to address our students’ concerns and provide assistance throughout their time as a student at Cal U. We are proud to extend our affordable in-state tuition to spouses and dependants and now to reservists, as well. CALU_SS_PROFILE
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Local educational opportunities for veterans By Jim Mahaffie
Since World War II, the U.S. has provided for the educational needs of returning veterans, and local institutions welcome home troops today with a variety of programs and benefits. The University of Maryland University College (UMUC) enrolls approximately 50,000 active-duty, Guard and Reserve members, and almost 5,000 veterans today, said James Selbe, vice president, Department of Military Operations at UMUC. “Part of the reason the school was established was to handle the influx of veterans returning from service in World War II." Under contract with the Department of Defense, UMUC teaches troops in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, with classes or education services at more than 150 military installations on four continents, Selbe said. UMUC offers more than 100 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and certificates fully online. Graduate and undergraduate programs in homeland security, emergency management, information technology and criminal justice are popular with the school's military population, Selbe said. At Montgomery College (MC), Combat2College (C2C) provides academic and social opportunities as well as support services for veterans and active-duty and reserve service members. MC also helps wounded warriors with their education. "We’re right down the road from Walter Reed Bethesda (the area's largest military hospital), and we're seeing more and more students from there,” said Rose Sachs, L.C.S.W.-C, chair of Disability Support Services at the school’s Rockville Campus. Sachs said that the school caters to veterans’ special needs. "Veterans tell us: 'I hit the campus, and I feel like I don't belong.” Besides traditional courses, the school offers acupuncture, mixed martial arts and other fitness programs, vets-only gym time, and blocks of tickets to local sporting events. Special admissions representatives assist veterans with their GI Bill benefits. "Our vets don't sit in a room with 250 people like everyone else does a couple of days before school starts," Sachs said. "We set up individual appointments." "I'm of the Vietnam era," Sachs said. "I was on college campuses when people were coming home then, and it was horrific." When designing programs that tend to attract veterans, UMUC pays careful attention to today's workplace demands. "When developing content for our new cybersecurity programs, for instance, we convened a think tank headed up by (retired U.S. Air Force) Lt. Gen. Harry D. Raduege Jr., who also serves as chairman of the Deloitte Center for Cyber Innovation," Selbe said. He said the process offered invaluable insight into what employers need and want in cybersecurity graduates–a popular program for veterans. Sachs said that some vets study criminal justice and health sciences because they have already worked in those fields in the military. Some want to get into the workforce and are looking at vocational training opportunities and improving basic skills. Others want to 10
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SANJAY SUCHAK /MONTGOMERY COLLEGE
Besides a quality education at an affordable community college price, military veterans and active duty personnel are accorded a variety of privileges at Montgomery College.
Montgomery College student veterans gather to learn about the resources and events available to them through Combat2College (C2C) and the Student Veterans Club.
go on to a four-year institution and do general studies at MC. "Community colleges are places of transition to other schools,” she said. "A lot of these people come back from deployments with skills that kids out of high school don't have. They're completely polite, focused, and attentive to the mission of learning. Unfortunately, they're coming back to an economy that isn't welcoming," said Sachs said. According to Sachs, MC is welcoming and sensi-
tized to veterans. She cited an example of a math professor who called her and said that there were 17 veterans who needed help in math. Sachs put the word out and almost immediately had 17 student tutors willing to help. "Bureaucracy is hard, but we’re trying to make it better.We have a philosophy of really pitching in and helping when vets need it.” Robert Macomber is a specialist in Education Services at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He said there are more than 600,000 students pursuing higher education using the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills today. The GI Bill has been paying college costs for returning service members since World War II. Macomber said the Post 9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill programs, Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP), and other initiatives will cover tuition and fees, provide a housing allowance, and pay for books and supplies. "They're great for public schools and community colleges. But if you're looking at Georgetown, George Washington or George Mason, it probably won't cover those costs without more help," he said. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is the most comprehensive education benefits package since the original GI Bill was signed into law in 1944.The new education benefit became effective on Aug. 1, 2009, and the bill already has more than 365,000 beneficiaries, according to VA Education Service reports. It's also transferable to spouses and children for people that put in six years and agree to four more," Macomber said. "That makes it easier to get your kids through college." HIGHER EDUCATION & LIFE LONG LEARNING • Winter 2011
