Mae 10 4 final

Careers & Transitions: Degrees in Health Care Journal of Higher Learning for Today’s Servicemember

Special Section: Certification Programs

Marine Ed Leader B.J. Priest Marine Corps Voluntary Education Service Chief Career Services and Support Section Head

CLEP Testing O Credit for Military Experience O IVET FTCC Degree Plans O MAE Expansion

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May 2015

Volume 10, Issue 4

Medics ... you have a head start toward a nursing career!

Let’s talk about it!

Angela Ballard Grubbs, DNP, APRN MedVet-to-BSN Option Project Director University of Kentucky College of Nursing Lexington, Kentucky (859) 323-6605 angela.grubbs@uky.edu

Our MedVet-BSN Option awards college credit for previous education and experience.

Application deadline: July 1, 2015 This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under 1UF1HP28041-01-00 and University of Kentucky College of Nursing MedVet-to-BSN Option for $627,041. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

MILITARY ADVANCED EDUCATION Features

Cover / Q&A

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Expanded Focus Big news for MAE in our 10th anniversary year. Starting in June, the magazine will change its name and expand its focus to include our traditional education topics, plus transition and career information for servicemembers and veterans.

Careers and Transitions: Degrees in Health Care

Special Section:

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Employment in the health care industry has been growing for decades. Not only has the number of workers employed in health care increased, but the percentage of the nation’s private-sector workforce employed in health care has increased as well.

By Jaime Fettrow-Alderfer

College certificate programs prepare students to obtain the professional certifications they need to gain employment or advance in a career. Other certificates are awarded as a student progresses in a degree program, adding up to quick success.

By Holly Christy

Saving Lives on the Home Front

Certification Programs

A Strategic Alternative

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Developed by the College Board, the people behind AP and SAT, the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) has been the most widely trusted credit-by-examination program for more than 40 years. CLEP allows veterans to receive college credit by earning qualifying scores on dozens of exams.

By Sidorela Sanchez

A look at how one community college has tailored its degree plans and educational pathways to maximize military experiences and learning. The pilot programs at Fayetteville Technical Community College convert military education and experience into college credit.

By David L. Brand and Billy Buckner

The American Council on Education (ACE) collaborates with the U.S. Department of Defense to review military training and experiences and recommend appropriate college credit for members of the armed forces. ACE’s credit recommendations appear on military transcripts.

By Michele Spires

Making a career choice post-service is a challenge. Choosing the right resources can help with picking the right path that suits your needs and knowledge.

The Institute for Veterans Education and Training is designed to improve military recruiting and retention in education and business.

By Jeffrey C. Horne

Saving Time, Cutting Costs

May 2015 Volume 10, Issue 4

A User-Friendly Education

Departments 2 Editor’s Perspective 4 Program notes/People 18 Class Notes 33 CCME GRAPEVINE 34 Money Talks 35 RESOURCE CENTER

Credit Where Credit is Due

Climbing Your Career Mountain

University Corner Michael R. Cunningham, Ph.D. President National University

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21 B.J. Priest

Marine Corps Voluntary Education Service Chief Career Services and Support Section Head Personal & Professional Branch Marine and Family Programs Division

“I believe if we continue to provide access to counseling support and a wide variety of educational opportunities, motivated servicemembers will find a way to meet their objectives.”

— B.J. Priest

The leading higher education resource for our nation’s servicemembers Targeted circulation reaches education services officers and content focuses on current trends in higher education and highlights pressing issues for military students.

Military Advanced Education Volume 10, Issue 4 • May 2015

Journal of Higher Learning for Today’s Servicemember Editorial Editor

Kelly G. Fodel kellyf@kmimediagroup.com Managing Editor

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Kevin Harris kevinh@kmimediagroup.com Jonathan Magin jonathanm@kmimediagroup.com Correspondents

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EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE The importance of improving military education while continually improving the Army profession were two topics Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel A. Dailey shared with members of the Fort Carson community on April 20.

“As the Army gets smaller, we have to invest in the people who will lead us into the future,” Dailey said. “We are revamping the entire military education system. Our education system doesn’t transfer well into the civilian sector. While we rebuild our courses force-wide, we are focusing on maximizing opportunity for two programs: credentialing Kelly G. Fodel and academic equivalency.

Editor “We are the largest academic institution in the world and have the largest online delivery system in America,” Dailey said. “We have the academic ability to accredit our own courses and give you the maximum amount of credit for the work that you do, especially the ones that translate into work done in the civilian sector.”

This dovetails nicely with what you’ll find in this issue of Military Advanced Education. Be sure to read about the latest efforts in providing credit for military experience and testing to maximize your education benefits.

Dailey addressed about 600 soldiers and family members, discussing topics affecting the future of all soldiers and families, while answering questions about any of their concerns.

“My goal is to make sure that soldiers are getting all they deserve when they exit the Army,” he said. “We are making changes to the non-commissioned officer [NCO] education system to ensure soldiers will earn maximum credit for the schools they attend while they are in the Army.”

Army leaders are focusing on the Army Credentialing Program, which gives soldiers the chance to earn civilian-equivalent certifications and licenses. On March 11, Army Secretary John McHugh signed a directive calling for the service to streamline and improve its credentialing and career skills programs. In coordination with the Training and Doctrine Command, the service is also working to link credentialing opportunities to every single military occupational specialty (MOS) in the Army.

The directive from McHugh requires all Army training institutions to make information about civilian credentialing opportunities available to soldiers during every stage of MOS training, starting with advanced individual training.

According to Army Times, about 20,000 soldiers earned credentials in 65 MOSs in 2014.

Bob Lesser bobl@kmimediagroup.com Circulation & Marketing Administrator

Duane Ebanks duanee@kmimediagroup.com Circulation

Denise Woods denisew@kmimediagroup.com

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ISSN 1938-4165 is published 10 times a year by KMI Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly forbidden. © Copyright 2015.

Military Advanced Education is free to qualified members of the U.S. military, employees of the U.S. government and non-U.S. foreign service based in the U.S. All others: $75 per year.

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KMI Media Group 15800 Crabbs Branch Way, Suite 300 Rockville, MD 20855-2604 USA Telephone: (301) 670-5700 Fax: (301) 670-5701 Web: www.MAE-kmi.com Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey addresses soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, on April 21, 2015. [Image courtesy of Sgt. William F Smith, U.S. Army.]

PROGRAM NOTES

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

SVA Discusses Disability in Education at Capitol Hill Panel M

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In late March, Student Veterans N Y of America (SVA) subjectmatter expert on disability in education Dan Standage participated in a symposium discussion focused on ways to improve higher education for military-connected students through a holistic approach to the delivery of wrap-around services.

The event drew the attendance of staff from different congressional offices, as well as representation from other key offices including the Department of the Army’s Soldier for Life program, the Veterans Benefit Administration/Department of Defense Program Office, Veterans Affairs, The Mission Continues and Code of Support Foundation.

Unlike typical college students, military-connected students tend to be older, have families to support, and juggle employment and school. Therefore, the symposium focused on the importance of higher education institutions offering wrap-around services to enable student veterans to focus on education without distractions. The eight services, which include career, mental health/ social, curriculum, physical health, legal, academic, spiritual and financial support, are called “wrap-around” because they are not all academically focused but play a key role in helping veteran students succeed in their studies and in life. National Louis University’s (NLU)“Education to Employment” program for veterans provides wrap-around services for students.

“I’ve seen first-hand the value of wrap-around services for military-connected students,” said Paul Knudston, director of Armed Services Relations at NLU, who as a student veteran at Northwestern founded and led the Northwestern University Student Veterans Association. “With wrap-around services available, NLU’s student veterans demonstrated an 84-percent engagement rate, a 34-percent improvement in term-to-term retention rates, and an 87-percent employment rate. We wanted to share NLU’s experiences and the insights from other experts to raise awareness of the importance of these services for student veterans.”

At the event, in addition to discussion about wrap-around services, panelists outlined how to leverage resources of communities, non-governmental organizations, businesses and government organizations. They gave advice on how to empower military-connected students to transition from the military to college, from two-year to four-year programs and from fouryear programs to graduate degrees. Discussion also included an exploration of how military-connected students can adapt their knowledge and skills to thrive in school, careers and leadership endeavors.

SVA

Corinthian College Shutdown Corinthian Colleges, Inc., announced that the company has ceased all operations and discontinued instruction at its remaining 28 ground campuses. The company is working with other schools to provide continuing educational opportunities for its approximately 16,000 students. Corinthian said those efforts depend to a great degree on cooperation with partnering institutions and regulatory authorities.

Campuses closed include Corinthian’s 13 remaining Everest and WyoTech campuses in California, Everest College Phoenix and Everest Online Tempe in Arizona, the Everest Institute in New York, and 150-year-old Heald College, including its 10 locations in California, one in Hawaii and one in Oregon.

Education Under Secretary Ted Mitchell commented on the closure announcement from Corinthian Colleges: “Students seeking better life options should be assured that their investments will pay off in increased knowledge, skills and opportunity. Corinthian Colleges, Inc., announced it was effectively ending operations following the company’s failure to find a buyer for its remaining campuses willing to abide by conditions put in place by the department to protect students, borrowers and taxpayers. As Corinthian closes its doors for good, the department will continue to keep students at the heart of every decision we make. Department staff will immediately begin outreach to Corinthian students to review all their options, which may include loan discharges for students whose school closed. What these students have experienced is unacceptable and we look forward to working with Congress in an effort to improve accountability and transparency in the career college industry.”

PEOPLE Attendees at the annual conference of the Virginia ACME meeting selected Michael Camden of Troy University as its new president.

Wayne Westervelt has been appointed as director of communications to support Syracuse University’s IVMF and Office of Veteran and Military Affairs.

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

Mark Rubinstein, vice president for student and academic services at the University of New Hampshire, has been chosen as president of Granite State College, also in New Hampshire. .

Andrea E. Chapdelaine, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Albright College in Pennsylvania, has been appointed president of Hood College in Maryland.

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The College Board’s CLEP program helps servicemembers and veterans achieve a higher education.

By Sidorela Sanchez

Over the next four years, 1 million servicemembers are expected to return to civilian life. For veterans and active military members between tours, a college degree can help expand the field of potential job opportunities. Active military members, military families and veterans can take advantage of the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) to achieve their degree faster, advance toward their careers and save thousands of dollars in tuition and fees. A qualifying score on any of 33 introductory-level college subject examinations can grant three to nine college credits for knowledge acquired in independent study, previous coursework and professional and life experiences, such as military training.

CLEP offers examinations within the areas of business, composition and literature, world languages, history and social sciences, and science and mathematics. The 90- to 120-minute exams are administered at 1,700 colleges across the country and on-base testing centers worldwide. College credit is granted for successful scores at 2,900 colleges and universities. Each college sets its own policy regarding which CLEP exams it will grant credit for and how many credits it will award. Test-takers are encouraged to carefully review college policy prior to registering for CLEP exams.

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MAE 10.4 | 5

Since 1974, the College Board and CLEP have worked with the Department of Defense to provide credit-by-examination opportunities to the military. CLEP recently renewed a five-year contract with the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) to continue to provide testing services for CLEP to active military servicemembers, eligible spouses and civilian employees. The partnership accounts for approximately one-third of CLEP’s annual testing volume and also includes SAT testing services for active military servicemembers.

DANTES currently funds the $80 CLEP exam on the first attempt per exam title for the following groups: • Military personnel (active duty, reserve, National Guard): Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army and Air National Guard.

• Spouses and civilian employees of: Air Force Reserve, Army National Guard, Army Reserve and Coast Guard (active and reserve).

advance their career can achieve credentials for career opportunities through CLEP. College Board will continue to offer opportunities for active duty military members, military families and veterans to translate what they already know into credit and assist them in graduating faster at less cost.

This summer, from June 24 to 26, CLEP will hold its first national conference in Philadelphia, Pa., to equip educators, including Test Center Officers and Education Service Officers, with effective strategies, tools and best practices to guide students to multiple pathways of opportunity and success.

