The MBA Issue Education and Career Transition Guide for Servicemembers and Veterans
Special Section: IN-STATE TUITION FOR VETERANS
Military Spouse Support Eddy Mentzer SECO Program Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Military Community and Family Policy
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June 2015
Volume 10, Issue 5
Transition Trends: Corporate Connection: DynCorp International Kwan Reid Director of Global Staffing at WRSS • Veteran Entrepreneurs • Making the Transition with SVA
Online MBAs O Traditional MBAs O Adaptive Learning MAE&T Advisory Board
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MILITARY ADVANCED EDUCATION & Transition Features
Cover / Q&A new MAE&T Supplement
Transition Trends
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If you’re going to transition to a new career, why not be your own boss? The Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University explains what veterans need to know and how IVMF programs can help. By Mirza Tihic
There is still much to do to ensure that servicemembers and their families make a smooth transition from the military to the civilian sector and that they are receiving the support and education they need to succeed in the 21st-century economy. By D. Wayne Robinson
Veteran Entrepreneurs
Corporate Connection DynCorp International Kwan Reid Director of Global Staffing
Making the Transition
Special Section: The Veterans Choice Act Section 702 of the new Veterans’ Choice Act requires states to charge in-state tuition to veterans in order to remain approved for VA’s GI Bill programs. But not everyone is covered, and there’s some fine print. Get all the details to find out if you qualify for the tuition break.
Refining and Redefining We have established an MAE&T Advisory Board for our annual Guide to Colleges and Universities. Now in our ninth year of publishing the Guide, MAE&T utilized the expertise of leaders in the VolEd community to comprise this advisory board and assist in refining the survey we use to score institutions on their best practices in military and veteran education.
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June 2015 Volume 10, Issue 5
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Transferring Leadership Skills to the Business World When you consider getting an MBA, you might be concerned about the time commitment and the demands of making it to campus for classes. These concerns are especially valid for servicemembers who are juggling work demands and potential relocation. Online MBA programs offer their students the convenience of being able to take classes any time, anywhere. By Kasey Chisholm
Departments
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It’s a natural fit for military veterans to go into business or MBA programs. It builds on their previous experience dealing with strategy, operations and tactics. MAE&T explores some of the traditional MBA offerings for veterans looking to attend B-school. By Holly Christy
Adaptive learning technology respects a student’s time and allows instructors to easily determine what their students know and what their students need to improve upon. This helps students achieve at a faster pace. By Connie Johnson, Ed.D.
On-Campus MBAs
A Personalized Approach
University Corner
2 Editor’s Perspective 12 Class Notes 22 CCME GRAPEVINE 23 RESOURCE CENTER
Mark Dreyfus President ECPI University
Program Manager Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) Program Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Military Community and Family Policy
“Every time I make a decision, I try and visualize myself as a young spouse who just received the ID card this week after getting married over the weekend and the spouse whose servicemember is getting ready to retire after 35 years of service.” –Eddy Mentzer
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Military Advanced Education & Transition Volume 10, Issue 5 • June 2015
Education and Career Transition Guide for Servicemembers and Veterans 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 Perhaps you’ve noticed something a little different about this issue of Military Advanced Education? I’ll give you a hint … that’s not our name anymore. Starting in this issue, the magazine introduces its new name and focus: Military Advanced Education & Transition. What’s different? We’ve added an entirely new section to the magazine. Transition Trends is a recurring supplement within the journal devoted entirely to a veteran or servicemember’s transitional needs, including job fair information, resume assistance, interview coaching and ways to idenKelly G. Fodel tify military-supportive hirers. Editor We made this change during our 10th anniversary of publishing MAE (I mean, MAE&T) because it was frankly long overdue. Our team believes that obtaining a degree is just one part of the transition to civilian career success. The next step is actually landing the job and enjoying financial success in a supportive environment. We want Transition Trends to tell military students what they need to know, when they need to start preparing and where can they find the information they need amidst the piles of information they need to sift through. The June section of Transition Trends includes a feature article on veterans taking advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities to become their own bosses, a corporate profile of DynCorp International, and Making the Transition, a column featuring advice from MAE&T’s partner, Student Veterans of America. Keeping with the jobs and career focus, our cover interviewee is Eddy Mentzer, the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program manager within DoD. We can’t talk career transitions without also focusing on the employment challenges that military spouses face, and Mentzer provides an excellent overview of the many services SECO provides. I learned a lot from him, and I hope you find the information valuable, too. As we move forward, continuing our focus on higher education for servicemembers/veterans and expanding our focus to the resultant careers they achieve, we welcome your input and submissions. In my tenure as editor, I’m most proud of the relationships and partnerships we have developed across the education and government spheres. Please reach out to me at kellyf@kmimediagroup.com with ideas about what you would like to see in Military Advanced Education & Transition. Oh, and one last housekeeping note! You’ll see on page 3 a feature on our MAE&T Advisory Board. These folks have greatly assisted us in developing our annual survey to evaluate best practices in voluntary education and select our 2016 Top Colleges and Universities. That survey goes live in June, so make sure you don’t miss your chance to participate.
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Entrepreneurs and veterans: a perfect match. Learn more on page 2 of our new Transition Trends section. [Photo courtesy of Syracuse University]
Meet the advisory board established by MAE&T to improve our annual survey.
Louis Martini Associate Vice President Office of Military and Veteran Education Thomas Edison State College
In June, the survey goes live to evaluate schools for the 2016 Guide to Colleges & Universities. Now in our ninth year of publishing the Guide, Military Advanced Education & Transition has worked closely with a newly established advisory board of educational and government leaders to assist us in making this our most comprehensive survey to date. They evaluated the drafts of the questionnaire, made pages of notes and suggestions and helped to redefine questions for clarity. Some of the board members could not be formally named in this article due to their highlevel government positions. Those who were ready for a moment in the spotlight appear here, and we thank them all for their assistance and valuable contributions to the 2016 Guide. www.MAE-kmi.com
“Statistics show that servicemembers will attend several institutions and spend a longer than average period of time obtaining their degree. That is easy to understand, as the pressures of deployments, duty and life are so great on the military family. Prospective students should use guides like this to really research the colleges available to them. Choosing a college that grants credit for military experience, has flexible scheduling and enrollment dates, demonstrates good retention and completion rates and has programs for active duty servicemembers, veterans and spouses is the first step in creating a success scenario. This guide provides students the information they need to make informed decisions about their future.”
M. Wayne Converse Coordinator of Military Programs Upper Iowa University “I was honored to be asked to join the MAE&T Advisory Board and assist with this year’s survey. I believe the MAE&T survey and others like it truly help identify those institutions that are serious about ensuring our military students, family members and veterans are successful in their college pursuits. Being ‘military supportive’ is more than a saying; it is a culture, whether on campus, at off-campus locations or through distance education.”
MAE&T 10.5 | 3
Online MBA University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Michael Dakduk Vice President of Military and Veterans Affairs Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU) “I am a firm believer in transparency. Filling out the Military Advanced Education & Transition survey reveals to prospective student veterans and servicemembers what institutions are doing to support the military community.”
John P. Aldrich AVP, Military & Community College Outreach American Military University “I am happy to serve on the Military Advanced Education & Transition advisory board. The MAE&T magazine provides a valuable opportunity for servicemembers, veterans and family members to stay abreast of topics and issues in voluntary education.”
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Susan Dewan AVP, Center for Military Education Excelsior College “I am honored to be a part of the advisory board for MAE&T to provide feedback on their annual Guide to Colleges & Universities. This survey and its published results are a valuable tool for military students, veterans and their family members to make informed choices as they pursue their educational goals.”
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Shawn A. Mann Director of Military Enrollment Management Thomas Edison State College “While I do believe that most colleges earnestly desire to do the absolute best for our nation’s active military and veterans, I think many just need some guidance on best practices. The MAE&T survey can serve as a model of best practices. It is meticulously thought out and free of excessive advertising, and attempts to establish a benchmark of best practices. With a new high-profile survey and guide launched every year, MAE&T should be applauded for maintaining and annually updating one of the original, if not the first, surveys of its kind. I know it is a go-to guide for our servicemembers, veterans and education offices around the world.”
4 | MAE&T 10.5
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Jan Del Signore Associate Vice Chancellor of Military Affairs Keiser University “I think it’s important for Military Advanced Education & Transition to partner with higher education military professionals when reviewing criteria for a militarysupportive institution. Tapping resources out there in the school trenches assures a cutting-edge and up-to-date global view.”
D. Wayne Robinson President and Chief Executive Officer Student Veterans of America “I am pleased to be a part of the MAE&T advisory board, a reputable publication with a track record of providing critical information and resources for our nations’ servicemembers. I believe that lifting the voices of student veterans is critical, and the work which Military Advanced Education & Transition has done and the data which they have generated through the MAE&T survey in particular gives prospective student veterans the necessary information to make informed college choices.”
Kurt Johnson Director of Military Strategy and Relations Colorado Technical University “Military Advanced Education & Transition, and its annual survey, are highly respected in the military community. I am flattered and honored to serve on the MAE&T advisory board.”
Jeff Cropsey Council of College and Military Educators President Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Grantham University “I was very fortunate to serve over 38 years in the Department of Defense Voluntary Education program working as a counselor, ESO, Command and Service director for the Air Force and Navy and finally as the director of DANTES. During those years, I realized how important it was to be able to provide accurate information to servicemembers regarding specific colleges and universities. The Military Advanced Education & Transition annual guide goes a long way in this effort and I am proud to serve on the MAE&T advisory board.” O
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MAE&T 10.5 | 5
Online MBA degree programs for veterans and servicemembers. By Kasey Chisholm, MAE&T Correspondent There is perhaps no experience one can have that can instill a greater sense of work ethic and leadership than service in the U.S. military. Following a military career, servicemen and women can take these skills and apply them effectively to other career paths. Tonya Parker, the military and veteran’s affairs coordinator at the Florida Institute of Technology, believes that earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is one such path that veterans can transition to and meet with great success. “Simply stated,” Parker explained, “military service instills the importance of accountability, leadership, integrity, sense of mission, critical thinking, teamwork, discipline and grace under pressure. Those values and attributes are critical to success in an increasingly complex and competitive marketplace.” Many schools are now offering online MBA programs, which are particularly beneficial for current and former military members. Eric Goodman, national director of the College of Business at Western Governors University, recognizes that the development of online programs has done much to allow students to access education that they might otherwise be unable to take advantage of. Online programs “offer flexibility for busy students,” Goodman stated. “Students are able to earn a degree on their own schedule, and may complete their studies anywhere there is an Internet connection.” For current and former military members and their families, this flexibility is often critical to educational and professional success.