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The 7 programs offered in the National Capital Region can be taken in class or online. There are over 20 degree programs offered completely online. Masters in Business Administration
National Capital Region Webster University is the only Tier 1, non-profit, private U.S. based university providing a network of over 100 campuses worldwide. Webster is a traditional university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in-class and online. Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling AFB 112 Brookley Avenue SW Washington D.C., 20032 202-561-4382 Joint Base Andrews 1413 Arkansas Road Ste. 103 Joint Base Andrews MD, 20762-6405 301-420-2256 Bureau of Medicine & Surgery 2300 E Street NW Washington DC, 20372 202-223-9224
Fort Belvoir Barden Education Center 9625 Belvoir Road, Room 143 Fort Belvoir, VA, 22060 703-781-7942 Southern Maryland Higher Education Center 44219 Airport Road California, MD, 20619 301-420-2256
www.Webster.edu/DCmetro HIGHER EDUCATION & LIFE LONG LEARNING • Winter 2011
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M.A. Procurement and Acquisitions Management M.A. Management and Leadership M.A. Business and Organizational Security Management M.A. International Relations M.A. Human Resources Management M.A. Information Technology Management
Tuition: Active Duty Military, Reservists and National Guard - $330/credit hour - retired military, federal and contract employees of the installation and dependents of active duty military also qualify for a reduced tuition rate for on-base in-class courses. Webster University requires that applicants have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, satisfy any program requirements or requisites, and have a 2.5* GPA on a 4.0 scale. Webster University is a “Military Friendly” school. We have had partnerships with the military since 1974. Today we offer a variety of degree programs at more than 50 military installations and online. Webster University is pleased to provide our military members and their families with quality academic programs to prepare them for the next level in their careers. Webster University recent rankings include: .
• Top 2012 Military Friendly Schools by G.I. Jobs • Top 25 Military Friendly Colleges and Universities (2011) by Veterans Benefits GI Bill • One of the top “Regional Universities” by U.S. News & World Report 2011 Edition.
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3307 M Street, NW, Suite 202 Washington, DC 20007 Admission Phone: 202-687-8692 Web Address: scs.georgetown.edu
Type of School:
Undergraduate/Graduate Private and Certificate Programs
Campus Locations include: Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies 3307 M St., NW Washington, DC 20007 Center for Continuing and Professional Education 3101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 200 Arlington, VA 22201 Graduate Liberal Studies Intercultural Center, Suite 225 37th and O Street, NW Washington, DC 20057
Top 5 Majors Available at Your School: • Masters of Professional Studies Degrees in Human Resources Management, Journalism, Public Relations and Corporate Communications, Real Estate, Sports Industry Management and Technology Management • Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Doctoral Degrees in Liberal Studies • Professional Certificate Programs
Tuition cost: The following tuition charges are in effect for the 2011-2012 academic year and are subject to change. Please visit our website for up to date tuition information.
• Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Master of Professional Studies Degrees: $866 per credit hour. • Doctor of Liberal Studies Degree: $1,083 per credit hour. • Professional Certificate Programs: tuition varies by certificate program. Priority Application deadlines are as follows: • Fall Semester: August 1 • Spring Semester: December 1 • Summer Semester: March 1 • Doctor of Liberal Studies Deadline: February 1 Admission Requirements: Standardized test scores are not required for any of our programs, as we take a very holistic approach to reviewing applications. In line with the Jesuit tradition, we are looking at applicants as a whole person and therefore consider all parts of their application and background as part of the admissions decision. We hope in reviewing admissions files that we find students who are a good fit for Georgetown and in turn see Georgetown as a good fit for their personal, professional and educational goals. Admission requirements vary by program. Please visit scs.georgetown.edu/admissions/how-to-apply for specific admission requirements for your program of interest.
Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Why military & veterans choose Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies.
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Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies offers a diverse range of degree and certificate programs designed for professional and personal growth. Programs are designed to meet the often demanding schedules of adult students with part-time, evening class schedules. The School engages with and serves a diverse community of students and professionals in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, fulfilling Georgetown’s mission of educational outreach and inclusivity. The wide range of high quality curriculum is scheduled to create the most flexibility for students who want to pursue their personal and professional goals. Study at Georgetown offers life-long connections to faculty, staff and alumni who are leaders and endeavor to inspire others with their actions.
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HIGHER EDUCATION & LIFE LONG LEARNING • Winter 2011