This year’s conference theme is “Change the message. Change the path. Change a future.” Several sessions will focus on military initiatives, including: • How to better utilize military education benefits • How to prepare military servicemembers and families for CLEP exams • How to retain and propel enrolled students to graduation

CLEP can contribute significantly in assisting veteran students in maximizing their education benefits. By preparing for and passing CLEP exams, veterans can earn credit for introductory college courses and use their tuition benefits for other courses.

Depending on their benefits election, veterans may be able to claim full reimbursement for CLEP exams and exam administration fees under provisions of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2004, which enhances the education benefits of the Montgomery GI Bill.

In addition, DANTES, The College Board, DSST and Florida Atlantic University will discuss how you can maximize your support of servicemembers by becoming a fully funded test center. This session will be offered twice during the conference.

To register for the CLEP National Conference, visit https:// collegeboard.org/accu-clep-conf.

Serving Those Who Serve: Everyone Has a Role

The College Board is a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of more than 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than 7 million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success—including the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools. For further information, visit www.collegeboard.org.

Details specific to CLEP may be found at http://clep.collegeboard.org/ military.

Education Service Officers can advise servicemembers about taking CLEP exams to advance their education. Free study materials are available to active duty military members, including the Official CLEP Study Guide. Additionally, Education Service Officers can direct test-takers to the most convenient locations that administer CLEP exams.

VA Certifying Officials can ensure that advisors who work with veterans know about the benefits of CLEP and offer CLEP as an option to maximize tuition dollars.

Colleges and Universities can choose to support CLEP testing by becoming fully funded test centers. Fully funded test centers waive the CLEP exam administration fee, which is typically $20 to $30, for eligible servicemembers, spouses and civilian employees. For each test that the test center administers, DANTES reimburses $20. This service allows eligible servicemembers and families to have no out-ofpocket expenses when it comes to CLEP testing. While not all CLEP test centers are fully funded, eligible military servicemembers can seek a fully funded testing location in their area to avoid paying the test administration fee.

Legislators can help military servicemembers receive full potential for credit by exam opportunities by providing initial award of credit by public institutions and guaranteeing that credit will be recognized in transfer. Some states have specific policies for uniform award of credit for all students for credit by exam opportunities and some states have policies that only support military servicemembers.

Employers can help create employment opportunities for those who served. Veterans who are looking to earn a second degree or 6 | MAE 10.4

About the College Board

About DANTES DANTES, based in Pensacola, Fla., was founded in 1974, and its mission is to support the off-duty, voluntary education programs of the Department of Defense and to conduct special projects and development activities in support of education-related functions of the Department of Defense. O Sidorela Sanchez is the director of marketing and content development for the College Board.

For more information, contact MAE Editor Kelly Fodel at kellyf@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mae-kmi.com.

www.MAE-kmi.com

Want to advance your college education?

CLEP exams can help you: ®

– Earn full-time credit as a part-time student – Reduce the time it takes to complete your degree – Achieve your career goals

For more information, contact your base Education Services Officer or Navy College Education Specialist.

Veterans: Use CLEP to maximize your education benefits!

à Visit CLEP at www.collegeboard.org/clep © 2014 The College Board.

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Careers & Transitions: degrees in health care

Saving Lives on the Home Front Career opportunities in the health care field are seemingly endless for servicemembers and veterans.

By Jaime Fettrow-Alderfer MAE Correspondent Military servicemembers know a thing or two about helping others; they’ve spent several years doing it as part of their daily jobs. That is why, as one explores careers post-military, a natural progression for a former military member is in health care. The health care industry is booming and the opportunities are endless. Preventative health is equally as important as fighting illnesses. Fortunately for prospective students, schools across the country offer numerous opportunities.

listed occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech pathologist, respiratory therapist and medical records technician among its “Best Jobs in Health Care.”

U.S. News & World Report rates the following KU graduate programs among its leaders in public schools: occupational therapy; speech-language pathology; audiology; physical therapy; and nurse anesthesia.

University of Kansas

South University

To say the University of Kansas (KU) School of Health Professions If you are looking to explore a variety of health profession offers a variety of degrees that may be of interest to former and current degrees, look no further than South University; the university offers servicemembers is an understatement. degree programs at 11 campuses nationwide as well as online.

Health Professions, one of three schools located at the University South University is an attractive option for servicemembers; in of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., offers more than 25 fact, 10 percent of South’s overall population is made up of veterans degree programs—from certificates to doctorates—in disciplines that or members of the military. include clinical laboratory sciences; dietetics and nutrition; health South University offers more than 20 degree programs in health information management; molecular biotechnology; nurse anesthesia; professions in areas that include physical therapy, nursing, occupaoccupational therapy; rehabilitation science; physical tional therapy, physician assistant, anesthesiologist therapy; respiratory care; speech-language pathology; assistant and pharmacy. Advanced degrees comprise a and audiology.

Healthcare Administration Master of Business AdminIt’s no surprise then that the school has nearly istration program, along with Doctor of Pharmacy, doubled in size since 2003. To accommodate the Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Occupamore than 600 students enrolled last fall, the School tional Therapy degree programs. of Health Professions has both on-campus and online “Whether working directly with patients daily or classes. Even better is the school’s flexibility. managing the operational and business side of a hos“Several of the departments offer bachelor’s pital or health organization clinic, a career in health degree-completion programs to help early and midprofessions can be challenging and very rewarding,” career candidates complete their degrees without said Misty Blackston, director of military benefits.

Karen L. Miller, Ph.D. interrupting their career schedules,” said Dean Karen Blackston added that health care careers require University of Kansas L. Miller, Ph.D. leadership skills and a dedication to helping others; At KU Medical Center, faculty members of the these are among the qualities found already in serSchool of Health Professions are nationally and intervicemembers and veterans. nationally recognized for work in their field.

Blackston explained that each degree program “Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., chair of the Department is designed to equip students with the knowledge of Dietetics and Nutrition, collaborated on research and skills they will need as health care professionals. recently published in The American Journal of CliniWhile associate and bachelor’s degree-level programs cal Nutrition that suggests a correlation between milk prepare students to begin a health care career, masconsumption and the levels of a naturally occurring ters and doctoral-level programs allow students to antioxidant in older, healthy adults; last year, Sandra develop the advanced knowledge and complex criticalBillinger, PT, Ph.D., and head of the Research in Exerthinking analysis needed for more senior or highercise and Cardiovascular Health Laboratory on campus, ranking positions.

Misty Blackston was the lead author of a paper published by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Thomas Edison State College South University spelling out exercise guidelines for stroke survivors,” Miller said.

Miller emphasized that many of the school’s health professions are As the health care industry grows, people with specialized trainin high demand and rated among the most satisfying. In 2014, Forbes ing are in high demand. That said, one career path that is booming 8 | MAE 10.4

www.MAE-kmi.com

is dental hygiene. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 33 percent through 2022. The median wage in 2012 was $70,210 and licensure requirements vary by state.

At Thomas Edison State College in New Jersey, the 60-credit Associate in Applied Science (AAS) and 120-credit Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology (BSAST) degree programs in dental hygiene enable members of the military, veterans and

mid-career civilians who already possess professional licenses and certifications in the field to meet their educational and professional goals.

“Most course requirements in the AAS and BSAST in dental hygiene degree programs can be satisfied via online courses, transfer credits from other regionally accredited institutions and prior learning assessment, enabling students to earn credit by demonstrating they possess knowledge equivalent to what they would have learned

VA is Hiring Heath Care Workers In addition to the general goodness of serving the men and women who nobly served to protect the freedom we all enjoy today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a legacy of contributions to both national and international medicine. With countless career opportunities in many urban and rural areas throughout the country, the possibilities are endless for talented professionals who want to join VA in the mission to care for veterans.

VA is one of the largest employers of veterans, second only to the Department of Defense, the largest employer of health care providers.

VA offers employees a better quality of life in return for their dedication to providing veterans patient care that is second to none. VA does so through competitive salaries, a robust federal benefits package that begins on their first day of employment, flexible schedules and one of the most comprehensive education support programs in the nation.

The Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) most critical hiring needs are physicians, nurses, physical therapists, medical technologists, pharmacists, psychologists, occupational therapists, physician assistants and nurse anesthetists.

VA strives to take care of our employees as well as we take care of our veterans. We offer competitive pay and superior benefits for you and your family. Your goals will be our goals, and your family will become part of our family.

We are the best at what we do, because our workforce makes us the best. We value every individual on our team.

Become a Nurse-Midwife or Nurse Practitioner

By Meagan Lutz

The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 doubled VHA education debt reduction payment for trained clinicians from $60,000 to $120,000. To recruit the best and brightest, VHA eased the pay disparity with the private sector through salary increases for VA’s physicians and dentists.

VHA offers several programs to enhance the ongoing education of its staff, including employee scholarship programs.

VA has what you need to achieve your professional goals and make the most of your personal life. VA offers: • • • • • • •

A high-quality working environment in top-notch facilities; Exceptional training and educational programs; Numerous paths for growth and advancement; Flexible and generous paid time off; Liability coverage; Incredible health, life and retirement packages; and The opportunity to work anywhere in the country: one license/50 states.

For information on VA opportunities, check out our VA Careers website at www.VAcareers.va.gov and apply! Veterans can contact the Veteran Employment Services Office for free career coaching at http://vaforvets.va.gov/.

Meagan Lutz is a spokeswoman for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Educating Nurses Across the U.S. and Several Foreign Countries

Offering Master’s and Doctoral Degrees Through Innovative Distance Education Programs

Ranked #1

Nurse-Midwifer y Program in the U.S. Learn more about FNU’s online programs at www.frontier.edu/military www.MAE-kmi.com

MAE 10.4 | 9

Careers & Transitions: degrees in health care Student Spotlight

Eric Saadat U.S. Army Staff Sergeant E6 (Ret.) Thomas Edison State University

I began my military career as an enlisted U.S. Army soldier on September 11, 2004, and went into

basic training November of that year.

During my deployment to Iraq, I served as a medical lab technician team leader in the Combat Support Hospital in Mosul. The city was in the midst of intense enemy activity and our proximity to the airfield made the hospital especially vulnerable to mortar attacks. Our lab team routinely scrambled to obtain blood and blood products, clotting factor concentrates and fluids crucial to the survival of fellow soldiers suffering from massive trauma.

Being away from my family was difficult. When I deployed, my daughter was two and my son was three

and a half years old. The youngest was a baby when I left; when I returned home nine months later, she was speaking in full sentences. After seven and a half years on active duty, I recently completed my service in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Academically, I earned my bachelor’s degree in economics and, most recently, my MBA from the University of the Incarnate Word. I’m now motivated to complete my Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology (BSAST) degree in clinical laboratory science at Thomas Edison State College (TESC) so that I can continue to help others, be an even

more valuable lab team leader and secure my family’s future. The projected growth rate for the occupation will also work in my favor. I am grateful for the support I had from the U.S. Army in the form of tuition benefits and military career training that served as a valuable springboard in my civilian life. TESC accepted many of my transfer credits and credit for military training, and I expect to have my degree requirements completed within the year.

I’ve just relocated from Houston, Texas, and am starting a new job as a lab technician at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster.

community dental health and education, pharmacolin a college-level course,” said Louis Martini, associogy, periodontology, clinical services and patient pain ate vice president of the Office of Military and Veteran control. Students enrolled in the BSAST degree in denEducation. tal hygiene program complete 42 area of study credits Thomas Edison State College has more than 21,000 in higher-level anatomy and physiology, microbiology, students, including more than 6,200 active duty milidental anatomy, pharmacology, radiology, periodontics tary and more than 1,400 veterans and reservists. and community dental health in addition to general “Many of our active duty military and veteran stueducation and free elective course requirements. dents have described our degree programs as rigorous “Students interested in the AAS program often but achievable through time management and selfenter with credits completed in their career track discipline,” Martini said.

Louis Martini as a result of training, and apply through Rutgers The college’s AAS degree in dental hygiene proSchool of Health Related Professions to satisfy core gram contains 52 areas of study credits encompassing Thomas Edison State College course requirements in its partnership with Thomas dental anatomy, dental hygiene, dental health educaEdison State College,” Martini said.