W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University (ASU) The W. P. Carey Online MBA is consistently ranked Top 5 by U.S. News & World 6 | MAE&T 10.5
former members of the military, ASU Report, and is accredited by the Association waives application fees as just one facet of to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business their dedication to those who have served. (AACSB). Ruthie Pyles, director of MBA The Pat Tillman’s Veterans Center and the and Graduate Admission and Recruitment Office for Veteran and Military Academic at ASU, describes the program as “the flexEngagement are supports for military ibility you want and the quality you need, students, assisting with the delivering a comprehensive application process, financbusiness curriculum, many ing and class enrollment, ways to customize your MBA as well as post-graduate job to your goals and personal searches. support every step of the way.” The online option is an excellent choice, as it is Florida Institute of designed to provide the same Technology Florida level of rigor and experience Tech University as the on-campus program, Online including the same curricuRuthie Pyles lum and faculty. Online MBA Florida Tech offers students will explore all key potential students a wide Arizona State University areas of business administravariety of educational tion, as well as optional areas options, including 11 MBA including finance, internadegrees that are offered tional business, marketing completely online. Parker and supply chain manageexplained that specializament. Online candidates can tion options range “from begin their study in January accounting to project manor August, and complete one agement, finance to health core course at a time in fivecare management and week increments. Students Internet marketing to interalso can self-select when national business.” A “Mini Tonya Parker they complete work instead MBA” is also an option as a of having to be online at set for-credit graduate certifiFlorida Institute of times. cate focusing on health care Technology Currently, 167 military management, information members are enrolled in ASU’s online technology management, Internet marmaster’s programs, including 75 in the keting or management. Accessible 24/7 via online MBA. Pyles noted that “students laptop, desktop or mobile device, Parker find that their military experience offers emphasized that “veterans and active-duty a unique and valuable perspective around military servicemembers have the flexcertain topics and that their committed ibility to earn college credit no matter work ethic, learned from their military where they are located in the world. They service, brings value to the collaborative can complete courses at home, on base, team environment.” Offering a military while on temporary duty assignment or voucher program (MVP) to current and deployed overseas.” Graduates are suited www.MAE-kmi.com
Go Beyond with an ohio state MBa Expand your post-military career opportunities with an MBA from The Ohio State University. Here are just a few reasons to consider it:
$100,750 average starting salary for our veteran graduates in 2015
All military students receive in-state tuition
“I knew my MOS was just the starting point for my ultimate career goals. Fisher’s MBA program exposed me to the business fundamentals I needed to take on a leadership role while helping with the corporate connections to make it happen.” Mike Nemeth, U.S. Army, Fisher MBA ‘10 VP of Sales and Marketing, OCSiAl Group
Consistently recognized as a top MBA program for veterans
Learn more: go.osu.edu/veteransmba Brad Grantz, OEF Veteran Military MBA Recruiting Specialist 614.292.8511 | grantz.3@osu.edu
to many different career opportunities in a variety of industries such as business administration, marketing, health care management, information technology and project management. They are well prepared for entrance in to careers with non-profit organizations, governmental agencies and private-sector companies. The Florida Institute of Technology offers courses online, as well as at military sites in six states including Fort Lee, Va., and Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Famous military alumni include Retired Army General Ann Dunwoody (Class of 1988), the first woman in the nation’s history to attain the rank of four-star general, and Retired Air Force Colonel Brett Knaub (Class of 2014), Chief of the Transition Division for the Project Global Shield Program Management Office at U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) headquarters on Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. Military students can expect a broad range of support from Florida Tech. Dedicated contact personnel assist military students with school registrations, book purchases, Tuition Assistance reimbursements, class certifications for Veterans Affairs and assistance with the various military portals and military liaisons. A special military tuition rate of $250 per credit hour for active duty servicemembers, selected Reserves, National Guard servicemembers and their spouses, as well as a 10-percent savings on graduate tuition, is yet another benefit offered by Florida Tech.
University of North Carolina (UNC) Kenan-Flagler Business School The University of North Carolina Kenan-Flager Business School offers students a multitude of ways to pursue their MBA. Students can choose from a full-time residential program, a weekend executive program, an evening executive program, a global OneMBA program or the MBA@UNC online program. Dan Bursch, the director of the MBA@UNC online degree program, expounded on the many benefits of virtual education, which offers “students the flexibility to complete their MBA degree anywhere in the world.” He continued, “It also offers students the opportunity to continue with their career momentum by not having to put their careers on hold.” The online MBA from UNC prepares students 8 | MAE&T 10.5
“A good online program offers students for a wide range of career opportunities the opportunity to collaborate live with due to the emphasis on becoming “a better the professor and students strategic thinker and a more through web conferencnuanced communicator of ing.” With fellow students ideas and goals, along with who have eight to 10 years advanced business underof work experience, those standing.” enrolled in the programs Currently, just under at UT Dallas are able to one-third of the enrolled learn from their colleagues students in MBA@UNC are as well as their professors. current or former military Students in these programs members. Career advisors leave with the skills and are available for all students Dan Bursch knowledge to pursue career to help craft a personalized goals that are varied and career management plan. University of North personalized. Bursch believes that “havCarolina UT Dallas is particularly ing the ability to sit-down interested in military and with a career advisor to veteran students. Typically, walk through specific career there are at least four miligoals, conduct several career tary students in each MBA and leadership assessments, cohort. Brady knows that and map out the steps nec“veterans often bring strong essary for individual career leadership skills. They are success is highly valuable also very process-oriented and is a large contributor and committed—all of these to our success rate of stuare good qualities to have dent promotions and career Pamela Foster Brady when pursuing an MBA.” advancement.” Seventy-four There are many supports in percent of graduates from The University of Texas at Dallas place at UT Dallas for its MBA@UNC have either military student body. The earned promotions or made Veterans Service Center was opened in positive career changes since the proSeptember 2012 to serve as a resource gram’s establishment in 2011. for those who served their country, are active duty and military family members. The University of Texas (UT) Veteran-specific programs offered by the at Dallas, Naveen Jindal VSC include “a new student veteran sponSchool of Management sor program, professional development workshops, employer networking and a UT Dallas offers a traditional Execugraduation cord ceremony” as well as help tive MBA in the classroom, which occurs with admissions, VA benefits and scholaron Fridays and Saturdays every other ship opportunities. On campus, the VSC weekend, that is focused on strategy and offers a physical place for military students enterprise transformation, as well as a to meet, study and network. hybrid classroom-online Global Leadership Executive MBA. That emphasizes entering, operating and leading in global Western Governors University markets. For this hybrid degree, students begin each semester on campus, but then Western Governors University offers continue with the rest of the semester a variety of online business programs. A (around 70 percent) online. Other options standard MBA program, MBA information available at UT Dallas include a full-time technology management, MBA health care MBA, professional MBA, an online MBA management, as well as master’s degrees and a MBA degree specializing in orgain management and leadership as well as nizational behavior, health care (for phyaccounting provide students a multitude sicians only), project management and of choices for expanding their business supply chain management. Pamela Foster acumen. Goodman explained that what Brady, the director of Executive MBA promakes WGU special is that it provides grams at UT Dallas, explains that while all “an ideal setting for students with previonline MBA programs offer convenience, ous college or work experience—including www.MAE-kmi.com
other ‘soft skills’ has resulted in 93 percent military members and veterans—to earn of employers saying our graduates are equal their degree without wasting time rehashto or better than their peers ing what they already know.” in those areas, and 96 perCompetency-based learncent say their WGU graduing, the model developed by ates were well-prepared for WGU 18 years ago, “measures their jobs.” learning, not time, so stuNearly 10 percent of dents who already know cerWGU’s enrolled MBA stutain topics well can advance dents are active duty military through them quickly and or veterans. For many milimove on to spend more tary members, WGU offers a time on the material they convenient and cost-effective still need to learn.” Students means of education. By offerdon’t waste valuable time or Eric Goodman ing a low flat-rate tuition funds relearning information Western Governors based on six-month terms they already know from preUniversity versus by course credit, vious coursework, careers or students can save by advancing through life experience. coursework quickly. For those with miliThe MBA programs at WGU focus on tary experience, this is especially helpful, core competencies of managing human as their skills may help them complete capital, leading people and organizations, coursework at an accelerated rate. Goodcommunicating effectively and making dataman said military students are strong driven decisions—all things that industry candidates for an MBA because the “milileaders are looking for in their employees. tary typically provides excellent leadership Goodman is proud to share that “our focus experience and an opportunity to refine on critical thinking, communication, and
critical decision-making skills while influencing and communicating with others from diverse backgrounds.” He continued, saying “the self-discipline, motivation and drive that are crucial for a successful military career are also defining traits of a successful WGU student.” For the past six years, WGU has been recognized by Military Advanced Education & Transition as a top military friendly school. Goodman believes that this is because “WGU provides the kind of flexibility and mobility that military members, veterans and their families often need because of deployments, relocations and other demands of military life.” In addition, military benefits typically cover the cost of tuition, making it a valuable resource for military members and their families wishing to pursue higher education. O
For more information, contact MAE&T Editor Kelly Fodel at kellyf@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mae-kmi.com.
Lead with your heart, your mind and an MBA from SNHU. Active-duty military or transitioning back to civilian life, you’ll be positioned to lead with one of 20 newly revised, career-focused, online MBA concentrations from Southern New Hampshire University. • • • • •
One of the nation’s most affordable MBAs 30 percent tuition discount for active-duty servicemembers Designed to be completed in just over a year Dedicated academic advisors from every branch of the military No GMAT or GRE required
See yourself succeed at SNHU.edu or call 888-607-8373.