“Students in the college’s BSAST tion, dental radiology, clinical services, nutrition, oral pathology,

NOVA offers quality education for our nation’s military and their families.

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Turn your MOS training into college credits

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Earn your college degree in 18 months

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Courses offered online, on base, and on six campuses

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Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) member

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Military education assistance available

Complete your service and your college degree at the same time! www.nvcc.edu/mos l 703-640-6303

10 | MAE 10.4

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program enter as licensed dental hygienists, satisfying the balance of their general education and elective requirements through a variety of the college’s credit-earning options.”

In addition, the school’s Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology program has other areas of study as well, including biomedical electronics, clinical laboratory science, health services technology, medical imaging, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy and respiratory care. These programs are especially well-suited to those with prior military training or who already possess technical licenses and certifications.

American Sentinel University Job security and job prospects are two of the reasons one might consider a degree in the health care industry. American Sentinel University offers several opportunities for exploration with accredited nursing and health care management degrees and certificates.

“As an online university, American Sentinel University is a good choice for military students as they can study from any location around the world on flexible schedules,” said Paul Capicik, American Sentinel VP of Military Programs.

American Sentinel has postlicensure nursing programs, including: RN to BSN, RN to BSN/MSN and MSN with five specializations (Case Management, Infection Prevention and Control, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, and Management and Organizational Leadership) and a DNP program with two specializations (Educational Leadership and Executive Leadership). Health Paul Capicik care management programs include MBA-Health Care, Master of Business American Sentinel University Intelligence and Analytics, and Master of Science Information Systems Management.

Prospective students can expect coursework to include discussions, assignments, projects and supplemental subject matter that assess competencies important to the health care evolution in meeting new government regulations and the increased competition in providing better care at reduced cost.

Judy Burckhardt The nursing and health care manAmerican Sentinel agement programs are designed for University nurses and health care administrators, managers and IT personnel who work full-time and want to advance their education for promotion and job mobility purposes.

“The services health care community is faced with the same health care challenges as the civilian community,” said Judy Burckhardt, Ph.D., dean and professor of nursing programs. “Further, servicemembers at some point will likely enter the civilian or government nonmilitary health care arena, making what they learn in our programs valued throughout their lifelong careers.” www.MAE-kmi.com

Burckhardt emphasized the bright future for American Sentinel graduates because the program has been recognized for its excellence. American Sentinel’s graduate nursing programs have been ranked in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Online Programs in 2014 and 2015.

“The Institute of Medicine has recommended that the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree increase 80 percent by 2020 and the number of nurses with a doctorate double by 2020,” Burckhardt said.

That recommendation would equate to more job opportunities in a field where graduates are already in high demand.

Excelsior College If one is considering a career in nursing, Excelsior College in Albany, N.Y., may be just the right fit. Excelsior College is a regionally accredited, private, nonprofit, distance-learning institution that focuses on working adult learners. With the creation of the Affordable Care Act, more opportunities for nurses outside the traditional hospital setting have been added. The expansion of communitybased nursing opportunities will increase demand for RNs with a four-year degree.

Consider Excelsior College. Its School of Nursing is the largest educator of nurses, with more than 50,000 graduates, offering degrees

800.504.5278 | SouthUniversity.edu

Your future is calling.

Enroll now.

The South University College of Nursing and Public Health and College of Health Professions offer associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs that can either help you get started in a healthcare-related profession or advance the knowledge and skills you’ve already developed.

CALL OR VISIT US ONLINE TO ENROLL TODAY. See SUprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, and other important info.

Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by campus and are subject to change. Administrative office: South University, Savannah, 709 Mall Boulevard, Savannah, GA 31406. ©2015 South University.

Our email address is csprogramadmin@edmc.edu.

MAE 10.4 | 11

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Careers & Transitions: degrees in health care at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels in nursing as well as professional certifications.

Excelsior’s nursing degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), and it is a three-time designee as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing. It is also designated as a Best School for Men in Barbara Pieper, Ph.D. Nursing by the American Assembly for Excelsior College Men in Nursing.

Barbara Pieper, Ph.D., associate dean at Excelsior College, explained that an associate degree is designed to serve people with significant experience in clinically oriented health care disciplines, while the school’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program for students who are already RNs focuses on producing graduates skilled in holistic patientcentered care, professional values, evidence-based practice, critical thinking and the ability to be an ethical leader, among other outcomes.

In 2014, Excelsior received a million-dollar federal grant to assist qualified military veterans earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing; this led to the creation of the Veteran’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (VBSN) project. The mission of the VBSN project is to enhance the current • • • • •

Technology Medical Criminal Justice Business Culinary

Creating a Smooth Transition to a New Career in Health Science

Call 888-756-9492 or visit ecpi.edu

curriculum in the bachelor’s degree program by offering opportunities for veteran students to apply their leadership skills. To support veterans, there is also a faculty mentor who herself is a servicemember as well as an experienced educator. Additionally, students work with a dedicated academic advisor.

“Excelsior offers a variety of courses that prepare professional nurses as leaders of the health care team with insights and skills that are required to assess the unique health care needs of the military veterans and their families,” Pieper said. “Elective courses explore veteran-centric health-related topics such as post-traumatic stress disorder, transition issues, poly-trauma, homelessness and women’s health issues.”

Excelsior was the right fit for Joseph Santiago, a U.S Army veteran.

A 2013 Excelsior Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate, he’s now the executive director of the Clifton Park & Halfmoon Emergency Corps, a community nonprofit with more than 100 employees. The organization fields 6,000 calls each year.

“Nursing offers veterans a tremendous amount of flexibility and options to pursue a number of different directions,” Santiago said.

Palmer College of Chiropractic Current and former servicemembers may find a career as a chiropractor to be meaningful and rewarding. Palmer College, founded in 1897 as the first and largest chiropractic college, has three campuses: Davenport, Iowa; San Jose, Calif.; and Port Orange, Fla. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for those wishing to pursue a career in chiropractic is good; the job market is projected to grow by 15 percent in the coming years, which is faster than many other jobs. In addition, a recently released report by MarketWatch.com rated chiropractors number 1 for job security based on unemployment rates, projected job growth and income levels, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

“Chiropractic is a hands-on career path that provides a natural form of health care that uses spinal adjustments to correct misalignments and restore proper function to the nervous system, helping your body to heal naturally,” said Lori Leipold, Palmer College of Chiropractic public relations manager.

Palmer students from 23 countries and all 50 states (plus Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) are immersed in a rigorous learning environment. A variety of degrees are offered, including Doctor of Chiropractic; Associate of Applied Science-Chiropractic Technology; Bachelor of Science, General Science; and Master of Science, Clinical Research. The Doctor of Chiropractic degree is a five-academic-year program typically completed in just more than three years. The Associate of Applied Science in Chiropractic Technology program can be completed in 16 months.

Palmer’s curriculum is challenging, but Palmer students are adequately prepared for the intensity of the program. With class sizes averaging a 15-to-1 ratio between students and teachers, students experience intimate classroom discussions and have direct access to their professors and colleagues. O

On Base | On Campus | Online* For information on programs’ success, cost, and other important facts, see ecpi.edu/fastfacts. * Programs vary by location.

12 | MAE 10.4

For more information, contact MAE Editor Kelly Fodel at kellyf@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mae-kmi.com.

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FTCC has created a series of degree plans and educational pathways to maximize military experience and learning.

By David L. Brand and Billy Buckner Annually, the U.S. military transitions several hundred thousand members to the civilian community. These servicemen and women possess skills that are in high demand in today’s job market. In addition to the special training and skills gained through military specialties, servicemembers also possess leadership experience and soft skills, such as the ability to function well under stress and the reliability and attention to detail that are desired by employers in all sectors of the economy. These traits, when coupled with advanced education, college degrees and certifications, qualify veterans for rewarding careers in any number of fields.

According to North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, “approximately 27,000 servicemembers will separate from their service in North Carolina in 2015. Veterans are a boost to the workforce because military training has already equipped them with many of the 21st-century skills North Carolina needs in fields such as information technology, manufacturing, transportation and health care.”

That’s why most schools, including Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC), have long recognized the educational value and learning competencies inherent in military education and training.

“It is incumbent upon FTCC to provide our active duty servicemembers and their families an educational opportunity commensurate with the sacrifices they have made for our nation,” said Dr. Larry Keen, president of FTCC. Once armed with a degree or certificate potentially earned with the assistance of their military education benefits and experience, servicemembers and their family members will be well equipped to compete with their civilian counterparts for challenging and rewarding careers in nearly any industry or field.

the successful completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course. After several months of collaboration between SWCS and FTCC, the military implemented the Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) degree program. In August 2010, two dozen Special Forces (SF) soldiers entered a 10-week pilot program, setting the conditions for long-term education program success. As shown in the figure on the next page, the Return on Investment (ROI) for the U.S. Army, our soldiers and Fayetteville Technical Community College is impressive. Prior to the creation of the Special Forces Pathway at FTCC, only 41 U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) soldiers were enrolled at Fayetteville Tech. To date, more than 780 have received their degrees, and of the 701 who graduated prior to spring 2015, 311 or 44 percent have gone on to pursue a bachelor’s degree. At least two have graduated and moved on to pursue their master’s degrees, while one FTCC Special Forces Graduate has been selected to pursue a fully-funded and full-time pre-medical certificate program degree at George Mason University.

FTCC has partnered with 19 colleges and universities who will accept the FTCC degrees as the first two years of a four-year program. These schools offer a total of 39 different program tracks from which servicemembers and their families may choose.

Given the success of the ARSOF degree program and the opportunity to replicate the program across the Army for non-SOF soldiers, FTCC launched in January 2013 its Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) degree program, a comprehensive program designed to convert military education and experience into college credit. FTCC’s Special Operations Forces degree program achieved positive results, which has led to internal replication and growth.

Army Special Operations Forces Degree Program

Pathways to Second Service in Health Program

In April 2010, FTCC and the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy vjoined forces to offer servicemembers the opportunity to earn their associate degree in General Education, in conjunction with

When word spread about the success of this joint educational program, Army officials asked FTCC to expand its programming to include soldiers at Fort Bragg’s Womack Army Medical

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MAE 10.4 | 13

Center, creating the Pathways to Second Service in Health Program. In this program, FTCC, in collaboration with the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation, offers a variety of advanced placement or accelerated options for military-trained health care providers through a grantfunded program. Health programs currently available through the Pathways program include Emergency Medical Service, Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nurse, Radiography, Respiratory Therapy and Surgical Technology. Most recently, AMEDD (Army Medical Department) in San Antonio, Texas, asked FTCC to incorporate the same joint educational program in their training so that soldiers completing the U.S. Army medical surgical training could be awarded an associate degree from FTCC by combining the standard AMEDD curriculum with additional FTCC distance-learning courses.

MOS Degree Maps The return on investment for the initial pilot of the Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) degree program.

Drawing on the ARSOF degree program experience, [Image courtesy of FTCC.] FTCC developed degree maps for the top ten “high-dencomponents of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command sity” MOSs at Fort Bragg. MOSs included are Infantryman, (TRADOC), resulting in access to additional training materials Cannon Crewmember, Military Police, Human Resource Specialand documents not evaluated by ACE. This access has resulted ist, Intelligence Analyst, Automated Logistical Specialist, Wheeled in a more comprehensive review of training yielding additional Vehicle Mechanic, Information Technologies Specialist, Unit Supcredit for many soldiers. Specific military courses have also ply Specialist and Combat Engineer. been evaluated by FTCC faculty for specific associate degrees; for FTCC assessed military course curricula, reviewed American example, soldiers who have completed certain courses in the SpeCouncil on Education (ACE) standards, followed Servicemembers cial Forces Medical Sergeant’s program may earn credit toward Opportunity College (SOC) program guidelines and consulted an Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Medical Science. with FTCC academic department heads to develop the MOS Information about these credit awards is provided by FTCC, listed Degree Maps. The maps are broken down by MOS and skill level

by MOS and skill level, where appropriate, on its website. This serand identify a range of college courses and credit hours soldiers vice is provided not only for the Army but also for the Navy SEALS could receive for their military education. To date, FTCC has and SWCS, Marine Special Operations Command MARSOC, and developed 171 MOS Degree Maps representing 52 different MOSs. numerous USMC MOS. FTCC has also invested in a custom-built FTCC plans to create degree maps for every MOS. OCR reading software program that scans the JST and instantly In addition to reviewing ACE recommendations for credit, FTCC has developed relationships with many of the major converts the military courses listed on the JST into FTCC courses.