Adam Class of 2014
www.MAE-kmi.com
MAE&T 10.5 | 9
Special Section: IN-STATE TUITION FOR VETERANS
Deciphering the fine print, and what it means for veterans. The Obama administration has recently delayed a new federal requirement that public colleges and universities receiving GI Bill funding provide certain veterans with the benefit of in-state tuition, regardless of their residency. In late May, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Bob McDonald announced that he was pushing back the deadline for public institutions to comply with the in-state tuition provision of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act that Congress passed last August. The provision will now take effect January 1 of next year instead of July 1, 2015. As is the norm with many pieces of legislation, reading through the verbiage can sometimes be confusing and leave you with additional unanswered questions. That’s why MAE&T connected with the team at VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration to help clarify some of the questions vets may have about the act and its impact. Q: Describe the Veterans’ Choice Act and how it pertains to veterans using their GI Bill benefit. A: The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (“Choice Act”) requirements will ensure that our nation’s recently discharged veterans and their eligible family members will not have to bear the cost of out-of-state charges while using their welldeserved education benefits. Section 702 of the Choice Act requires VA to disapprove programs of education for payment of benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty at public institutions of higher learning (IHL) if the schools charge qualifying veterans and dependents tuition and fees in excess of the rate for resident students for terms beginning after January 1, 2015. Where states participate, VA expects the effect will be a broader choice of schools for students whose tuition will be fully covered by GI Bill benefits, removing potential additional costs for 10 | MAE&T 10.5
out-of-state tuition that students might otherwise face at some public institutions. Q: It can be difficult for veteran students trying to muddle through the minutiae of the Act and boil it down to “what’s in it for me?” Can you describe what benefits they’ll enjoy as a result of this legislation? A: Due to the transient nature of the military, many students have not established residency at the schools they attend after coming out of the service. These students are paying non-resident tuition and fees, which is often thousands of dollars more than the resident rate and in many cases is not covered by their GI Bill benefits. On January 1, 2016, the effective date of this law, many students who previously were paying out-of-pocket for the nonresident rates at public schools will no longer have to foot the bill for those charges. Q: What does Section 702 of the act mean for colleges and universities? What does it mean for the veteran students attending these public institutions? A: Public institutions may only charge the in-state tuition rate to those covered by this law. Each state has their own policy/law to determine tuition rates for students. Those decisions are made at the state level in some states and at the school level in others, but we have been working with the authorities at the appropriate level www.MAE-kmi.com
for each state to make sure all are able to comply with this law. As a result, for those states that become compliant with the law, the covered students will be able to attend the public school of their choice and will not have to bear the cost of out-of-state charges. Q: How can a student know that their state and/or institution of choice is in compliance with the act and offering the correct tuition rate? A: VA is working diligently with state representatives to ensure compliance with the law before January 1, 2016. The most up-todate status of all states and territories is on the GI Bill website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/702.asp. The site is updated as soon as VA validates a state’s or territory’s compliance. Q: Are all veterans able to take advantage of the Veterans Choice Act? If not, who would not qualify? A: Schools must charge in-state tuition and fee amounts to “covered individuals.” A covered individual is defined in the Choice Act as: • A veteran who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active-duty service of 90 days or more. • A spouse or child using transferred benefits who lives in the state in which the IHL is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active-duty service of 90 days or more. • A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the servicemember’s death in the line of duty following a period of active-duty service of 90 days or more. An individual described above will retain covered individual status as long as he/she remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between terms) at the public IHL. Q: What options are there for veterans or dependents who are more than three years post-discharge and not covered by the Choice Act? A: Those entitled to the GI Bill benefits may still use it as always; in addition, schools may still enter into a Yellow Ribbon agreement with VA to cover the non-resident tuition rates. The Yellow Ribbon program allows schools to waive any part of the uncovered tuition and VA matches what the school waives. Many schools, public and private, participate in this program, and many students end up receiving full tuition coverage this way. www.MAE-kmi.com
Q: What happens if states or schools are not in compliance by the January 2016 deadline? A: As of this publication date, there are 25 states (AL, AK, AZ, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, MA, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WV and WY) that are compliant with Section 702. The law allows the Secretary of VA authority to grant a waiver for those states and territories not in compliance. If any waiver is granted, we will post that information on the GI Bill website and through social media channels, particularly the GI Bill Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gibillEducation.com Q: What should students do if they have questions or concerns? A: We are very interactive on our GI Bill Facebook page (https:// www.facebook.com/gibillEducation) and are able to answer general questions there, or at least point students in the right direction. Students can also contact VA either by submitting a question on our website or calling our GI Bill call center at 888-442-4551. O For more information, contact MAE&T Editor Kelly Fodel at kellyf@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mae-kmi.com.
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*Programs vary by location. MAE&T 10.5 | 11
CLASS NOTES California Suspends GI Bill Approval for ITT Technical Institute The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) has ordered 15 ITT Technical Institute locations in that state to stop enrolling new or returning students who fund their educations with GI Bill benefits. The California State Approving Agency for Veteran Education (CSAAVE), a division of CalVet, sent a notice of suspension to all California colleges owned and operated by ITT Educational Services, Inc. (ITT). ITT operates 15 campuses in California. “CalVet takes very seriously our duty to ensure our California veterans receive the education and training they are paying for with their earned GI Bill benefits,” said Keith Boylan, CalVet Deputy Secretary of Veteran Services. “CSAAVE suspended ITT because ITT does not meet the required accreditation standards for approval.” The notice of suspension precludes ITT from future enrollment or reenrollment of veterans or their dependents utilizing GI Bill education benefits provided by the VA. The Securities and Exchange Commission filed fraud charges against ITT. The SEC says that Indianapolis-based ITT and two of its executives, CEO Kevin Modany and CFO Daniel Fitzpatrick, hid financial information from the company’s investors regarding the “poor performance and looming financial impact of two student loan programs that ITT financially guaranteed.” Veterans in California using the GI Bill at ITT should visit CalVet’s website: www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/ GI-Bill-Suspension-Information.aspx.
Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
Joining Forces Announces Jobs, Training for 90,000 Vets, Spouses Numerous technology and energy companies have committed to hire or train 90,000 veterans and military spouses in the next five years as part of the Joining Forces initiative. First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched Joining Forces in 2011 to honor and support servicemembers, survivors, veterans and their families. Joining Forces began at a time when the unemployment rate was 12 percent for servicemembers returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and one in three of the youngest veterans who sought work could not find jobs. Today, Joining Forces says that businesses have hired or trained more than 850,000 veterans and military spouses. Additionally, federal government hiring produced a workforce that now comprises 30 percent veterans. At an appearance in April, the first lady pointed out that the
technology and energy sectors are driving national economic growth. “These are industries full of good, high-paying positions where our vets can continue to thrive for years and even decades to come,” she said. And because the solar industry is “adding jobs 10 times faster that the rest of the economy,” the first lady said, the president announced “a significant expansion of our successful pilot program to train transitioning servicemembers for careers in solar jobs.” During the event, Mrs. Obama and leaders from across industry, education and government sectors celebrated the accomplishments to date, and pledged support to train or hire 90,000 veterans and military spouses. To make sure there’s a job waiting for veterans when they leave the military, the Solar Energy Industries Association is pledging to hire or train 33,000 veterans and spouses over the next five years.
University of Charleston Partners with National Guard The University of Charleston (UC) has entered into an agreement with The Lavern E. Weber Professional Education Center (PEC), located at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the two organizations, creating a partnership to expand, enhance and improve the educational opportunities available to National Guard members. The university will have an on-site location at the facility for classes and meetings with prospective and current students. “The University of Charleston is honored to begin our relationship with PEC,” said Edwin Welch, president of UC. “We look forward to helping the National Guard members meet their higher education goals and advance in their careers.” The PEC is the national training center for the Army National Guard, and has been a full-service training and conferencing facility since 1974. The mission of PEC is to generate readiness by developing and delivering U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) accredited training to the full-time force, enabling the 54 states and territories to operate and succeed in complex global and domestic environments.
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“Strategic partnerships like we have with the University of Charleston strengthen both the university and the National Guard. The National Guard gets more highly trained soldiers, and the soldier advances their educational goals—it really is a ‘win-win’ situation,” said Colonel Douglas Rose Jr, commander of the Professional Education Center. University of Charleston will offer the following online and hybrid programs at PEC: • • • • • • • •
BS – Accounting BS – Business Administration BS – Cyber Security (Starting 2015 FA) BS – Organizational Leadership MBA – Executive Master of Business Administration MS – Strategic Leadership DEL – Doctor of Executive Leadership Certifications (Cyber Security, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Project Management)
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Transition Trends
CORPORATE CONNECTION
Military Advanced Education & Transition
DynCorp International Kwan Reid
Director of Global Staffing at WRSS (DynCorp’s recruiting subsidiary)
Q: A:
Why does your company believe veterans are a valuable investment?
When this question was recently posed, I believe our chief executive officer, James Geisler, probably said it best, “Veterans are critical to our success. They bring skills, dedication and values that give our company a competitive advantage.” Veterans tend to share the values that are at the core of our company’s culture and understand our customers’ needs, helping provide optimal support to our programs all over the world.
Q: A:
What is your commitment to hiring veterans? What percentage of your employees are veterans?
DynCorp International (DI) was co-founded by a small group of returning WWII pilots, so we have long standing ties with the veteran community. In fact, veterans accounted for nearly 70 percent of the team members we hired in 2014. We partner with U.S. Military Transition Offices and participate in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Hiring our Heroes” initiative and other commercial employment events geared toward assisting transitioning veterans, as we value the experience and dedication they bring as employees.
Q: A:
What do you believe makes your company particularly veteran-inclusive and supportive?
The fact that so many of our current employees are veterans means we understand the challenges associated with transitioning to the civilian sector. We also support our veteran and reservist employees by actively partnering with organizations such as the Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), United Service Organization (USO) and the White House’s “Joining Forces” veteran hiring initiative.
Q: A:
What do you think is the biggest challenge veterans face in transitioning to civilian employment?
I think the biggest challenge they encounter is finding occupational equivalency. For example, if a veteran is trained to maintain equipment, which has no civilian application, opportunities are often slim to none. DI provides critical support for national
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security interests, so veterans we hire often find themselves working alongside their military counterparts with little additional training required. We consider that a win-win solution.
Q: A:
How can companies better assist veterans in their transition?
Companies should take steps to help veterans understand what skills they bring to the table in the civilian marketplace. Knowledge is power. In recognition of this challenge, we offer a Military Skills Translator on our website’s careers page. With this tool, veterans can readily identify current openings more closely associated with their prior military occupational specialties.
Q:
What advice would you offer servicemembers and veterans looking to make the transition to a civilian career?
A:
It’s always helpful for anyone making the transition to have a plan. We often meet recently separated veterans who have never given any serious consideration to life after the military. I would suggest that they draft a five-year plan listing short-term and longterm goals. Reaching certain goals might require more time, while some goals might even change. What’s most important is to have some direction—an aspirational roadmap. To quote General Colin Powell: “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.”
Q:
From an educational perspective, what advice would you offer to transitioning servicemembers trying to determine a degree path/career field for their civilian careers?
A:
It’s important to remember there are several options. The first requires identifying civilian credentials to validate your military experience. For example, an Army aircraft powerplant repairer might pursue an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license. Others may enroll in studies to prepare for opportunities in a related career field. This is often the case for those in combat arms specialties such as infantry or armor, who are often drawn to a degree in criminal justice or law enforcement. Finally, there is always the option for a fresh start by pursuing an unrelated course of study. Whichever direction you choose, do so decisively and with realistic expectations. O
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The means for creating the next “Greatest Generation.”
Mirza Tihic Mirza Tihic is assistant director for Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) and adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. To learn more, visit http://veterans.syr. edu or http://vets.syr.edu.
T
he World War II generation’s remarkable actions during times of war and peace ultimately made the United States a better place to live. In a tumultuous era marked by war and economic depression, this generation developed values, as noted by journalist Tom Brokaw, of “personal responsibility, duty, honor and faith.” These characteristics helped them to www.MAE-kmi.com
defeat Hitler, build the American economy, make advances in science and implement visionary programs. They were challenged with problems that the world had never before witnessed, yet it made them stronger and made our nation what it is today. That is why we call them the “Greatest Generation.” After coming home from World War II, the Greatest Generation did not stop their desire to serve. They transitioned to work and pursued the opportunities given to them through the GI Bill. Treating veterans as first-class citizens and granting them an advanced education, the GI Bill inspired veterans to become active participants in civic organizations, political activities and entrepreneurship. The World War II military experience and the education they received through the GI Bill provided them with skills, tools, resources and networks that resulted in 49.7 percent business ownership amongst World War II veterans.
Veterans Are Entrepreneurial Entrepreneurship, like military service, is mission-oriented. Both military servicemembers and entrepreneurs aim to make
By Mirza Tihic
the world a better, safer place. While both have the same goals and both are missionoriented, they depend on each other. While entrepreneurs come up with creative new products and services, the military enables us to have the freedom to be entrepreneurs and pursue entrepreneurial opportunities. Considering this similarity, it is not surprising that 25 percent of transitioning military members now are considering entrepreneurship as their employment choice. The skills gained in the military are easily transferable to entrepreneurial pursuits. Academic research focused on the attributes characteristic of successful innovators and entrepreneurs highlights that highperforming entrepreneurs have in common strong self-efficacy, a high need for achievement, are comfortable with autonomy and uncertainty and make effective decisions in the face of dynamic environments. Across multiple studies, research illustrates that these same attributes are generally characteristic of military servicemembers and veterans. For example, research focused on the current all-volunteer force suggests that those who are drawn to military service are Transition Trends | MAE&T 10.5 | 1
Veteran Entrepreneurs individuals with a high need for achievement (self-selection). Further, military training and socialization processes have been demonstrated to instill high levels of self-efficacy and trust and a strong comfort with autonomy and dynamic decision-making processes. These attributes, as they are linked to entrepreneurship and an entrepreneurial mindset among military veterans, have been consistently demonstrated in practice. According to multiple studies commissioned by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and others, military veterans are twice more likely than non-veterans to pursue business ownership after leaving service, and the five-year success rate of ventures owned by veterans is significantly higher than the national average.
Education Increases Entrepreneurial Intensity Research shows that education has a close relationship with entrepreneurship, in
The Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) program equips female veterans with tools to become successful entrepreneurs. [Photo courtesy of Syracuse University]
that entrepreneurs (self-employed) have a higher level of education compared to their peers in the wage and salaried sector. In addition, higher levels of entrepreneurial education increase both the probability of becoming self-employed and the success of individuals in that sector in terms of the
earnings. Overall, studies by researchers at the University of Arizona, New York University and other institutions have found that people who have received entrepreneurship education perform better at running their own businesses.
proud supporter of the
Yellow Ribbon Program “Coming from the military, having a team of people who cared about each other and shared a common goal mattered a lot to me. I chose Simon because of the small community where students and professors collaborate as a team. Simon’s curriculum will push you mentally, but the entire experience helps you acquire the tools to successfully transition or further your career.�
Dan Gluszko
Banking Internship with a Fortune 500 Company United States Military Academy at West Point MBA Candidate, Class of 2016
learn more at simon.rochester.edu/military
2 | MAE&T 10.5 | Transition Trends
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Transition Trends Further, experience is similar to education in its relationship with self-employment, the difference being in the intensity of the effect on both probability and success. The more experience an individual has, the higher probability of the success of the venture. In an article in the Washington Post, veteran entrepreneurs concurrently stressed the importance of their military lessons and experiences, particularizing that their military training “served as a crash course” on surviving the challenges of starting and running a successful business. Additionally, they say that the military experience has given them something that they may not have found anywhere else—a sense of perspective. Even though veterans have these skills and predispositions to be successful entrepreneurs, many of them are not aware that business ownership is an option when they transition to civilian life, nor are they aware of how their skills and experiences translate into business ownership, where to find other
The Master’s in Entrepreneurship program at Syracuse University is designed to build on real-world military experience to prepare the next generation of business innovators. [Photo courtesy of Syracuse University]
veteran entrepreneurs and what resources and networks exist. Syracuse University’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) was the first entrepreneurship program developed and offered specifically to veterans with disabilities. Established in
2007 at SU’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management, EBV teaches veteran entrepreneurs the basic skills of business ownership and enables them to leverage and adapt their military skills and experiences into their entrepreneurial pursuits. Eight
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Transition Trends | MAE&T 10.5 | 3
Veteran Entrepreneurs years since the program has been offered, 66 percent of veterans who graduate In 2011, Inc. Magazine named Syracuse from the program start their own busiUniversity’s EBV program nesses within six months. More impresas one of the “10-Best” entrepreneurship sive is that 91 percent of them are still in programs in the United business and growing. States. [Photo courtesy of Syracuse University] EBV has been proof that when veterans receive meaningful entrepreneurial training, they are more likely to start a business compared to their peers without entrepreneurship training. The start-up rate is higher and these entrepreneurs tend to be more successful. For these reasons, Syracuse University has embarked on creating several entrepreneurship training programs and initiatives with the goal to sincerely serve those who have served and enable veterans to continue their service, this time translate and transition their military experiin suits instead of boots. ences into entrepreneurial practice. Syracuse University takes great care to deliver quality programs in this area. Through its Institute In order to tap into this entrepreneurfor Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), ial potential, the members of veterans and Syracuse University has developed several military community need to learn how to entrepreneurship programs and shared best
Transitioning Skills
practices with other schools, institutions and organizations with the ultimate goal to impact as many veterans and their families as possible. Over the next five years, about 1 million servicemembers will transition out of the military. This is a timely opportunity to
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4 | MAE&T 10.5 | Transition Trends
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Transition Trends enable these soldiers with the skills, tools and abilities to pursue entrepreneurial activities. Below are some of the efforts under way at Syracuse University that are helping our nation capitalize on this opportunity of creating the next Greatest Generation.
Specialized Entrepreneurship Training Programs
Veterans and military spouses who are established or aspiring entrepreneurs are benefitting from their association with Syracuse University and its many public and private partners. [Photo courtesy of Syracuse University]
Entrepreneurial training increases the likelihood of a veteran starting a business. Veterans should look into programs such as Syracuse University’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV), the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veteran Families (EBV-F) and the Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE). These are world-class programs committed to the veteran community by providing veterans with the tools to become successful entrepreneurs. These programs integrate veterans’ leadership, integrity, focus
and drive into premier educational training taught by accomplished entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship educators from across the United States. Programs like this are open to any veteran regardless of their experiences, military rank and educational level because entrepreneurs are made, not born.
TAP Entrepreneurship Program Syracuse University was given the opportunity to work with Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to recreate the
THE TOP CHOICE OF SERVICEMEMBERS. People talk. And right now, they’re talking about AMU. Built upon student referrals, AMU is the global leader in education for the U.S. military. Since we offer more than 90 online degrees, from Business to Transportation and Logistics, you can do anything you set your mind to — whether in the military or transitioning out.
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*As reported by Military Times/Edge Magazine We want you to make an informed decision about the university that’s right for you. For more about the graduation rate and median debt of students who completed each program, as well as other important information—visit www. APUS.edu/disclosure. Image Courtesy of the DoD.
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Transition Trends | MAE&T 10.5 | 5
Veteran Entrepreneurs Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and developed one of the five new Leveraging a veteran’s skills with education TAP Tracks, the entrepreneurship track and technology known as Boots to Business (B2B). gives them an entrepreneurial Offered in more than 165 military instalhead start. [Photo courtesy of Syracuse lations worldwide, B2B’s curriculum University] continuum includes steps for evaluating business concepts, the foundational knowledge required to develop a business plan and information on SBA resources available to help access start-up capital and additional technical assistance. This program plants the seed of entrepreneurship into every transitioning servicemember, again regardless of rank, educational background and experiences in the military.
Undergraduate College Degrees Ranked amongst the nation’s top-10 entrepreneurship programs, Syracuse University’s (SU) Whitman School of Management (WSOM) offers both majors and minors in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises
(EEE) to all students across the SU campus. The EEE program at SU is unique as it is the only program in the country that offers four different entrepreneurship tracks: New Venture, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship and Family Business. The EEE major prepares veterans for careers in
leadership roles such as business owners, executive management and creative leadership. The EEE minor enables veterans to pursue any field of study at Syracuse University that is relevant to their military experiences and/or passions while enabling and equipping them with the entrepreneurial mindset
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Transition Trends and tools. Through the cross-campus collaboration amongst different schools and programs at Syracuse University, such as the Office for Veteran and Military Affairs, the Veterans Resource Center, and many more, the Whitman School of Management has been able to accommodate veterans and provide them with a meaningful educational experience. Syracuse University’s dedication and strive to be the best place for veterans has enabled colleges across campus to better serve the veteran community.
Graduate College Degrees In 2013, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University conducted a survey amongst the veteran population on their goals and preferences when considering a graduate degree. Not surprisingly, half indicated that they would prefer a degree related to management, and 25 percent of all respondents indicated that they would prefer a graduate degree related to entrepreneurship. Furthermore, about 66
percent of respondents indicated that they prefer a hybrid program, meaning an online degree that contains three to four short residencies on campus. As result of the survey and other studies that show that entrepreneurial education leads to more successful business start-up and growth, Syracuse University developed and adopted two MBA degrees that are veteran-friendly: the MBA@ Syracuse and the MBA for Veterans. The MBA@Syracuse is a hybrid degree, which allows students to focus their MBA education by selecting courses from five specializations of study. Each specialization centers on a specific field or discipline, including Entrepreneurship, allowing students the chance to align their studies with their own personal and professional goals. This hybrid degree allows veterans the flexibility they need to pursue entrepreneurship education that fits their personal and professional lifestyle and responsibilities. The MBA for Veterans is an accelerated 14-month MBA with concentration in entrepreneurship. The program offers in-depth
courses in entrepreneurship with an emphasis on leadership and innovation. Students admitted to the MBA for Veterans program take classes in a specialized, accelerated cohort of students from all backgrounds— both military (veteran and active duty) and non-military. The diversity of experiences in the classrooms greatly contributes to the quality of the educational experience and access to veteran-friendly resources across the Syracuse University campus. These are some highlighted entrepreneurship programs that Syracuse University offers to capitalize on the opportunity of creating the next Greatest Generation through entrepreneurship education and to fully realize its mission to become the best place for veterans. Why do we do it? The answer is simple: “to serve those who have served.” O
For more information, contact MAE&T Editor Kelly Fodel at kellyf@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mae-kmi.com.