14 | MAE 10.4

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This software provides both timely and accurate transcript evaluation for servicemembers of all branches of the military.

To see a complete list of MOS and skill level maps, visit http://www.faytechcc.edu/fort_bragg/militarycaredittransfer forveteransandservicemembers.aspx.

Transition Tech Military servicemen and women, as well as many family members, departing active duty provide a treasure trove of knowledge, skills and abilities that can be easily transitioned into not only civilian jobs but also civilian careers. While earning college credit for their experiential learning is important, many of these transitioning warriors and family members possess technical knowledge and skills that can be more quickly articulated into certificates and third-party certifications that can speed the transition to civilian employment.

In collaboration with Fort Bragg Transition University, Fayetteville Technical Community College has created Transition Tech to identify the career fields and skills that can most likely benefit from a 10- to 12-week transition program. In collaboration with local and national industry leaders, FTCC will initially focus on military occupational specialties in the logistical, computer technology, health care and human resources fields to offer pathways to commonly recognized and accepted third-party certifications.

In addition to providing essential training in employability skills, the initial Transition Tech Transition Workshop will focus

on Computer Technologies, and in collaboration with CompTIA and CISCO, attendees will have the opportunity to earn three valuable certifications and interview with leading computer technology companies where these certifications are highly prized.

CompTIA and CISCO have agreed to provide scholarships to the first 20 students in each of the certification pathways.

Through best practices such as those highlighted in this article, Fayetteville Technical Community College is dedicated to serving the active, retired or transitioning military and their family members in our community and Fort Bragg units by providing access to academic degree, diploma and certificate programs as well as short-term skills development training to facilitate unit readiness, career enhancement, preparation for the workforce and personal growth. O Dr. David Brand is a retired Army officer and the senior vice president and chief academic officer for FTCC. Billy Buckner is a retired Army officer and the former associate vice president of military programs at FTCC.

For more information, contact MAE Editor Kelly Fodel at kellyf@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mae-kmi.com.

Americans eat 100 acres of pizza each day.

That’s 2,400 pizzas a minute. 350 slices a second.

Delicious. Learn even more at National University. Service members are eligible for reduced tuition. On base.

Online. Non-profit.

Don’t think you have time to learn something new?

You just did.

Keep learning at think.nu.edu © 2015 National University NU15_2234

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MAE 10.4 | 15

Credit Where Credit Is Due Earning college credits for military experience.

Learning occurs in all our lives, every day, in a variety of ways. However, the military truly exemplifies a model of a learning organization. From day one, servicemembers are engaged in activities from formal training, mentoring and on-the-job related experiences. The question is how all that learning in the military environment can be validated and documented as potential academic credit.

Through a DoD contract managed by the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Military Evaluations Program provides a collaborative link between the military and higher education. DANTES is an echelon 3 Navy Command based in Pensacola, Fla., and provides education services, resources and products to all of the armed services, including the Coast Guard.

The ACE military evaluation is a rigorous, hands-on process conducted by a team of teaching faculty from relevant academic disciplines, representing a diverse group of accredited colleges and universities. The team assesses and validates whether the courses or occupations have the appropriate breadth, depth, content, scope and rigor for an academic, postsecondary-level credit recommendation. Actual credit transferred is solely at the discretion of each individual college or university.

Under the scope of the contract, ACE is not providing consultative services to curriculum development to strategically align military education to postsecondary education. The faculty evaluation team is not casting judgment on the education and training; it’s imperative to honor and respect that the military is training and educating to meet their missions, not to college-level degree programs. To learn more about this process, visit the archived webinar, “Demystifying Military Evaluations,” available online at www.acenet.edu/events/Pages/DemystifyingMilitary-Evaluations.aspx.

Bridging the gap between professional military education and postsecondary 16 | MAE 10.4

education is not black and white. There are a number of stereotypes about professional military education and training that are hopefully dispelled through the ACE process. The investment by DoD offers a foundation for recognizing credit for military experience. The program has a number of key benefits. Consider the value to academic institutions, the military learner and the military training organizations: Academic Institutions • Enhances opportunities for new, highly motivated learners.

• Promotes consistency in the award of credit.

• Aligns certificate and degree programs.

• Translates military-specific language into academic terms on official transcripts.

Military Learners • Increases access to postsecondary education.

• Facilitates degree completion.

• Provides avenues to attain civilian jobs and professional credentials.

Military Training Organizations • Validates the quality of military training.

• Creates an alignment and consistency in documenting training across the services.

• Conserves Department of Defense tuition assistance funds.

The technical tools and resources to support colleges, universities, credentialing agencies and other stakeholders include the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services at www. acenet.edu/militaryguide (frequently referenced as the ACE Military Guide) and the Joint Services Transcript (JST), found at https://jst.doded.mil/.

The Military Guide on the ACE website, www.acenet.edu/militaryguide, presents the findings for more than 22,400 courses and

By Michele Spires

3,300 occupations that have been evaluated since 1954. There are a number of resources with frequently asked questions, sample exhibits, expanded search capabilities and updates on JST enhancements and modifications. The Military Guide updates every morning, so this data, owned by DoD, is current.

The JST is an academically accepted document that validates a servicemember’s occupational experience and formal military training along with the corresponding ACE credit recommendations. It is owned and issued by the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard. ACE supplies data that populate the JST and perform quality checks on the transcript, but ACE cannot make changes to this document; only the applicable service representatives are allowed to update information on the document. The benefits of JST include an increased return on investment, uniformity and centralization, and the alignment of service-specific information. On a side note, Air Force servicemembers can get transcripts from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).

There is a high-quality process in place to validate and document the learning that is occurring for the military, but institutions are also looking at how best to recognize military training to meet requirements in degree programs. College and University Partnerships, a program in ACE’s Center for Education Attainment and Innovation, works to advance greater awareness, acceptance and application of credit for prior learning as a key element for increasing postsecondary participation and completion. “Mapping Military Training and Occupations to Postsecondary Credentials” is a complimentary two-part webinar series being offered in June 2015.

Often, the servicemember or veteran does not have a clear understanding of their military transcript and basic information about transfer policies and issues. ACE’s web portal, A Transfer Guide: Understanding Your Military Transcript and ACE Credit www.MAE-kmi.com

Recommendations, is a resource to help the member more successfully navigate his or her way through the process of potential transfer credit for military training and experience. The tools on this website serve as a resource for understanding military credit recommendations, military transcripts, and transfer credit policies. The topics are presented in a straightforward, non-technical manner. This portal can be found at www.acenet.edu/news-room/ Pages/Transfer-Guide-UnderstandingYour-Military-Transcript-and-ACE-CreditRecommendations.aspx.

Another contract funded by DoD through a contract with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and managed by DANTES is the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC). Created in 1972 to provide educational opportunities to servicemembers who had difficulty completing college degrees, SOC functions in cooperation with DoD and Active and Reserve Components of the Military Services to expand and improve voluntary postsecondary education opportunities for servicemembers worldwide.

Clearly, DANTES is inextricably linked with credit for military training, but it also is committed to the success of service members. The DANTES mission is to support the off-duty, voluntary education programs of DoD and to conduct special projects and development activities in support of education-related DoD functions.

Services offered by DANTES include: • • • • • • • • •

•

College-level examinations College admission examinations GED testing and credentialing Online academic skills Guidance assessment Distance learning readiness assessment Evaluation of military courses for ACE recommended credit SOC schools offering degree programs and transfer of credit Ensuring education quality through the management of the DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (DoD VolEd MOU); the assessment of academic institutions providing offduty education programs; and public reporting of DoD voluntary education activity and outcomes Enabling access to education counseling, testing and degree

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programs to service members in forward-deployed areas • Counseling, credentialing and job placement assistance through Troops to Teachers • Education outreach and training through symposiums, the DANTES Information Bulletin, online videos and other social media As our servicemembers are transitioning to veteran status and academic institutions are looking for support, guidance and resources to better support this community, ACE’s Veterans’ Programs promotes access to and success in higher education for veterans and their families. As a result, an online resource, the Toolkit for Veteran Friendly Institutions, is designed to help institutions of higher education build effective programs for veteran students and share promising practices. This goes beyond the transfer and award of military credit and includes key components to veteran-specific orientations, student outreach efforts, faculty training, counseling, psychological services and beyond.

In summary, academic credit for military service is multifaceted and complex.

If it were simple, there would be no need for webinars, collaborations, contracts, conferences, trainings and special projects.

It is a strategic partnership predicated on team collaboration, communication and cooperation to build success. The bottom line is the success of the servicemember and veteran. O

“Stratford helped me transfer both my military and college credits!”

MONICA MOORE

Stratford Grad BS in Nursing

•

Ranked in the top 25 Best for Vets Four Year Colleges 2015

•

Ranked in the top 10 Best for Vets Business Schools 2015

•

Recognized as a Military Friendly School by GI Jobs 2015

Michele Spires

Michele Spires is the director of military programs for the American Council on Education.

For more information, contact MAE Editor Kelly Fodel at kellyf@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mae-kmi.com.

MAE 10.4 | 17

CLASS NOTES Grantham University Graduate and Navy Veteran Receives DEAC Award For the 32nd consecutive year, the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) has recognized the significant accomplishments of graduates who received their degrees through distance education. Robert Melton, Grantham University’s 2015 Outstanding DEAC Graduate, was among those honored in Chicago at the Drake Hotel on April 21, 2015.

After graduating from high school in 2000, Melton chose to enlist in the Navy, five months before the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

He spent the next eight years helping ensure America’s safety from foreign threats.

Melton earned three degrees from Grantham University: an Associate of Science in Computer Science in 2012; a Bachelor of Business Administration in Project Management in 2013; and a Master of Business Administration in Project Management in 2014.

Low-Impact Forestry for Veterans Certificate Sterling College in Vermont is now offering a low-impact forestry veterans’ certificate.

Low-impact forestry is an ecological approach to woodlot management. Sterling College is the leader in environmental stewardship education, and students look at the entire landscape of sustainable agriculture and lands management.

Veterans completing this program will learn how to use draft horses for a true mixed power model. The forested lands owned by Sterling College comprise roughly 393 acres.

All work in the forest is guided by a forest management plan, influenced strongly by the principles of silviculture and written by a forester.

This certificate requires four courses; the first two courses are each a week long, and the second two courses are over a weekend.

Additionally, the certificate also allows for job shadowing with professional loggers that can be scheduled around the student’s schedule.

For more information, visit www.sterlingcollege.edu/academics/forestry-forveterans-certificate/.

18 | MAE 10.4

“It’s an honor to be recognized by DEAC,” Melton said. “I choose to pursue my degree through distance education at Grantham University because of the flexibility and convenience that fit into my busy life. Grantham’s philosophy of Serving Those Who Serve was another important factor, having served in the Navy.”

Selection criteria for the award include a GPA of 3.5 or higher, evidence that the graduate has made significant contributions to society at his/her chosen profession, as well as an essay submission demonstrating the graduate’s application of knowledge and skills acquired in the online classroom to his/her career and community.

After graduation, Melton joined the Freemasons to give back to his community and get involved in politics, so he can achieve his ultimate goal of running for office.

Jacksonville University Offers Health Informatics Master’s Degree Responding to a changing health care industry that demands data expertise, Jacksonville University’s ( JU) colleges of Health Sciences and Business have collaborated to create the first health informatics master’s degree in the region to prepare graduates for the workforce with the most relevant skills to manage successfully.

“This is about bringing a business sensibility to health care needs,” said Dr. Christine Sapienza, dean of the College of Health Sciences.

With a Master of Science in Health Informatics, graduates will have the knowledge and skills for careers in health care management, systems development, clinical decision support, database administration and more, for work in hospitals, health systems, health plans, technology vendors and other organizations. The interdisciplinary degree provides graduates with skills in clinical, health care and information technology to improve patients’ well-being.

JU’s degree will be a hybrid of in-class and online coursework offered through the College of Health Sciences starting in fall 2015, after approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Fully online programming is planned for early September, with courses offered every eight weeks.

Many people seeking the degree are eligible candidates already employed in the field looking to sharpen their skills and boost their marketability. Although some background in the areas of information technology is desirable, it is not a requirement for admission to a Health Informatics master’s degree program. Applications for the first cohort of approximately 15 students are already being accepted, and entry into the program will be selective and competitive.

“This is a field for the inquisitive,” Sapienza said. “If you want to know about the ‘whats’ and the ‘hows’ behind innovation, then sorting data and using it intellectually to answer the right questions is often the key ingredient. How do we more quickly detect illness or know if a patient will become sicker or better depending on a disease or a treatment? Through speed of analysis and organization of data.”

Health Informatics is helping clinicians improve quality and delivery of services by heightening patient safety, reducing medication errors, revamping diagnostic and workflow processes, decreasing cost of care and boosting development of personalized medicine and nanomedicine, said newly appointed program director Dr. Patrick Casimir.

To learn more about the College of Health Sciences’ Health Informatics master’s degree, visit www.ju.edu/chs/AHS/. www.MAE-kmi.com

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

SBA Administrator Visits Syracuse University, IVMF Maria Contreras-Sweet, the 24th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and a member of President Obama’s Cabinet, traveled to Syracuse University to serve as the keynote speaker for the Whitman School’s annual WISE conference.

During her visit, Contreras-Sweet made a stop at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF), where she held a press conference to announce that the SBA’s Boots to Business program has now trained 25,000 transitioning servicemembers. For two years, Boots to Business—the entrepreneurship track of the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP)—has provided entrepreneurship and business planning training to members of America’s armed forces who are transitioning to civilian life, giving them the tools to start their own successful companies. The IVMF at Syracuse University operates portions of the Boots to Business program and employs three full-time staff to support the various operations of the program nationally and internationally.

During her press conference, Contreras-Sweet praised Syracuse University and the IVMF for its commitment to providing veterans and their families with small-business training and education through the numerous entrepreneurial programs offered in tandem with the SBA. She also referred to the SBA’s recent federal funding award to the Whitman School of Management to expand entrepreneurship outreach through the newly established Veterans Business Outreach Center at Syracuse University.

Contreras-Sweet convened a roundtable discussion with IVMF program managers, instructors and graduates to discuss their experiences and to ask how the SBA can improve the programs it offers to veterans.

Initiated as a pilot in 2012 and expanded nationally in 2013, Boots to Business utilizes SBA resource partners including the Veterans Business Outreach Centers, Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, SCORE and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University to deliver entrepreneurship education and training to transitioning servicemembers and their dependents who are exploring or pursuing small-business ownership and self-employment.

Manhattan College Offers New Major in Environmental Studies A new major in environmental studies will begin in fall of 2015 at Manhattan College. Complementing the college’s existing major in environmental science, the environmental studies major is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the complex interrelationship among the scientific, political, economic, ethical and cultural ideas that underlie environmental issues. The environmental studies program is designed as a major or minor for students within the School of Arts and as a minor or second major for students in other schools.

Geared toward science and non-science majors, the program serves to broaden students’ environmental education in ways that can help them prepare for future careers in the fields of environmental policy or education.

The program also offers students who plan to pursue careers in science or engineering a crucial background for understanding the social context in which their work occurs.

“Students who graduate with a degree in environmental studies will have a broad-based outlook on the environment that will include science, social science and the humanities,” explained Jeffrey Myers, Ph.D., director of the environmental studies program and professor of English. “Our students will develop a valuable interdisciplinary perspective that will lead to careers in environmental policy, advocacy, education and communication.”

Manhattan College students who have graduated with the existing environmental studies minor have received jobs with organizations such as Groundwork Hudson Valley and the Maryland Public Interest Research Group.

For more information on the environmental studies program, interested students should contact Jeffrey Myers at jeffrey.myers@manhattan.edu or at (718) 862-7252.

New Grantham University Program Addresses Upswing in Financial Planning Careers Grantham University’s Mark Skousen School of Business has added a Financial Planning Bachelor of Business Administration program to its offering of more than 40 online degrees and certificates. Employment of personal financial advisors is projected to grow 27 percent between 2010 and 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The program’s curriculum encompasses 15 finance-related business courses that

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cover how to analyze a client’s financial status and design a program in order to achieve their goals. Financial planners can specialize in tax planning, asset allocation, risk management and retirement and/or estate planning.

“The financial planning degree program is designed to provide professional education for financial objectives,” said Dr. Nicole Buckley, dean of Grantham University’s

Mark Skousen School of Business. “Courses have already been approved by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. Students that complete Grantham’s financial planning program will have the added benefit of meeting the education requirements for CFP Certification Examination administered by the CFP Board.”

All courses are offered in a 100-percent online format.

MAE 10.4 | 19

LIGHT OUR WAY — AND YOUR FUTURE

As a member of the military, you’ve trained hard, sacrificed, and led the way. Now it’s your time to shine. America will need at least 4 million college graduates by 2020.* Not everyone has the mindset and discipline for success—but you do. You’ve already handled your share of tough challenges.

Use that valuable training to forge a successful new path—one that sparks new opportunities for you and your family.

Bring out that spark inside you.

SHINE NOW. military.kaplan.edu *Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment Outlook 2010-2020: Occupational employment projections to 2020,” January 2012, on the Internet at www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2012/01/art5full.pdf. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.

Kaplan University cannot guarantee employment or career advancement. For comprehensive consumer information, visit www.kaplanuniversity.edu/student-consumer-information.aspx.

Marine Ed Leader

Q& A

Supporting Marines in Their Voluntary Education Endeavors B.J. Priest Marine Corps Voluntary Education Service Chief Career Services and Support Section Head Personal & Professional Branch Marine and Family Programs Division B.J. Priest is a native of Hermitage, Pa. After her career at a large financial institution headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, primarily as a senior manager in information technology, Priest earned her Master of Arts of Education in Adult Education (M.Ed) while employed at an East Carolina University partnership with AmeriCorps. Afterward, Priest worked as the Chief Operating Officer at World Services for the Blind, a vocational rehabilitation center for blind and visually impaired adults in Little Rock, Ark. After relocating to Quantico, Va., she began work with Headquarters, Marine Corps. Priest also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in organizational behavior from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh.

Priest is currently the Voluntary Education Service Chief for the Marine Corps and Section Head for Career Services and Support in the Personal & Professional Development Branch, Marine and Family Programs. She has served in this capacity since July 2012, after a year as a Management Analyst in the Program Assessment Branch.

Q: How did your background prepare you for your current role as the Marine Corps Voluntary Education Service Chief for the Personal & Professional Branch?

A: My work experience has allowed me to understand the value of an education and to see how it can immediately and positively impact the success of employees. As a student in my Master of Arts in education program for adult education, I learned principles of instruction, theories and applications that support adult, learner-centric education. Throughout the course of my career, I’ve had the opportunity to facilitate educational workshops and classroom training sessions that have provided a different perspective to the educational experience. At World Services for the Blind in Little Rock, Ark., I had the opportunity to oversee and evaluate the vocational training programs provided at the school and to implement changes to support the needs of this unique clientele.

Personally, I have been able to participate in higher education opportunities through multiple channels. I experienced the “traditional student” role as a full-time student living on campus while www.MAE-kmi.com

pursuing my associate’s degree. I became a “non-traditional student” when I began working full time and pursued my bachelor’s degree and MBA as a part-time student. Finally, I joined the online student population as a part-time student with a blended, but primarily online, experience for my M.Ed. Experiencing instruction through multiple delivery channels has afforded me the opportunity to understand some of the issues and opportunities Marines have while they participate in part-time education.

Q: What does your position entail as the Marine Corps Voluntary Education Service Chief? What are your priorities this year?

A: In addition to providing oversight of the Voluntary Education Program, I also advise Marine Corps leadership on voluntary education matters, and seek to ensure that the program provides personal and professional learning opportunities to the Marine Corps community. Additionally, I represent the Marine Corps as a member of the Interservice Voluntary Education Board (IVEB), which is chaired by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and includes participants from all services.

Priorities for the year include developing a plan to improve the “consumer awareness” of Marines when selecting a school to meet their individual pursuits. I also want to ensure that our policies are updated and support current standards in place, further define expected program outcomes and measurements in order to effectively measure program success, and improve our online presence with MAE 10.4 | 21

appropriate resource support for our installation service providers.

Also, a more refined needs assessment process is under development to ensure that we are matching education opportunities with the installation-specific needs of Marines.

Q: From your perspective, what are the most significant challenges facing Department of Defense (DoD) voluntary education today?

How is DoD poised to help?

A: I believe a challenge facing all of DoD voluntary education is ensuring that the right level of service is available at the right time for all servicemembers. With variations in service capabilities and resources, it’s difficult to provide identical support to all servicemembers. The regular interaction that the IVEB provides helps us all understand what is happening throughout the department and take advantage of lessons learned and best practices from other services.

Q: What voluntary education programs or policies inspire you the most?

A: One of the best programs we have available for Marines is the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP). Unfortunately, many Marines who could benefit from this program are not aware of the opportunity it offers. The USMAP was initiated in 1977 with the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, and was fully established in 1999. The program provides a tool to document skills acquired while on active duty in the Marine Corps, which lead to civilian recognitions and journeyman status in a trade or skill.

Of 300 enlisted Military Occupational Specialties, 257 are covered under USMAP trades/occupations employing apprenticeship. The USMAP is the largest apprenticeship program sponsor registered with the United States Department of Labor. The program not only encourages training that is compatible to civilian trades, but completion of the program enhances employment opportunities once separated. We are increasing our awareness of this program through an improved marketing plan using multiple channels to ensure that Marines are aware of the benefits it offers.

Q: What are some of your goals for the USMC voluntary education program? What trends do you see in military voluntary education?

A: We remain focused on providing access to opportunities for education services to assist Marines in achieving their personal goals. To that end, as we implement more interaction with our personal and professional development team throughout a Marine’s career, we want to ensure that Marines have the opportunity to meet with education counselors and have access to tools that help them explore educational opportunities that identify and support their goals.

It’s probably no surprise that online education continues to be the main venue of choice for military students due to the portability of military life. We continue to see a focus on degree programs that make the most of the training and on-the-job experience that military service provides, and that provide employment opportunities suitable for veterans. In some cases, that means a track towards a vocational career instead of the more traditional higher education path.

Q: Has the USMC Education Program supported any other new initiatives related to education that you would like to tell us about?

A: The Marine Corps recently introduced Marine Corps Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL). Marine Corps COOL (www.cool. navy.mil/usmc) is an official Marine Corps website that provides credentialing awareness and information across the entire Marine for Life Cycle, encompassing the spectrum of recruiting, retention and transition. Marine Corps COOL is, in fact, a completely new official Marine Corps website and approach to building awareness and knowledge about potential credentialing opportunities for our Marines and sailors. The 2014 National Defense Authorization Act charged the services to make credentialing information available to all members upon their initial training and at every stage of training in their military occupational specialties (MOSs). Marine Corps COOL is our venue for that resource. It is also an awareness capability for spouses and those potential employers seeking information about the occupational field experience and professional skills of transitioning Marines.

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Q: In your experience, what are some of the most difficult barriers military personnel need to overcome in order to pursue a degree?

What can military leaders do to help their members overcome these challenges?

A: While military leadership certainly supports voluntary education opportunities, I think it is fair to say that military missions remain the priority for precious resources in more fiscally constrained times. So, the very nature of mission-focused military life can sometimes impact a servicemember’s ability to successfully complete all of their voluntary education goals while on active duty. I believe if we continue to provide access to counseling support and a wide variety of educational opportunities, motivated servicemembers will find a way to meet their objectives.