Earn Your Master of Business Administration Online Strengthen your career with an advanced degree. Develop crucial managerial and leadership skills with an online MBA program that lets you build upon your experience. Transfer up to 24 credits, and complete your degree with many concentration options through 8 or 15-week online courses! We’ve been helping servicemembers and veterans achieve their goals for more than 40 years. Contact us to learn how you can: “The convenience of transferring credits and being able to work from home were some of the best aspects of studying with Excelsior. In my online courses I met people from all different backgrounds and walks of life. You can’t get those things in a traditional college setting.” Tom Chase, Veteran Master of Business Administration ‘10
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Transition Trends | MAE&T 10.5 | 7
Making the Transition
A New Partnership
By D. Wayne Robinson
T D. Wayne Robinson D. Wayne Robinson is the president and CEO of Student Veterans of America.
his month we mark a historic anniversary—71 years since the passing of The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944. Commonly known as the GI Bill, this piece of legislation helped millions of veterans transition into new fields following their service to our country and has been critical to our nation’s prosperity. As a veteran of the United States Army who earned my college degree with the help of the GI Bill, I know firsthand how important this opportunity is to those who have so bravely served their country.
Over the last 71 years, the GI Bill has served as a tool to reshape our nation, allowing our brightest, most dedicated citizens to better themselves and our country through higher education. Fast forward to 2015, and servicemembers seeking higher education face a new sea of change. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have created millions of new veterans. And, today, over a million students on college campuses in the United States are using their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. While veterans face unique obstacles on their path to graduation, they are succeeding.
Job Fair Calendar Joint Base McGuire-DixLakehurst Hiring Fair Monday, June 15, 2015 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Hiring Our Heroes Fort Dix Timmerman Conference Center, Fort Dix, N.J. Register at www.uschamberfoundation.org
Columbia Hiring Fair Tuesday, June 16, 2015 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Hiring Our Heroes Solomon Center, Columbia, S.C. Register at www.uschamberfoundation.org
Buffalo Hiring Fair Thursday, June 18, 2015 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Hiring Our Heroes
8 | MAE&T 10.5 | Transition Trends
Connecticut Street Armory, Buffalo, N.Y. Also features a Hiring Our Heroes Employment workshop consisting of a classroom session beginning an hour and a half prior to the hiring fair. This will be followed by one-on-one mentoring sessions with all pre-registered and walk-in participants to be conducted throughout the day. Mentoring sessions focus on resume building, resume writing and interviewing techniques for all job-seeking veterans and servicemember participants. Register at www.uschamberfoundation.org
Nashville Hiring Fair Thursday, June 18, 2015 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Hiring Our Heroes Overbrook School, Nashville, Tenn. 37205 Features an employment workshop followed by a hiring fair. Register at www.uschamberfoundation.org
Fort Gordon Transition Summit Wednesday, June 24, 2015, to Thursday, June 25, 2015 Hiring Our Heroes Gordon Club, Fort Gordon, Ga. This event features key federal and state agencies, influential military leaders, innovators in the business and employer communities and local community leaders. This summit also features participation by and speakers from Fort Gordon, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Services, the U.S. Army’s Installation Management Command and Soldier for Life Program, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Transition to Veterans Program Office, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes and local chambers of commerce.
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And we have the data to back it up. Last year, Student Veterans of America (SVA) released the Million Records Project, a study that provided a comprehensive analysis of 1 million veterans using the New GI Bill. This first of its kind report showed that the majority of our servicemen and women are excelling in higher education and graduating. What’s more, they are succeeding at rates comparable to those of traditional students, and at rates that far surpass other nontraditional students. This education benefit, the most comprehensive since the original bill passed in 1944, has sent more than 1 million servicemen and women to school to earn a degree or certificate. Just a few years after its implementation, our nation is reaping the benefits and we are seeing student veterans succeed in their fields of study. They are becoming doctors, lawyers, businesswomen and teachers. They are taking their leadership skills to Wall Street, their dedication to classrooms and their passion to boardrooms. They are starting their own businesses and nonprofits and are being elected to Congress. Imagine what this investment will yield in another 71 years. How many Nobel laureates
will the Post-9/11 GI Bill lead to? How many presidents? Enacting the Post-9/11 GI Bill to send returning veterans to college was just the first step in making veterans part of the economic recovery. There is still much to do to ensure that servicemembers and their families make a smooth transition from the military to the civilian sector and that they are receiving the support and education they need to succeed in the 21st-century economy. A few months back, Military Advanced Education & Transition (MAE&T) magazine asked if SVA would contribute in this space with a monthly column on student veteran transition issues. Always mindful of opportunities to spread the word about student veterans and the impact of higher education on military families, American culture and our economy, I said yes! As we celebrate this monumental legislation this June, we are proud to partner with MAE&T to launch this column in the magazine’s Transition Trends section. We will focus on programs and resources that empower the next 1 million student veterans to pursue the quality education and the rewarding careers that they deserve.
We are extremely grateful that MAE&T has made such a substantial commitment to covering the education piece of the transition from military to the civilian sector. I can tell you from personal experience that it is a special moment when veterans realize that leaving the military doesn’t mean leaving camaraderie behind as they discover their new platoon on campus. In our column, we hope to offer a glimpse of what it’s like to step aboard the SVA mothership. Given our passion is centered on helping veterans succeed in higher education and high-demand careers, I hope our writing will inspire readers to join in our mission. On the battlefield, we pledge to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind. I am confident that together, we can empower student veterans to lead the next great wave of American Progress. O
The two-day transition summit will feature informative and interactive panel events, recruiter training and facilitated discussions focused on improving competitive employment for servicemembers, veterans and military spouses in addition to a networking reception for employers, senior leaders and job seekers. The summit will conclude in a hiring fair and career forum on the second day. Register at www.uschamberfoundation.org
Virtual Career Fair
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Lompoc, Calif. Events are open to job seekers who have access onto the military installation. All experienced professionals (military, contractors and civilians) welcome. Attendees can receive a free resume critique from expert Resume Solutions. Register at www.TransitionCareers.com
Greater New York City Hiring Fair Saturday, June 27, 2015 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Hiring Our Heroes MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. 07073 Features an employment workshop followed by a hiring fair. Register at www.uschamberfoundation.org
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July 15, 2015 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Online at http://veteranrecruiting.com/ calendar For active duty, veterans and military spouses. Meet live with dozens of America’s most veteran-friendly employers. Chat live with recruiters, view and apply for jobs and connect with other veterans and military spouses in the networking lounge. Be sure to login ahead of time to research the companies prior to attending. Register at http://veteranrecruiting.com/ calendar
Defense Technology & Intelligence Career Fair Monday, July 20, 2015 Transition Careers
For more information, contact MAE&T Editor Kelly Fodel at kellyf@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mae-kmi.com.
Defense Technology & Intelligence Career Fair Tuesday, July 21, 2015 Transition Careers Edwards Air Force Base, Lancaster, Calif. Events are open to job seekers who have access onto the military installation. All experienced professionals (military, contractors and civilians) welcome. Attendees can receive a free resume critique from expert Resume Solutions. Register at www.TransitionCareers.com
Transition Trends | MAE&T 10.5 | 9
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CLASS NOTES University of Phoenix and AMVETS Offer Full-Tuition Scholarships University of Phoenix and AMVETS, an advocate for veterans’ education, are awarding 20 fulltuition scholarships to activeduty servicemembers, eligible family members and veterans to pursue an undergraduate or master’s degree from University of Phoenix. AMVETS has teamed with University of Phoenix since 2007, offering 345 scholarships. “We must do all we can to help all veterans, particularly our post-9/11 veterans, attain their educational goals as they strive to make a successful reintegration back into the civilian world,” said AMVETS national commander Larry Via. “We are so very grateful for our long-standing education partnership with University of Phoenix, and extremely proud to announce the new scholarships available. This commitment will truly change the lives of those selected.” “We all have a responsibility to the servicemen and women who have and continue to protect our freedoms, including helping them prepare for careers as they transition from military to civilian life,” said University of Phoenix military relations vice president Garland Williams. Applications for the 2015 University of Phoenix AMVETS Scholarship are being accepted now through September 8, 2015, and scholarship recipients will be announced on Veterans Day. More information, including eligibility requirements, terms and conditions and how to apply can be found at www.phoenix.edu/
Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
American Sentinel University Announces MBA Health Care Project-Based Programs American Sentinel University is launching one of the industry’s first Master of Business Administration (MBA) Health Care projectbased programs designed to be responsive to the needs of working health care professionals who want to develop the practical business skills and management expertise needed to advance their careers and lead the health care revolution. American Sentinel’s MBA Health Care is a Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)-approved pilot project-based program and is aligned with President Obama’s higher education agenda for colleges to embrace innovative ways to prepare students for the 21st-century economy.
“American Sentinel’s MBA Health Care is an outstanding example of a project-based program designed to prepare students and employers for the future,” said Leah Matthews, executive director at the DEAC. The project-based degree has four projects instead of 12 courses. This self-directed program offers students the flexibility to complete projects at a rate that fits their learning needs and experience. Students may apply knowledge they already possess to complete the program faster than a course-based program. And when all projects are completed, the student will have a market-quality portfolio to present to current or future employers.
MSU Breaks Ground for New Veterans Center Mississippi State has formally broken ground for two new residence halls and a veterans’ facility slated for completion next year. “These facilities will be major assets for our students by offering additional residential spaces to accommodate a growing demand for on-campus housing,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “The new veterans’ facility, which will house our
nationally recognized G.V. ‘Sonny’ Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans, will continue to carry out the university’s commitment to serving those who have served our country.” The facility for the Center for America’s Veterans will include 7,500-square-feet and feature administrative offices, a meeting area and student support spaces.