Q: There have been concerns voiced in recent years about some schools that may not always deliver the experience and support military students expected. What advice would you offer to students in that regard?

A: I would encourage military students to use all the resources available to them to ensure that the school they select will meet their needs. Multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Education, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, offer a wealth of information and tools that can provide valuable input into a decision on which school to attend.

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As well, the education services staffs at our installations are there to help Marines navigate the process of selecting a program of study and a school.

Q: If you could change anything (or several things) about the current education landscape (for military and nonmilitary/civilian students), what would you choose to alter or improve?

A: I believe the increased attention and resources being applied to ensuring that our transitioning servicemembers are better prepared for civilian life will lead to better decisions made regarding schools and the use of educational benefits. This applies to both active duty studies as well as post-service. It is up to us to ensure that we do not lose this momentum.

Q: Do you have any closing thoughts you’d like to share with our readership?

A: Being at Headquarters, Marine Corps affords me the opportunity to help shape the direction of the Voluntary Education Program for the entire service. However, the education teams at the installations providing the direct services to the Marines are the heroes of the program. Their passionate dedication to helping Marines meet their personal education goals makes the program a success, and I appreciate their efforts immensely. O

MAE  10.4 | 23

Certificate programs offer flexible and specialized credentials to job seekers.

By Holly Christy MAE Correspondent

Until recently, it was assumed that before you launched into a career, you either went to a four-year college or you didn’t. Then, as your career advanced, you either earned your graduate degree or you didn’t. Associate degrees often appealed to people transitioning from one career to another or those who wanted to further their education without spending the time and money required for a bachelor’s degree. Certificate programs weren’t on many people’s radar at all, and were all too often pigeonholed as a resource mainly for those who weren’t cut out for a more academically rigorous program.

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But today, certificate programs are growing in popularity and appeal due to the highly specialized nature of the job market, the growing expense of higher education and the relatively short time it takes to complete the programs. They have become a tool to get job seekers in the door, to advance employees competing for promotions, and to further develop the niche skills of those working in highly specialized fields.

For some, a certificate is a great place to begin a career. According to the Center of Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University, “a postsecondary certificate adds almost $117,000 in lifetime earnings (measured in 2004 dollars) over a high school diploma or those with no other degrees.” A certificate can usually be earned in a year or less, as opposed to the two years it takes to earn an associate degree or the four years that a bachelor’s degree requires. While a certificate is not the same as a degree, and doesn’t carry the same weight, it is a smart and flexible option for people trying to get a foothold in the workplace, or those trying to further their careers while balancing work and family life.

Consider the strategic way Lieutenant Colonel John Jurgensen (USAF, Ret.) employed a certificate program in his career development. He explained, “As a young captain in the Air Force, I had the opportunity to pursue a certificate in organizational management from George Washington University. I enrolled because coursework would develop my leadership skills. I then had the opportunity to turn the four-course certificate into a full master’s degree, which I did. I used my tuition assistance benefit to help pay the costs. This turned out to be a great investment—I used the knowledge and skills developed during this program every day over the next 13 years of my career. And I will use it now that I’m retired and starting a second career in private industry.”

A report titled “Certificates Count” by Complete College America deems long-term certificate programs an “underutilized strategy” in meeting President Obama’s college-attainment goals, and “calls attention to the significant value of certificate programs—practical and often underutilized credentials that can provide graduates with an appealing combination of rapid

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a degree or certificate program. Learning Tracks are comprised of an orientation course about online learning and three academic courses in a related area of interest, including airport transportation security and entrepreneurship, among many others. For eligible students, some credits earned through AMU may also be recognized for promotion, assignment and position qualification standards within the military, federal government and private sector.

Earning a certificate can be uniquely strategic for servicemembers transitioning to civilian careers. “Earning a certificate is an attractive way for servicemembers to validate their experience gained from military service schools and on-the-job experience,” Aldrich said. “While there may be no substitute for experience gained on active duty itself, transitioning servicemembers typically require formal training to develop industryAmerican Military University standard skills and knowledge to help secure career opportunities and maximize their future advanceCompleting a certificate program sends a mesment potential.” sage to future employers that the student is careerAmerican Military University has significant focused, motivated to learn and goal-oriented. John support in place to help military students through Aldrich, associate vice president of military and their programs.

“Whether providing face-to-face community college outreach at American Military student support at military installations or virtuUniversity (AMU), said, “Our students understand ally, we have a team of dedicated professionals who that in today’s competitive workplace, earning a understand the military lifestyle,” said Aldrich. career-relevant certificate is one effective way to help “Course materials are provided at no charge to enhance their success in their chosen profession.” students earning undergraduate academic credit, AMU seeks to make it as attainable as possible John Aldrich with no impact on military tuition assistance. for its thousands of currently enrolled serviceTransfer credit evaluation and technology fees are member, veteran, guard, reserve, military depenAmerican Military waived for active duty, Guard and Reserve persondent and civilian students. According to Aldrich, University nel, with the technology fee waived for veterans “Our certificates, which cater to students seeking using VA benefits. Potential credit is also offered for military a shorter program focused on career development or knowledge education and courses including CCAF, JST, DANTES and of a specific discipline, range from 18 to 27 semester hours (typiACE-evaluated training.” cally six to nine courses). Credits from a certificate program may AMU offers a long list of certificate programs. The entire list be applied to an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree.” of offerings may be viewed online at www.amu.apus.edu/academic/ In addition, AMU offers Learning Tracks designed for stuprograms/certificates. dents to pursue a course of study without having to commit to postsecondary achievement and portable skills and knowledge.”

The report also “advocates for a national goal to double the number of long-term certificates produced within the next five years, and then double that number again over the subsequent five years.”

About certificate programs, the New York Times article “The Newest College Credential” said, “Short vocational programs leading to a certificate are becoming the kudzu of the educational world. There’s a program for virtually any skill, from interior design to [working as a] paralegal to managing records at a doctor’s office. Instead of investing in a master’s, professionals itching to move up the career ladder can earn certificates in marketing strategies, credit analysis or even journalism.”

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Park University

Park University offers a wide variety of certificate programs at both the graduate and undergraduate level, many of which appeal to servicemembers because of their prior experience. Additionally, DiPadova-Stocks mentioned that “servicemembers often display the requisite discipline and professionalism in their courses required to manage superbly any graduate certificate or degree program they choose.”

Graduate certificate programs offered within the school of Graduate and Professional Studies include:

“Graduate degrees and certificates are fast becoming what baccalaureate degrees were in the past,” said Laurie DiPadovaStocks, Ph.D., dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Park University. “People sense the need to upgrade their credentials to be ready for the next chapter of their careers. Park University’s graduate certificates are designed precisely to help people advance in their careers.”

• Business and Government Leadership.

DiPadova-Stocks explained that another reason Prepares students to navigate and lead across the people are increasingly choosing certificate probusiness and government sectors of society and grams is that it gives them an opportunity to try for professional leadership across out degree programs and fields of study to make these two major sectors of employment (and not sure they are a good fit. “A person might pursue only within one). a certificate to update their skills or to change • Creative and Life Writing. Students learn the careers—a Ph.D. in French literature, for instance, Laurie DiPadova-Stocks, Ph.D. methods and challenges of producing creative might wish to do some work in disaster and emerPark University prose of publishable quality. gency management and the certificate provides the • Disaster and Emergency Management. Students learn an entry for that work, and frankly as a testing ground to judge the array of policy issues and methods in dealing with natural desirability of pursuing a graduate degree. On the whole, master’s and man-made disasters. degrees at Park average 36 credit hours—12 courses (some more, • Finance. Students are assisted in achieving the chartered some fewer)—and certificates tend to be 12 credit hours (four financial analyst certification and/or obtaining a greater courses, some more, some fewer). So it is a way to try things out flexibility in training for future careers in finance. without a huge investment.”

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MAE 10.4 | 27

New Veterans’ Certificate Program Prepares Certifying Officials to Assist Vets As more military personnel transition to civilian life, the demand continues to grow in higher education and the workforce for qualified individuals to help these new veterans understand and receive the benefits they are entitled to receive.

Because of the labyrinth of federal programs, it is very difficult to find professionals with the knowledge and training required to ensure that veterans can best use the benefits they have earned.

This need for certified officials and others with the expertise and knowledge to work with veterans led to the creation of the Veterans’ Certificate Program at Mississippi State University (MSU), offered completely online.

Through the efforts of several departments at MSU, a fully accredited land-grant institution with a longstanding commitment to veterans, the program was designed to train individuals who currently work or want to work in the VA benefits arena to help veterans and their dependents transition to civilian life successfully.

“This certificate program helps to bring these individuals to a higher level of competency and skill within this profession to better serve our veterans,” said Colonel Ken McRae (Ret.), director of the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans at MSU. According to Dr. Linda Cornelious, a professor in the Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development (ISWD) and the veterans’ certificate coordinator, “The program is designed for employees of colleges and universities, corporations, government at all levels and any individual who is interested in serving veterans.”

Certifying officials who assist veterans with their educational benefits and other organizations that assist their employed veterans are not the only ones who can gain from attaining this certification.

McRae pointed out that “individuals working within the Department of Defense Voluntary Education system will benefit greatly from completing this program.”

To earn this certificate, students must complete five courses (15 credit hours). All courses are offered completely online, so students can take them from wherever they are in the world. During the course of their study, students learn about a variety of topics, including the history of veterans’ benefits, certifying veterans’ benefits, strategies for transitioning to civilian life and more. For example, in the Development of Veterans’ Benefits, Laws, and Policies

• Global Business. Students improve their knowledge of global business issues; this certificate also prepares students to sit for the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators certification.

• Health Services Management and Leadership. This certification helps students and practicing health care leaders enhance their professional skills to meet new health care policy and practice challenges.

• Leadership of International Healthcare Organizations.

Students learn the knowledge and skills related to the administrative and management aspects of international health.

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course, students examine the origins of and factors that shaped the current G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program and its implementation. The program also includes a management and procedures course that guides students in the development of professional leadership and communication skills.

Students have several options for enrolling in the Veterans’ Certificate Program. Depending on the student’s academic background, these courses can be taken at the undergraduate or graduate levels. Several students in the MSU online Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies are using the Veterans’ Certificate as a concentration area. Students may also pursue just this certificate without being admitted to a specific degree program. Regardless of how they elect to enroll in the program, students can be assured they will receive a quality education from a fully accredited university. The faculty members who teach in this program have “extensive expertise in veterans’ affairs, are veterans themselves and are committed to their welfare,” said ISWD professor and department head Dr. Connie Forde.

The Veterans’ Certificate Program began with five undergraduate and 11 graduate students. Currently, 31 students (17 undergraduate and 14 graduate) are enrolled in the spring 2015 semester.

Three students earned the certificate in the fall 2014 semester, and three will earn their certificate in the spring 2015 semester.

“The Veterans’ Certificate is designed to produce a more informed and able VA benefits workforce,” said McRae. “Any individual will benefit from learning about the culture, veterans’ transition issues, and the complexity of the VA educational benefits system.”

• Management Information Systems. Provides students with a foundation in the use of information systems, which support business processes and the strategic needs of organizations, as well as system analysis for redesign and enhancements.

• Nonprofit Leadership. Students gain the skills and knowledge base for the rewarding and challenging work in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.

• Artist Diploma in Music Performance. Prepares students for a concert/stage career (piano, viola, cello or violin) or a major appointment in the professional or academic arena.

• Homeland Security (launches in fall 2015). Students gain the necessary knowledge, criminal justice principles from www.MAE-kmi.com

a public policy perspective, and critical thinking skills to advance their careers.

Undergraduate certificate programs within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences include: • Terrorism and Homeland Security. This certificate provides students with a foundation for effective problem identification and solution management related to evolving terrorist threats and the protection of national interests.

• Computer Networking. This certificate program prepares students to sit for the Cisco Certified Network Associates (CCNA) exam.

• Thanatology. The certificate in thanatology at Park University is intended for those students whose professional or personal goals involve caring for individuals and families confronting death, dying and bereavement.