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MAE&T 10.5 | 13
Military Spouse Support
Q& A
Enhancing Opportunities for the Unsung “Heroes Behind the Heroes” Eddy Mentzer Program Manager Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) Program Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Military Community and Family Policy Prior to moving to DoD, Eddy spent six years as a national program leader within the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. From 1990 to 2004, Eddy was a Department of the Air Force civilian managing numerous child, youth, education and family support programs at a variety of levels throughout Europe. In addition to his duties with SECO, Eddy manages DoD’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Land Grant University (LGU) Cooperative Extension System in support of military families. This unique federal partnership leverages the expertise of the LGU’s research, programming and faculty in support of military families. As part of this program, he is the program lead for the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State University, Military REACH at the University of Minnesota, and serves as the lead action officer on the DoD’s 5-2-1-0 Healthy Military Children campaign. Q: Describe your role as the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program manager. How has your professional background contributed to this role? A: I lead the Department of Defense Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program, which is dedicated to helping military spouses reach their career objectives. The overall mission of the program is to reduce the 25 percent unemployment rate experienced by military spouses and close the 25 percent wage gap experienced by military wives. The three main components of the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program are: • The Military OneSource Career Center, where certified master’s level counselors provide comprehensive counseling services to military spouses at no cost. • The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship, a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 of financial assistance for education to eligible military spouses. Spouses of active duty servicemembers in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2 and O-1 to O-2 on Title 10 military orders are eligible for the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship. • The Military Spouse Employment Partnership, which is an employment and career partnership connecting military spouses with more than 270 partner employers who have committed to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses in portable careers. 14 | MAE&T 10.5
I have had the privilege of working in public service focused on military family support for 23 years. This includes time as a Department of the Air Force civilian running a variety of programs for military families, with the Department of Agriculture, where my work focused on leveraging the resources of higher education for military family support programs, and now in the Office of Family Readiness Policy in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community & Family Policy, where I am able to focus on high-level policy and resources to support the entire military family. Q: What do you bring to this role as a military spouse yourself? A: I have had a direct military affiliation for my entire life. My father was serving as a sailor in Vietnam when I was born and used his GI Bill benefits to complete his education and enter civil service as a DoD civilian in a career that spanned more than 35 years. Both of my grandfathers retired from the Army after lengthy careers. I began working for the Air Force as a civilian immediately after high school and met my wife while we were stationed together in Turkey. Now, I am not only the spouse of an Air Force officer, but also the parent of a military child. All of these experiences have shaped who I am and how I view my work. As a military spouse, I have experienced many of the challenges that military spouses face. In 2004, my wife and I had been able to www.MAE-kmi.com
secure assignments at the same location, a feat in itself as there is no program that supports joint military and civilian assignments. Soon before we were to move, my wife got new orders to the Pentagon, about 4,700 miles from where I was to be employed. So with 14 years of experience under my belt, I came to D.C. and it took me eight months to find employment. In 2006, my wife received orders to Langley Air Force Base and I decided to continue working in D.C. for that three-year assignment. I spent a lot of time on I-95 during those three years. And then in 2012, my wife deployed to Qatar for a year—about four days after my son turned two years old. Military spouses around the world face these challenges and many more on a daily basis. I have been very lucky to maintain a successful career and an amazing family, but it’s not easy. One of the challenges we face is the huge, varying demographic we are trying to serve. Every time I make a decision, I try and visualize myself as a young spouse who just received the ID card this week after getting married over the weekend and a spouse whose servicemember is getting ready to retire after 35 years of service. Their needs are completely different; we have the ability to provide each of them with resources that can make a huge difference in their lives. Q: Can you talk about the combination of education and employment resources offered by your program? A: We believe that in order to best assist military spouses in reaching their career goals, there has to be availability of resources to further one’s education if needed. That is why the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program offers three resources focused on advancing education to achieve career objectives. The first is the most popular resource we offer—the My Career Advancement Account scholarship. What is special about this scholarship is that it is not just a check for $4,000—it comes with comprehensive career counseling and a link to the Military Spouse Employment Partnership following completion of education. During a recent week, the top in-demand education paths for military spouses using the scholarship were health services, business management and education. All three of these education paths can lead to great
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careers with one of our Military Spouse Employment Partnership companies. For example, if you are a military spouse pursuing education in health services, I would recommend visiting the Military Spouse Employment Partnership Career Portal and looking at career opportunities with some of the largest health care providers. Or better yet, contact one of our certified career counselors for job search assistance through Military OneSource by calling 800-342-9647. Our counselors are available until 10 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday and all day on Saturday. The two other resources that are definitely worth noting are Learning Counts and our Scholarship Finder. Learning Counts is a new resource we are offering that helps military spouses translate volunteer, life or work experience into college credit. Through Learning Counts, military spouses will learn how to build a portfolio of prior learning and then the Department of Defense pays for that portfolio to be evaluated for college credit. It is really a great way to expedite undergraduate education and save money. The first step for any spouse interested in learning more is to call one of our career counselors or visit http://seco.learningcounts.org. The Scholarship Finder is accessible through http://myseco. militaryonesource.mil and is a customized database of scholarships specifically for military spouses as well as military children. I recommend checking it out as a potential avenue for additional funding for education. Q: What do you hear from military spouses about their education needs? A: We hear from military spouses all the time that having a variety of options is key when it comes to education and career needs. Military spouses are experts at balancing work, life, family and being a part of the fabric of the military community. By providing a variety of options to meet education and career goals, the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program aims to give military spouses the flexibility they need to make the best choices for themselves and their families. One of the most important aspects of our program is that we can assist the spouse in the decision-making process, but they have to
MAE&T 10.5 | 15
make the ultimate decision about what they want to achieve and how they can manage their journey. I have said it before, but much of our program is about leveraging tools and resources for spouses that will lead them to jobs and careers. While our programs are spouse-focused, they are really about the entire military family unit. We look at our program as one of the many spokes in a wheel of family support. DoD’s Transition to Veterans Program Office has done a great job of revamping their program over the last few years to better support our servicemembers as they transition to civilian life. We know that if we can provide the necessary resources to military spouses that will lead them on a career path, the family’s transition away from the military will be a little easier.
For military spouses working on bachelor’s degree, we offer the new Learning Counts resource described earlier. Learning Counts can be a good fit for spouses who need to complete foundation-level courses. For example, if I have been a leader of a local volunteer organization for the past three years, I may have the experience already to meet the objectives of a Management 100 course. The Learning Counts resource will teach me how to build a portfolio of prior learning to prove that I have the knowledge a Management 100 course would offer me.
Q: What are the challenges experienced by military spouses pursuing education and what is the Department of Defense doing to address these challenges?
A: My first job in the military family support arena was working as a field representative for one of our university partners at an education center in Germany. At the same time, I was pursuing my education through courses offered in Europe and then eventually through virtual opportunities. So I have experienced higher education from a management perspective as well as a student’s perspective. We know there is no one-size-fits-all for educational institutions. What is right for one military spouse may not be right for another. Our goal is to ensure military spouses have the resources they need to make an informed choice with regard to their educational institution. Again, I have to point to our career counselors as a “go to” resource for becoming an informed consumer of education. Our career counselors can talk through the individual needs and goals of a spouse to ensure that all viable options for education are considered. Some students do really well with a virtual classroom whereas others benefit from the face-to-face peer support of a physical classroom. There are also licensing and credentialing requirements to be considered. Educational requirements vary from state to state; we want to ensure military spouses end up with the right education, accepted by the state, to lead to their desired career.
A: One challenge experienced by military spouses pursuing education to reach their career goals is locating the necessary financial assistance. This is why the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship was created—to connect military spouses with $4,000 of tuition assistance to assist them in their educational pursuits. We know that military spouses move frequently. Finding a career that can travel with them is a challenge. The My Career Advancement Account scholarship aims to make that challenge more manageable by providing assistance in reaching an associate’s degree, license or certification.
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Q: What are the advantages/disadvantages of distance learning and traditional brick-and-mortar schools? How do you help military spouses to make decisions about what school to attend?
Q: If you could change anything (or several things) about the current education landscape for military spouses, what would you choose to alter or improve? A: If I could change anything about the current education landscape for military spouses, I would find a way to ensure that all 1.1 million spouses know about the resources available to them through the Department of Defense. Our greatest challenge is raising awareness about these resources. The worst thing that can happen is for a military spouse to find out about the My Career Advancement Account $4,000 Scholarship once he or she is no longer eligible. There are so many great resources available; no military spouse should ever feel alone in reaching education or career goals. I know that not everyone wants to pursue an education, or the timing might not be right, but if an eligible spouse does not know about a program, we are failing in providing them resources. I am also very concerned that our spouses are receiving a quality education that will serve them in their educational and career pursuits. In 2012, President Obama signed Executive Order 13607, “Establishing Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses, and Other Family Members.” DoD’s Voluntary Education Program has done a great job in taking the lead in ensuring that institutions are in compliance with these Principles of Excellence. This is a multi-agency effort and we are proud to be part of it. O www.MAE-kmi.com
Traditional MBAs Are No Longer Business as Usual
By Holly Christy, MAE&T Correspondent
prior learning. According to Davenport’s Jeremy Simerson, Admissions Representative, Military and Veteran Services, “this honors the student’s prior graduate and professional work that is relevant to their MBA.” Finally, DU’s MBA offers students the opportunity to select an elective course, complete an internship or study abroad to complete their 30-credit MBA program. This feature provides both flexibility and customization. As part of Davenport’s MBA admissions process, each student completes a success strategies program that includes a REFLECT Professional Development Assessment, which provides students meaningful career development information. Today, Davenport has nearly 600 current or former servicemembers enrolled in classes. Of these, nearly 13 percent are enrolled in the MBA program. Simerson said, “The MBA is a highly respected and recognized graduate degree that is an attractive offering for students looking to enter or enhance their career in business. What makes DU’s MBA attractive is its solid core of business management competencies, credit for prior learning, professional certificates, as well as the flexibility in its delivery format. Its focus on achieving the core of nine courses within a 21-month period and the addition of electives allow servicemembers to maximize their education benefits and reduce the overall cost/length of the program. In addition to enhancing their career prospects, we have learned that many students are choosing to pursue an MBA to add greater dimension to their existing graduate degree. For example, there has been an increase in the number of docDavenport University tors, attorneys, engineers and logisticians who have enrolled in our program, as it adds a greater understanding of the business aspects Davenport University’s (DU’s) MBA has a strategic management in their profession. By preparing future managers to focus with emphasis on decision-making skills and lead process improvement and organizational developleadership in both public and private sectors. For ment, DU’s MBA is focused on the student’s future.” those students seeking specialization, the program Davenport University’s Career Services departalso offers graduate certificates in eight concentrament is very supportive of military students, offering tions. The core of the MBA is designed to address 12 a variety of services including resume assistance, competency areas that were identified by employers, internship coordination, interview preparation and businesses, accrediting bodies and world-class busihelp finding gainful employment. This is a lifetime ness colleges. Davenport’s emphasis is on applied benefit to Davenport graduates, meaning they can learning, which incorporates appropriate theory, come back to Career Services at any point in their experiential learning and assessments. career to utilize these services. In addition, the program allows students to Jeremy Simerson The strong commitment to military students by transfer up to nine credits from an accredited graduDavenport University Davenport’s leadership has created an environment ate business program as well as up to nine credits for The recession of 2008-2009 left a lot of people feeling sour about the business world, and was followed by three straight years of double-digit decline in applications to Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree programs. But by 2013, MBAs were once again on the rise, with the Graduate Management Admission Council finding in its 2014 report on application trends that “most business schools are now reporting marked growth in their fulltime, flagship MBA experiences.” But while today’s MBA resembles the pre-recession degree, it has evolved in significant ways to address the changed marketplace. An MBA still equips graduates with advanced critical thinking skills, along with practical skills, that will help them successfully meet a variety of challenges business leaders face every day. But in many business schools, the MBA can now be more specialized in a great number of different fields. There are fewer graduates focusing their MBAs on finance, and more focusing on technology, entrepreneurship and health care, among others. For military and veteran students, today’s MBA programs open up a host of possible ways to apply their service-related experience in their continuing education and future career paths. In addition to providing competitive, well-rounded, educational experiences, these schools also offer on-campus support specifically for military and veteran students.
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MAE&T 10.5 | 17
performance components. The Triple Bottom Line approach is found across the curriculum, and exists to help develop ethical leaders who are able to effectively anticipate challenges, unearth new opportunities and understand the relationship between social, economic and environmental trends. Faculty members at UNO have high expectations for their MBA students. Kaczmarek explained, “The MBA faculty’s high expectations for students are reflected in rigorous course assignments throughout Lex Kaczmarek the MBA program. As one indication of the program’s rigor, graduating MBA cohorts have scored at or University of Nebraska at Omaha above the 90th percentile on the Educational Testing Services MBA exam since we first administered the test in 2007.” University of Nebraska at Omaha One of the unique qualities of UNO’s MBA program is the dual MBA/MS in MIS program offered According to MBA director Lex Kaczmarek of the with the Peter Kiewit Institute and joint program University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), “An MBA offerings with the University of Nebraska Medical degree provides a broad business knowledge base, Center, including the MBA-MPH program and the thus preparing graduates for a host of career areas. Pharm.D.-MBA program. UNO also offers MBA leadStudents are able to shape their areas of focus, thus ership seminars to connect students with business allowing them to tailor the program to gain in-depth and community leaders to discussing relevant issues. expertise in a specific area or to prepare for entry into Kaczmarek pointed out that “the applicationa new career field.” Michael Becraft focused nature of the MBA program suits mature Specifically, 11 core courses focus on leadership, Park University students with military experience particularly well.” accounting, finance, economics, ethics, information He went on to say that students can enroll full-time technology, organizational behavior, marketing, straor part-time as needed to accommodate their personal and profestegic financial management, business analytics and strategy. For sional commitments. UNO’s Office of Military and Veteran Services students who wish to focus their electives in a specific area, there is on campus to foster and encourage a military community and are nine available concentration areas, including supply chain offer support by providing military, veteran and dependent students management, collaboration science, electronic business, health care with resources and services developed to help them succeed. management, human resource management, international business, investment science, risk management and sustainability. Uniquely, MBA students at UNO spend their final core course completing a proPark University bono consulting project for a non-profit organization. UNO’s MBA program integrates the Triple Bottom Line—a meaMichael Becraft, director of Park University’s MBA program, sure of sustainability that includes financial, social and environmental said, “Park’s MBA program is accredited by the Accreditation that strives to be more than just “military-friendly.” Simerson explained, “Davenport has been able to reduce servicemembers’ time in school by recognizing the knowledge they have gained from serving in the military with the creation of our Veteran Bachelor of Business Administration and Veteran Bachelor of Science degrees (VBBA/VBS). These degrees cover a wide range of focus areas such as management, general business, medical case management and technology project management. Because these programs may shorten the time it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree, those students who are looking to continue into an MBA are really poised to enter the workforce faster.”
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to, and success in, postsecondary education for active duty military, Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). While we veterans, wounded warriors and their families by providing a broad do focus on providing opportunities to complete an MBA program range of services, fostering peer connections and coordinating to students who might not be reached by other institutions, our community support.” Elaborating on the school’s commitment to students are consistently challenged to see the connections between military students, Becraft said, “[Our commitment] is very clear in various academic disciplines and integrate their knowledge into varsome of the rankings we have achieved, including being selected as ious settings. MBA graduates must be aware that workplace expeca military supportive school for seven consecutive years by Military tations for employees with this credential include the ability to Advanced Education & Transition. As an MBA program, we also adapt and problem-solve in unfamiliar business settings.” He went have a retired servicemember on our MBA Advisory Council.” on to say, “With highly competitive job markets, students seeking an MBA would want to very clearly understand that the ability to integrate and articulate knowledge across a wide variety of settings University of Rochester is how an individual would make a distinct impression among employers; no degree alone will ensure employment. Rebekah Lewin, assistant dean of the Simon A student focused on degrees, workplace skills and Business School at the University of Rochester, said, credentials/certifications in the evolving workplace “Every component of the MBA experience has been will have a much better chance of success.” carefully considered to yield optimal results—small Park University’s MBA program offers four distinct class sizes, an elite cohort, an analytics-based curconcentrations—finance, human resource managericulum and expert career coaching. We prepare ment, international business and management inforstudents for the challenges of global business so they mation systems—plus a general concentration that can take advantage of the opportunities ahead.” She allows students to select elective coursework from went on to say, “Simon MBA students are supported a number of academic areas. A concentration in by renowned faculty, matched by diverse peers, and accounting is forthcoming. Each student must take strengthened with an analytic-based curriculum. Our Rebekah Lewin a graduate CPC (Common Professional Component) comprehensive approach reflects a competitive global of seven courses to ensure the graduate is exposed to business market and prepares students to excel in University of Rochester each of the content areas where students are expected their chosen industry and function.” to demonstrate expertise. MBA students at the University of Rochester have their choice “Consistent with the undergraduate experience of military of thirteen concentrations to customize their degree and prepare students, we conduct each of these courses in the accelerated eightfor a variety of post-MBA careers. “Many students use the degree to week term format, where students can complete the MBA degree in shift into a new industry or function,” Lewin said. “In addition to the 26 months, taking a single course at a time,” Becraft said. “The acafinancial gains that accrue for the rest of the graduate’s professional demic program includes theory and practice, integrating multiple career, an MBA prepares graduates for senior-level executive posidisciplines so that dedicated students learn how to solve problems tions, accelerates their career trajectory, and leads to much richer in the business context that cannot be adequately addressed using and more fulfilling interactions in the workplace and beyond.” the skills of just one business discipline.” The University of Rochester’s highly regarded Frame, Analyze Park University does have an on-campus Department of Military and Communicate (FACt) model offers the credentials, skills and and Veteran Student Services, whose mission is to “increase access strategic acumen necessary to compete in a dynamic marketplace.
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MAE&T 10.5 | 19
The MBA program at South University is unique Business theory and formal instruction are balanced because it focuses on organizational development by practical application, experiential learning and case and behavior, project management and small busicompetitions with an emphasis on teamwork for a ness entrepreneurship, which are not typical areas well-rounded academic experience. of emphasis in most MBA programs. Noll explained, The University of Rochester waives the applica“A number of servicemembers and veterans pursue tion fee for all military veterans and offers scholara South University MBA because they have a dream ship assistance through its participation in the of owning their own business. Our focus on small Yellow Ribbon program. They also provide support business entrepreneurship, organizational developfor enrolling and current MBA students through the ment and project management can help prepare Veteran and Military Family Services Office and the Cheryl Noll them for the challenges and opportunities that Veterans Alliance group. Lewin explained that milicome with being a business owner.” tary and veteran students are a good fit for the UniSouth University South University also offers an MBA in health versity of Rochester’s MBA program, “It has been our care administration, which is a nice fit for servicemembers who experience that military and veteran candidates are accustomed bring health care management experience from the military. to dealing with highly stressful situations, thinking on their feet, Additionally, many of the faculty members in South University’s making ethical decisions and leading important projects. Veterans MBA program are retired military personnel who earned a Ph.D. have extensive experience working within diverse teams and they and teach as a second career. “These faculty members make a have respect—an important characteristic for business school connection and can relate very well to our active duty and veteran students. Adding the MBA credential to this background allows vetstudents because of their shared experiences and background,” erans to translate their prior experience in ways that are appealing Noll said. and relevant to a wide variety of post-MBA employers.” “South University is committed to ensuring military and veteran-affiliated students have the information they need in South University regard to their education,” Noll said. “All military students at South University, including active duty, reserves, National Guard, South University’s MBA program has made itself a natural fit veterans and spouses of servicemembers, have a team dedicated for transitioning servicemembers. According to Cheryl Noll, dean and focused on meeting their unique needs.” Additionally, South of the South University College of Business, “South University’s University offers a 10-percent Active Duty Scholarship to eligible MBA program stresses leadership, which is a natural progression of servicemembers. South University also participates in the Postthe talents and skills developed and demonstrated in the military. 9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon program, meaning that veterMilitary members and veterans come to us with a strong set of ans entitled to full benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill may have organizational skills, work ethic and career goals.” She added, “The their entire cost of tuition covered for their effective period of South University MBA program is designed to be academically chalcoverage, based on current charges and Veterans Affairs rates. O lenging while building on the student’s undergraduate education, along with their previous and current work experience. Adult learners bring their work experiences into the classroom and active duty For more information, contact MAE&T Editor Kelly Fodel at kellyf@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives and veteran students bring their military experience, which makes for related stories at www.mae-kmi.com. it a very rich learning environment.”
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Adaptive learning and fast-track challenge exams help students achieve. Increasingly, today’s educators are focused on serving nontraditional students— those who have prior learning from other institutions, work experience or military training. Unlike high school graduates fresh from the prom, these adult students enter higher education with a range of experiences and knowledge they’ve already attained. Personalized learning techniques like adaptive learning, competency-based learning, blended learning and open-source learning help address their specific needs. By providing material that works best to a student—whether auditory, visual or tactical—adaptive learning technology respects a student’s time and enables instructors to see in real-time what their students know and what their students need to improve upon. With this knowledge, instructors can optimize their students’ learning paths to ensure successful progress through the course. How does it work? In an English composition course, a student may have strong core knowledge in grammar skills but lack the ability to effectively construct paragraphs. The personalized learning approach, using sophisticated learner analytics, lets that student demonstrate his or her strength in grammar and then focus more heavily on effective paragraphing—the area where the most improvement is needed. Sophisticated learner analytics—such as those offered through Colorado Technical University’s (CTU) intellipath adaptive learning platform—help faculty determine the specific skill or knowledge a student needs to master a topic, while allowing students to quickly move past areas of competency. As a result, learning is personalized and efficient. Because adaptive technology provides students the ability to move through course content at their own speed and with information provided specifically for the student, it is no surprise that the learner response to adaptive learning has been positive. One student said, “I am a visual learner. Adaptive learning made the class much easier for me because it was more hands-on. It pushed me to use brain cells that would normally be docile in a classroom setting.” www.MAE-kmi.com
Personalized learning helps create relevancy by offering students an experience that adapts to their unique skill set and knowledge base. Rather than delivering rote learning tasks focused on short-term memorization of facts and information, personalized learning guides students to acquire practical skills and knowledge they can use. A CTU student noted, “As a student who is returning to college after several years in the professional world, it’s definitely taken me some time to adjust to the pace and amount of new information in the courses. But the adaptive learning technology has helped me see where I need to improve so I can work in those areas until I become proficient.” Ask any faculty member: teaching a diverse student population, including those with military affiliation, isn’t easy. Faculty are placed in the difficult position of needing to deliver a specific set of learning outcomes to students who arrive to class with a wide range of skills, knowledge and abilities. Personalized learning gives faculty members a data-driven perspective they’ve never had before. This takes learning to the next level, which is especially important in the online world where professors don’t have the benefit of face-to-face interaction with students. Instructors receive real-time learner analytics that let them see if there is a class-wide learning issue or an individual concern. These data let instructors respond to specific needs so they are not applying a broad, one-size-fits-all fix to address potential learning gaps. Sometimes students may not be motivated to participate in a course because they feel they already know the course objectives. Through adaptive learning, faculty can serve a student additional content beyond what they already know. “Since I have been using adaptive learning in my classroom,” a CTU online instructor noted, “Students tell me all the time that they didn’t know they didn’t know this much!” Since adult learning also takes place outside the classroom, CTU launched Fast Track in 2014 for students pursuing their associate or bachelor’s degrees. A set of
By Connie Johnson, Ed.D.