Arizona State University “A certificate is a great way to broaden your expertise and capitalize on industry best practices,” said Joel Dupuis, assistant director of executive education at Arizona State University. “If someone is not ready to commit the time and monetary investment to complete one of our master’s programs, or they want to round out their professional background outside a degree offering, the certificate provides another option.”

Joel Dupuis Arizona State University offers Arizona State University a supply chain management certificate and a business analytics certificate, both of which are

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delivered online and can be completed in fewer than six months. Students can elect to specialize their certificates as well.

The supply chain management certificate can be customized with a specialization in operation management, supply management or logistics management. The business analytics certificate can be specialized in data management or supply chain management.

Dupuis suggests that students who earn these certificates might find themselves on the career-track to land positions such as consultant, logistics analyst, material planner manager, operations analyst, procurement manager, purchasing specialist, supply chain business analyst, business analyst and operations manager.

Despite the quick duration of these certificate programs, Dupuis says the quality of education is top-notch. “Our programs are delivered by top-ranked departments within the W.P. Carey School of Business. Our department of supply chain management is ranked number 3 and our department of information systems is ranked number 12 by U.S. News & World Report. The certificates are taught by the same faculty who teach in our highly ranked Master of Science in business analytics, Master of Science in informational management and MBA programs.”

The programs at Arizona State University appeal to servicemembers and veteran students because they are offered completely online, and the coursework can be completed whenever and wherever it is most convenient for the student. Additionally, Dupuis said, “Our programs are non-credit, meaning G.I. Bill benefits cannot be applied to the cost of the program. However, we offer program discounts and application fee waivers to former and current members of the military.” O

For more information, contact MAE Editor Kelly Fodel at kellyf@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mae-kmi.com.

MAE 10.4 | 29

Climbing Your Career Mountain Gathering the right kit to land careers in high-demand

sectors that are also a good fit for you and the company.

The numbers are amazing. More than 40 million Americans have some attachment to the military. Twenty-one point eight million have served in uniform on active duty, and another 6 million in the National Guard or reserve. More than 1.1 million currently serve, and a million more will leave military service in the next several years.

The organizations that support them or are interested in their habits is seemingly endless, more than 44,000 by some counts. Their services are well intentioned but fragmented as everyone attempts to differentiate themselves in the global market. Some are experts in assisting employers, others in helping veterans, and still others focus purely on children and spouses. Many even focus on employment and trauma issue resolution at work; others provide only specific services like resume-building, job boards and interview help. A smaller subset operate outside the education system as guides to selecting the right educational path helping military

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By Jeffrey C. Horne

folks cut through the promotional hype to pick the right school for them.

All great news, right? Maybe not. This fragments our presence, our voice and our choices. Many of these organizations portray the veteran as a broken soul who needs assistance. While this may be true of extreme cases, most military, wounded or not, are exceptionally resilient. We are trained for handling adversity. We are a strong, willful culture that has the capacity to be transformative in business.

The sheer number of providers and lack of vetting often causes a “freeze effect” because it’s difficult to choose.

It sometimes convinces employers to be complacent. It can cause non-veterans to be jealous. Worst of all, it makes the individuals integrators in a process they do not understand. They must link one supplier to the next and the next and then listen to the first two talk poorly about the third. It creates frustration and often paralyzes decision-making. Even the VA and local/regional Department of Labor

support structures make them bounce all over the place to find solutions. In the end, some veterans can’t find the jobs they want, and employers may not find the veteran talent they need even when they have open positions. They are still passing each other but not connecting.

IVET Solutions In 2012, some folks got together around a beer table and agreed there had to be a better way. Why couldn’t we make the process easier on the military family?

After all, they are going through so much turmoil; why couldn’t we make this experience a better one for them? What would it take to build coalitions of integrated, vetted services?

Surely we could put together an inclusive, positive, respectful, approach that surveys the landscape of providers and brings the best of the best together. A place that links employers and military job seekers together and also provides

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targeted training on issues like relationships, PTS(D) and trauma resolution for military families. We also wanted to link employers that are having challenges with recruiting, retention and employee assistance programs at work.

We created the Institute for Veterans Education and Training as an educational non-profit enterprise. IVET’s goal is to help military members and their families, regardless of background, find career and life happiness. Its mission is to improve military recruiting and retention in education and business ventures to create winwins for industry and the men and women who have served this country valiantly. Our diverse team has served in fields such as the military, technology, software development, civil service, education, psychology, theology and counseling.

The key tasks: Pathway Planning. Experience a personal and organizational process that goes far beyond MOS translator tools and actually helps you select the right career, job titles and business experience that best matches skills, experiences, attributes, workplace preferences, education and dreams.

Relationships. Help veterans learn about themselves, what makes them tick, how to deal with their emotions and how to build better relationships at work and at home.

Culture. Provide better mutual understanding of cultural impact of the military and civilian workplace, customs, tools, and shared corporate values.

Education. Find the right certifications and/or education that put the troops and family members into the hunt to achieve the job they want, regardless of their past experience.

Immediacy. Improve the ability to learn skills, and their existing attributes to win positions right now and get connected to each other.

Commitment and Confidence. We find that it is easy to commit if you explain expectations. Specifically, people thrive when they see what’s in it for them, think they can do it, and see that there is someone to help them.

Most everyone we talked to said it would be impossible. The reasons were endless. But we were former soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines and experienced business leaders. We saw it as another www.MAE-kmi.com

mission—a challenge that could be overcome. This became our purpose.

Evelyn Santiago is an experienced military spouse with 23 years of experience as the wife of an Army colonel. “The IVET team has transformed us and our friends as well,” she said. “We are confident, happy and the outlook for our future and employment opportunities is so much brighter. They not only help us find careers, they also assist us in achieving a balanced approach to building our lives, careers and families.”

The process and tools work. The special sauce is personal investment, coaching and a coalition of service providers operating as one. Today, we have reached more than 10,000 troops and family members and put 70 percent of our graduates into jobs; our tools have reduced their stress, depression and anxiety while also showing vast improvements in their confidence and commitment to find the right job, at the right location, when they are ready to go. We also see great improvements in reducing anxiety, depression and other social challenges induced by a lack of certainty. In short, we help people find their purpose and create a viable path that they believe in.

The Right Fit for You Every community can do this. Every business can do this. Every individual can do this.

We start by taking stock of ourselves.

What are our wants, hopes, dreams? Then we write those down and set them aside.

Next, we administer an independent series of assessments that consider experiences, skills, attributes, workforce/workplace preferences and what we value. These two or three assessments give us a good bit about ourselves and what we want to accomplish.

It tells us what we are hardwired to do well in at that moment in time. Most importantly, it inspires confidence because it shows you scientifically, with data, what you are capable of today.

While there are many assessment tools, few are of value. Most just give you a pointer but are imprecise. IVET seeks to give specifics of what veterans need to work on, and gives specific direction on 5 to 10 of the 800-plus job/career titles/industries you can truly succeed in if you get the opportunity.

This process exists for corporate applications as well. The tools and process is similar, the outcomes just as profound. It is perfect for small to mid-size companies

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experiencing change, re-evaluating their direction or desiring new personnel types.

The next step is to compare that to your dream sheet and see what intersects, then begin to research the career fields and what certifications you need to win a job in that field. It may be entry or lower mid-level to start, but you get in. Once there, you can learn and can use your cultural training to fit in faster, and start the career climb more quickly with fewer false starts.

This is huge because the number of folks that lose/change jobs in the first and second year is staggering. A recent Monster. com survey indicated 58 percent of people lose or change jobs in the first year, 67 percent by the second. This is expensive for you and for the company. Each has to start over.

Each experiences disruption and lower productivity while they start the search again.

Don’t let that happen to you. Take the time to make sure you are in the right field, with a company that shares your values, and that you’re living where your family can grow in a lower cost-of-living area. It will make all the difference.

High-Demand Careers So, now it’s crunch time. IVET always recommends choosing a place that needs more of a technological base, where business is taking off and employees are beginning to retire in large numbers. The military gave you plenty of experience with technology; now put it to work for you. Choose a high-demand career.

You can’t effectively pursue 10 different directions/types of jobs at once. You must choose, make a commitment, and believe.

You have to target your resume, your education and your research to the companies of that field, and show a real interest by your educational choices. Don’t show your lack of understanding by going into an industry or an interview cold. Learn about it first.

You must target your search and education as well as to show that you understand the business area you are searching in.

Prove that you know the landscape, have done your homework and are taking pragmatic steps to move into the career fields where people like you are needed—highdemand career fields. Take a few courses and certifications in the field. Relate what you have done to that same type of work. Show the parallels. It just takes some thought and a little coaching.

32 | MAE 10.4

Liberty University hosted IVET for a five-day career and life skills training course for veterans in 2014. In all, 30 guests traveled from across Virginia and from other states, including Tennessee and Texas, to attend. [Image courtesy of Liberty University]

High-demand careers match several key criteria that many others do not. Most importantly, high-demand fields’ hiring trends are stable and growing fast through 2020 and beyond. Additionally, they typically have many short-term certification paths, offer health benefits and have a predictable work cycles that add to quality of life.

Manufacturing is a great example. In recent decades, many parents encouraged their children to go to get a four-year degree instead of going into manufacturing. Today, that is changing. Brett Vassey, president and CEO of the Virginia Manufacturing Association, says that the manufacturing sector has recognized this growing wave of shortages since 2007. It’s just getting bigger. Now we are seeing huge trends in advanced manufacturing. Wages often top six figures, even without a college degree. “In Virginia alone, there is a jobs/skills gap of over 11,000 people a year,” Vassey said. “And today, 96 percent of manufacturers want people with manufacturing technician level 1 skills.”

tools and training they need to transition smoothly into the civilian workforce.”

That’s why IVET is starting a movement to galvanize the 40 million Americans who have some connection to our military who also want to build a better life. We are creating a virtual and physical place supported by caring companies and individuals. This is where military and former military families, parents, friends, family, the community and industry can interact. A place where they can experience life in a positive respectful way, enjoy sports, research careers, solve problems, listen to music and select educational opportunities—all in the comfort of one site: their living room. O

The Future “Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces are some of the most disciplined, welltrained and hard-working men and women in our nation, so you’d think they’d jump to the front of the line when it comes to employment prospects,” said David Walker, president & CEO of the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes. “And yet, we know all too well that it doesn’t always work that way. That’s why we’ve invested in excellent programs that arm veterans with the skills,

Brigadier General (Ret.) Jeffrey Horne

Brigadier General (Ret.) Jeffrey Horne has dedicated his professional life to growing our nation’s next set of business and military leaders. For more information about IVET, visit http://ivetsolutions.org/.

For more information, contact MAE Editor Kelly Fodel at kellyf@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mae-kmi.com.

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Best Practices in College Affordability In my role on the CCME Board and as community college executive dean, the subject of “college affordability” is high on my list of burning issues, and I welcomed the opportunity to facilitate a roundtable to address this topic. I was joined by a dynamic panel of experts comprised of Dr. Kara Van Dam, vice provost, Learner and Faculty Experience, University of Maryland University College; Michele Spires, director of military programs, American Council on Education; Dr. Marshall Thomas, director of veterans services, CSULB; and Taheesha Quarells, education programs project manager, DANTES. Discussion included views and information addressing several areas, including President Obama’s free community college initiative, which several agreed would reduce the cost to the student, but may not address low student completion rates or the impact on declining state college and university budgets. In regard to the cost of higher education, estimations were not only about average costs being wide-ranging in figures, but also about what is included in “the cost” of education.

Discussion then focused on practices that have been implemented to help make college more affordable. Dr. Van Dam spoke of UMUC’s aggressive approach to addressing the high cost of textbooks through its open resource initiative. UMUC is committed to a no-cost model for students, embedding carefully curated, high-quality open educational resources throughout their courses.

Ms. Quarells addressed the importance of college readiness. Students who are underprepared risk spending tuition dollars for college preparation courses, driving the cost of their degree upward. She stressed the importance of college support personnel, and students themselves, possessing a good understanding of the free resources available to military students. She provided information about college-readiness resources found on the DANTES website, along with information about testing programs for college credit that can shorten the time to degree completion.