technology-driven challenge exams, Fast Track allows students to earn course credit for the knowledge and skills they bring with them to the university. By passing multiple Fast Track exams, students are able to earn credits and complete a degree program faster, while saving money and reducing the amount of time to graduation. As of May 2015, nearly 8,000 CTU students have taken almost 19,000 Fast Track exams. There is an overwhelmingly positive response to Fast Track. Fast Track allows students to demonstrate mastery of course content acquired through military experience and training and “test out” of courses that may not be needed. Adaptive challenge exams can save military students time and tuition. As universities and colleges improve processes that provide adult learners the opportunity to honor prior learning assessment, adaptive learning challenge exams are a viable and important option to reduce the time and money spent towards earning a college degree. It is no surprise that adult learners value adaptive learning—the opportunity to prove their knowledge in content areas where they have met the outcomes of the course through prior learning, work experience or military training. O
Connie Johnson
Connie Johnson is chief academic officer and provost at Colorado Technical University. For more information, contact MAE&T Editor Kelly Fodel at kellyf@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mae-kmi.com.
MAE&T 10.5 | 21
State Authorization and Reciprocity At the 2015 Council of College and Military Educators Professional Development Symposium, a roundtable was conducted focusing on state authorization issues and reciprocity. Marshall Hill, executive director of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) led discussions on the history of state authorization, the development of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) and how states and institutions may join the network.
Background In October 2010, the Department of Education (DoE) issued a series of regulations, including one specifically relating to “State Authorization.” The guidance in §600.9(c) stated that any institution of higher education must secure authorization from each state in which students reside. While §600.9(c) was vacated by a federal court in 2011 (a decision that was upheld in an appeals court in 2012), individual states still require institutions to follow their state regulations. More importantly for those of us involved with voluntary education, the Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1322.25 includes an appendix containing the DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DoD Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and educational institutions. This MOU specifically states
that educational institutions must comply with state authorization requirements consistent with regulations issued by DoE, including 34 C.F.R. 600.9 and must meet all state laws as they relate to distance education, as required. In other words, even though the federal regulation by the DoE was vacated, institutions that have signed the DoD MOU are required to follow state laws related to the delivery of higher education. The complexity of state policies and regulations has proven to be extremely difficult, not to mention expensive, for individual institutions. This is especially true for smaller schools with limited compliance staff. Reciprocity agreements between states quickly became the most promising way to ease this burden.
NC-SARA According to the NC-SARA website, “The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts.” During his presentation, Hill explained that SARA follows the “driver’s license”
By Lane Huber
model. Gain approval in your own state and the other member states will recognize that approval. States apply through the four regional compacts (Midwestern Higher Education Compact, New England Board of Higher Education, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and Southern Regional Education Board). The three states that do not belong to a regional compact (NY, NJ and PA) are provided other options of joining SARA. Once states are approved through the regional compact and the NCSARA National Council Board, they are invited to begin enrolling individual institutions within their own state. The institutions must adhere to a common set of standards to become and remain eligible for membership in SARA. At time of publishing, there are 23 member states. They can be found on the NC-SARA website. Currently, there are additional states in various stages of application for membership. For updated status of legislation and application status of individual states or for more information on NC-SARA, visit their website at nc-sara.org. O Note from Jeffrey Cropsey, CCME President: CCME thanks Lane Huber, Bismarck State College, Chief Distance Learning & Military Affairs Officer, for his synopsis of the CCME Roundtable on State Authorization Reciprocity. For more information about our organization, please visit CCMEonline.org.
San Antonio, TX February 15-18, 2016 For membership, scholarship, exhibition and sponsorship opportunities, please visit us at:
www.ccmeonline.org 22 | MAE&T 10.5
www.MAE-kmi.com
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&T RESOURCE CENTER Advertisers Index
Transition Trends:
Baker College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4 www.bakercollegeonline.com
Academy of Art University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4 www.academyart.edu American Military University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.amuonline.com/mae Excelsior College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 www.excelsior.edu/military Kansas State University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 http://global.k-state.edu/military Thomas Edison State College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 https://mvp.tesc.edu University of Rochester-Simon Business School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 www.simon.rochester.edu Upper Iowa University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 www.uiu.edu/mae
Cambridge College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 cambridgecollege.edu/mba EPCI University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 www.ecpi.edu/fast-facts Empire State College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 www.esc.edu/grad Grantham University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 www.grantham.edu Southern New Hampshire University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 www.snhu.edu Stratford University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.stratford.edu/vets The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 http://go.osu.edu/veteransmba The University of Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 www.online.nebraska/edu/mae University of Texas Dallas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 http://emba.utdallas.edu University of The Incarnate Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 http://military.uiw.edu
Calendar August 9-12, 2015 Enlisted Association of the National Guard of U.S. (EANGUS) Indianapolis, Ind. http://eangus.org/events/44thannual-conference
October 15-17, 2015 2015 MBA Veterans Career Conference Nashville, Tenn. http://mbaveterans.com/2015conference
NEVER STOP LEARNING Are you looking for a school that supports and serves military students?
You need Military Advanced Education’s 2015 Guide to Colleges and Universities - A guide to best practices in military/veteran education. Find the school that best suits your needs by searching the MAE database. Compare and contrast schools in these categories: • Military Culture • Financial Aid • Flexibility • Support On Campus and Online
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MAE&T 10.5 | 23
UNIVERSITY CORNER
Military Advanced Education & Transition
Mark Dreyfus President ECPI University
Q: What are some of your most popular programs, and which ones are the most appealing to military students?
Q: Please provide a brief overview of your school’s history, mission and curriculum. A: ECPI University is career-focused, offering accelerated, hands-on skills-based degrees. ECPI provides a military-supportive, student-centered environment, featuring small class sizes, tutoring, industry certifications and extensive career services. Taking two classes at a time in our yearround schedule, students can earn college credit every five weeks and complete a bachelor’s degree in 2.5 years (30 months) or an associate’s in 1.5 years. Classes are offered day, night, weekends and online. The university offers programs in information technology, electronics engineering technology, nursing, health science, criminal justice, business and culinary arts. ECPI University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees and diploma programs. Q: What is your school’s background in military education? A: Since its inception in 1966, ECPI University has taught students the same way the military does. Here, students learn by doing. Hands-on education is a proven learning method that reinforces the material taught in the classroom and allows graduates to apply their knowledge in the real world. When students commit to completing their degree after years in the military, they come to ECPI University because they know they can “get it done.” ECPI is a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Degree Network System (DNS). As an SOC DNS school, ECPI University honors courses from other DNS schools and reviews all JST transcripts to award as much credit as possible to the military member. In 2013, ECPI University was selected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 24 | MAE&T 10.5
for its prestigious Vet Success on Campus (VSOC) program. ECPI is one of 94 schools nationwide that have an in-house VA Counselor to support all of their veteran students. Finally, ECPI University is a Yellow Ribbon Participating College. Q: What online degree and certificate programs do you offer and how do these distance learning programs fit in with the lives of active duty and transitioning military personnel? A: ECPI University offers 15 online degree programs in technology, health science, business, criminal justice and nursing. Popular degree programs include network security, software development, mechatronics, electronic engineering technology, and business. It is also an Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard distance learning partner. The university is part of the NCPACE program for the Navy, where sailors and marines can take courses at sea via CD. ECPI University’s programs are approved for tuition assistance and VA benefits, and the school is a full Yellow Ribbon participant for all 100 percent eligible GI Bill students. Q: What are some of your school’s main goals in meeting the future challenges of online education for the military? A: We are launching two new Master’s programs, one in nursing and an MBA. Both start in August 2015 online.
A: Our advanced manufacturing (mechatronics) technology program and our network security program are our two most popular programs with veterans and military. Other popular programs include nursing and our advanced clinical programs like medical radiography, physical therapy and diagnostic sonography. Q: What is your school doing to keep up with growing technologies and opportunities related to distance learning? A: We are constantly investing in our learning management system to create more simulation, hands-on skills through virtualization, and services. Trying to be available when students want to study is a challenge for all schools. We are truly becoming a mobile university with mobile classes, services and available staff and faculty on nights and weekends. Q: Do you have any closing thoughts? A: At ECPI University, we are dedicated to helping our veteran and military students get the most out of their education and military experience. Our faculty, many of whom are veterans themselves, are dedicated to student success, as well as our military teams who assist every step of the way, including with financial aid, student services, counseling, extra academic help and anything else servicemembers might need to graduate. Our campuses with highveteran/military populations have Student Veterans of America chapters to make our vet students feel at home. We continue to support them in every way and help them overcome the challenges of going to school full time while maintaining a family life. We take pride in our career services and employment assistance teams, with the goal being a successful career after graduation. O www.MAE-kmi.com
The Distance Learning Issue July/August 2015 Volume 10, Issue 6
Education and Career Transition Guide for Servicemembers and Veterans
Cover and In-Depth Interview with
Kenneth Hardy Chief Education Services Branch National Guard Bureau Transition Trends:
Careers in Homeland Security
Features Roundtable: Online Schools MAE&T profiles a variety of online schools, asking them how they back up their online course content with ancillary services students need.
Accelerated Online Degrees Would you be willing to work a little harder to graduate a lot faster? Accelerated programs consist of short online classes that can compress your time spent in the classroom.
Designing Online Courses How online courses are designed for the needs of active duty students as well as veterans … and what military students should look for when choosing an online program.
It’s a natural fit for many veterans and servicemembers to make the transition to a civilian career in homeland security. Find out the career prospects for this field and how schools are catering to veterans pursing homeland security degrees.
SPECIAL SECTION Distance Learning These days, online courses and degrees are no longer the exception to the rule. Most colleges and universities embrace some form of distance learning, and it’s especially flexible for the military student. MAE&T looks into the ways in which online learning has evolved.
Insertion Order Deadline: July 3, 2015 | Ad Materials Deadline: July 10, 2015
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.