It was suggested that school officials not only keep abreast of resources available, such as those provided through DANTES, but also share their knowledge to increase awareness among school personnel and students. Many session attendees agreed that educational briefings are less frequent due to the downsizing of education center staff, and that this is having a direct impact on active duty military seeking quality information to make informed choices. More virtual events and use of social media can help, but networking and collaboration will increase awareness.

Dr. Thomas stressed the importance of understanding funding regulations, policies and resources specific to servicemembers, veterans and their families. He provided some specific examples as how lack of knowledge (of the student and of the support staff) can result in very costly consequences.

Michelle Spires provided an overview about the American Council on Education programs and resources and the opportunity

by

Joycelyn Groot

for military students to leverage their military training and experience toward a degree, which may result in significant cost savings.

Seamless pathways toward degree completion and bridging the gap between community colleges and universities were discussed at length. One program discussed was Coastline’s Learning 1st Program whereby students can apply free for admission to both Coastline and a four-year university partner, have access to shared resources and map out their financial obligations based on mutually approved degree requirements and fixed tuition rates. O

Jeff Cropsey

Note from Jeffrey Cropsey, CCME President: CCME thanks Joycelyn Groot, Coastline Community College, Executive Dean of Military Education, Corporate Training and Business Development, for her synopsis of the CCME Roundtable on Best Practices in College Affordability. More information about the session outcomes will be available soon at CCMEonline.org.

Professional Development Symposium

OPENING DOORs. Advancing Lives.

A military member's pathway to education and career success

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San Antonio, TX February 15-18, 2016 For membership, scholarship, exhibition and sponsorship opportunities, please visit us at:

www.ccmeonline.org

MAE 10.4 | 33

MONEY TALKS

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

Scholarship Winners The Pillars of Strength honored two scholarship recipients at a luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, April 25. Each received full scholarships to attend University of Maryland University College (UMUC) as part of the Pillars of Strength Scholarship Program, which was established exclusively to support volunteer caregivers of injured servicemembers.

The Pillars of Strength Scholarship program is supported and managed by The Blewitt Foundation and the Yellow Ribbon Fund in association with UMUC. Vanessa Englehardt is planning to earn a bachelor’s degree in gerontology and aging services, while Michelle Yi, a nurse, is planning to study in the RN to BSN program for Registered Nurses in order to earn a bachelor of science in nursing.

Englehardt’s husband, Eric, was a Green Beret whose armored vehicle was blown up by a roadside bomb. Three soldiers and an interpreter were killed. Eric survived but suffered a shattered right leg, broken left leg, broken tailbone, a broken back and burns.

Yi’s husband, Chi, was deployed with the U.S. Army during the early part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and 2005. He suffered combat injuries and, after returning to the United States, was diagnosed with severe PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Following his medical retirement from the military, he suffered a heart attack in 2013 at age 37.

Both scholarship recipients put their lives on hold to care for their loved ones. Since neither was yet married at the time of their significant other’s medical leaves from the military, they did not qualify for any spousal benefits.

The keynote speaker at the luncheon was Kimberly Dozier, who was seriously wounded herself while covering the war in Iraq for CBS News.

New Tuition Assistance Tool Attuned to Troops’ Educational Needs The Defense Department continues to invest in its servicemembers and has introduced a new online informational tool tailored to their unique school programs and educational needs, the Defense Department’s chief of voluntary education, Dawn Bilodeau, said in a DoD news interview.

“Tuition Assistance DECIDE, or TA DECIDE, as we like to call it,” she said, “is a tool tailored to the unique needs of our servicemembers.” It’s designed to support their decision-making in areas such as selecting schools or choosing programs to enroll in, she explained. It came online April 17.

“Our military students tend to be parttime students—they’re not going to school full time,” Bilodeau said, “and Tuition Assistance DECIDE is really designed to enable them to search through schools that servicemembers just like them are

34 | MAE 10.4

attending.” TA DECIDE can provide information on everything from completion rates to cost or graduation rates from a particular school, she said.

“The benefit of using this particular tool is that you know that the schools that are in there are trustworthy, because we vetted them,” she said. “They’ve signed an agreement with Department of Defense that they’re going to adhere to certain principles of excellence.”

TA DECIDE is accessible at http://www. dodmou.com, the website for the memorandum of understanding that participating education institutions sign.

Bilodeau described TA DECIDE as an informative tool for comparing more than 2,600 schools that are eligible for tuition assistance benefits.

“It allows servicemembers to search by a whole host of parameters,” she said. For

example, servicemembers interested in an associate degree or in a certain program such as accounting or cybersecurity can search by those filters and come up with schools that meet the criteria they see as important.

TA DECIDE is tailored for the unique needs of DoD students. Though the GI Bill Comparison Tool includes 33,000 education and training providers, Bilodeau said, all of those schools have not agreed to the Defense Department’s terms, as the schools in TA DECIDE have.

“We definitely want to hear feedback from all servicemembers, as well as counselors or even our school partners that are in the field and other federal interagency partners,” she said. “We do have some planned enhancements to make it better, but we’re always willing to hear some new thoughts as well.”

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The advertisers index is provided as a service to our readers. KMI cannot be held responsible for discrepancies due to last-minute changes or alterations.

MAE RESOURCE CENTER Advertisers Index Northern Virginia Community College . . . . . . . . . . . 10 www.nvcc.edu/mos Nova Southeastern University . . 26 www.nova.edu/aviation South University . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 www.suprograms.info Stratford University . . . . . . . . . . 17 www.stratford.edu/vets Thomas Edison State College . . 27 http://military.tesc.edu Troy University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4 www.troy.edu/workingwarrior University of Kentucky College of Nursing . . . . . . . . . . . . C2 http://academics.uky.edu/ ukcon/pub/academicprograms/ undergraduate/pages/medvet-tobsn.aspx University of Nebraska . . . . . . . . 31 www.online.nebraska/edu/mae University of the Incarnate Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 www.military.uiw.edu

Baker College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3 www.bakercollegeonline.com College Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 www.collegeboard.org/clep Eangus Conference & Expo . . . . 23 www.eangus.org EPCI University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 www.ecpi.edu Fayetteville Technical Community College . . . . . . . . . . . 14 www.faytechcc.edu/fort_bragg Florida Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 www.fltrade.org Frontier Nursing University . . . . 9 www.frontier.edu/military Grantham University . . . . . . . . . 22 www.grantham.edu Kansas State University . . . . . . . 25 www.global.k-state.edu/military Kaplan University . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 www.military.kaplan.edu National University . . . . . . . . . . . 15 http://think.nu.edu

Florida Manufacturers Are Hiring!

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Go to fltrade.org This message was funded in whole by a $15M TAACCCT awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.

The MBA Issue June 2015 Volume 10, Issue 5

Journal of Higher Learning for Today’s Servicemember

New Name and Focus!

MAE becomes Military Advanced Education & Transition

Featuring Transition Trends… a new pullout supplement in every issue!

Cover and In-Depth Interview with

C. Eddy Mentzer

Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Military Community and Family Policy Special Section:

Online MBA Degrees Traditional MBAs MAE Advisory Board

Special Section: In-State Tuition for Veterans

Insertion Order Deadline: May 29, 2015 www.MAE-kmi.com

|

Transition Trends: Veteran Entrepreneurs

Ad Materials Deadline: June 5, 2015 MAE 10.4 | 35

UNIVERSITY CORNER

Military Advanced Education

Michael R. Cunningham, Ph.D. President National University

Q: Please provide a brief overview of your school’s history, mission and curriculum.

A: National University’s mission since its founding in 1971 has been to meet the needs of working adults seeking a quality education, and that includes a long-standing tradition serving our military and transitioning military population. In fact, our founder Dr. David Chigos was a Navy retiree who worked for General Dynamics. Our oneclass-per month format is particularly suited for the deployment cycles of military personnel. In addition to offering classes online, we also have 27 campuses in California, including locations at nine military bases, and one campus in Henderson, Nev. Other on-site military locations are in Hawaii, Texas and Virginia. The university has grown to 30,000 students and has more than 140,000 alumni around the world. National University is now the second largest private, nonprofit university in California, and about 25 percent of our students are active-duty military or veterans.

Q: What is your school’s background in military education?

A: Our founding roots are in San Diego, which is one of the largest military cities in the United States, so we have a strong tradition of working closely with the military community. The county is the third-largest in the U.S. in terms of veteran residents, and the number one destination for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Many start taking classes with us on military bases where we offer programs. This fits with our mission of making education accessible to 36 | MAE 10.4

all our students by going to where they are—online or at our many campus locations. We are consistently recognized as a Top Military Friendly College, and serving military students is part of our tradition.

Q: What are some of your most popular programs, and which ones are the most appealing to military students?

A: National University now offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs, and the vast majority are also available online. We find that many of our military students find our business school programs a natural fit since they are interested in applying their leadership skills to other settings. We offer a strong tradition in teacher education programs, and for candidates involved in Troops to Teachers, National University offers the Professional Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential program at the Naval Base San Diego Learning Center. We also find many military students interested in degrees we offer such as Criminal Justice, Forensic Sciences, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and Cyber Security. In fact, National University is recognized by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance for its cybersecurity program, which can also be taken online.

Q: What makes your school unique in the benefits and programs you offer to military servicemembers?

A: We are constantly identifying new ways to meet the needs of our transitioning

military population. We have given over a million dollars in scholarships to our military population, and we are committed to their long-term success.

Through our Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success, we provide a multipronged approach to ensuring they can access important services, transition to campus life and complete their educational goals. We understand that transitioning to a university setting isn’t always easy, and so through the Center we established a peer-to-peer academic mentoring program to provide academic and retention support. It has been highly successful in increasing the numbers of students who have successfully exited academic probation. In fact, it has worked so well that we have recently expanded the program to non-military students.

We also recognized an urgent need for more trained nursing professionals, so we created a veteran-focused nursing program that incorporates recognition of the professional skills our corpsmen and military medics have achieved while in service. The Accelerated Track for Vets to BSN (V2BSN) Project, funded through a $1.05 million federal grant, provides an accelerated experience for veterans, based on evaluation of candidates for advanced placement to our current nursing program. It also offers a full suite of academic support and retention services. These are just a few examples of the unique programs and benefits we provide military servicemembers. We are grateful for all they have done for our country, and believe strongly in our role as educators to provide a quality education that helps them achieve their professional goals. O www.MAE-kmi.com

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM UT2 NICHOLAS WALDO. USE OF MILITARY IMAGERY DOES NOT IMPLY OR CONSTITUTE DOD ENDORSEMENT.

WE CAN HELP PREPARE YOUR SERVICEMEMBERS

Whether the plan is to continue in the military or transition to civilian life, Baker can help your military personnel receive an online degree from anywhere in the world.

To help your servicemembers see how online classes work, watch our multimedia demo at bakercollegeonline.com/demo.

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Baker College strongly believes in the Principles of Excellence as outlined in Executive Order 13607 by being a participant of the Degree Network System (DNS), DANTES, GoArmyEd, and CCAF’s AU-ABC Program. The college is a proud signer of the DOD MOU and is eligible to receive Federal military and Veteran education benefits.

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An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Institution. Baker College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission / 230 South LaSalle St., Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1411 / 800-621-7440 / www.ncahlc.org. Baker Center for Graduate Studies’ MBA program is also accredited by the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our Web site at www.baker.edu/gainfulemployment.

BEST

Krystal C., Alumnus Trauma Nurse. Mom.

ONLINE PROGRAMS VETERANS BACHELOR’S

2014

M Y WAR R I OR

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TROY can help you succeed in nursing. Get the personal attention and education you need to excel in healthcare. Whether you’re pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, our accredited, public university has options to fit your career needs and busy schedule. Study abroad and scholarship opportunities are also available. Do what you love, and be great at it. That’s the warrior spirit, and it’s alive and well at Troy University.

Undergraduate: RN-Bachelor of Science in Nursing

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Feel it at troy.edu/workingwarrior or call 1-800-586-9771. © 2015 Troy University

Get a free transfer equivalency report of your credits within 48 hours. troy.edu/freein48