Katie Giardello Director of Veteran and Transfer Initiatives Michigan Center for Student Success MCCA Michigan Student Success Network Virtual Meeting January 29, 2016 Academic Credit for Military Experience: A Closer Look at the Issues and Strategies for Increasing Capacity on Your Campus

Discussion Agenda Framing the Issue: MI, Vets, & Education Key Concepts and Critical Issues Tangible Strategies for Action Questions and Feedback

Framing the Issue: MI, Vets, & Education 635,000 veterans in MI, the 11 th highest in the U.S., in 2012 –At that time, MI ranked LAST for use of VA educational benefits In , 13,526 MI students utilized G.I. Bill benefits –85% of these students enrolled in a MI public institution of higher education - both colleges and universities 12,000 new veterans are projected to end their military service and return to MI by 2018 with another 7,000 projected to follow by 2024

Framing the Issue: MI, Vets, & Education Partners in MI MDVA - MI Department of Military & Veterans AffairsMI Department of Military & Veterans Affairs Michigan National Guard MVAA - MI Veterans Affairs AgencyMI Veterans Affairs Agency MCAN - Michigan College Access NetworkMichigan College Access Network –MVEI - Michigan Veteran Education Initiative (collaborative with MVAA)Michigan Veteran Education Initiative VCATs - Veteran Community Action TeamsVeteran Community Action Teams

Framing the Issue: MI, Vets, & Education White House Support Joining Forces Executive Order - Principles of Excellence for Educational InstitutionsExecutive Order - Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions 8 Keys to Success: Supporting Veterans, Military and Military Families on Campus8 Keys to Success: Supporting Veterans, Military and Military Families on Campus

Key Concepts and Critical Issues Key Concepts DD-214 JST - Joint Services TranscriptJoint Services Transcript CCAF - Community College of the Air ForceCommunity College of the Air Force AU - Air UniversityAir University Army U - coming soon!coming soon! PLA - Prior Learning Assessment (CAEL)Prior Learning Assessment (CAEL) CPL - Credit for Prior Learning (ACE)Credit for Prior Learning (ACE)

Key Concepts and Critical Issues National Players DoD - Department of DefenseDepartment of Defense DANTES - Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education SupportDefense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support SOC - Service Members Opportunity ConsortiumService Members Opportunity Consortium ACE - American Council on EducationAmerican Council on Education CAEL - Council on Adult and Experiential LearningCouncil on Adult and Experiential Learning MCMC - Multi-State Collaborative on Military CreditMulti-State Collaborative on Military Credit SVA – Student Veterans of AmericaStudent Veterans of America –See Million Records Project for interesting data from collaboration with the National Student ClearinghouseMillion Records Project

Key Concepts and Critical Issues VA Educational Benefits Post-9/11 GI Bill Montgomery GI Bill Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR & E/Voc Rehab) Survivors and Dependents Assistance (John David Fry and DEA) … and more!and more!

Key Concepts and Critical Issues Regulatory Complexities State Approving Agencies (SAA) –SAAs grant approval of VA-eligible education and training programsapproval Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 Federal Aid Regulations –SAP/150% ruleSAP/150% rule –90/10  85/15 rule (link opens an attachment)85/15 rule VA processes can implicate certain bursar practices

Key Concepts and Critical Issues VA Assistance for Students -VA Education Call Center , open 7AM-7PM -ASAP call back or Scheduled Call Back features -MI Education Liaison Representative (ELR) -Lisa Cox, -VONAPP – Veterans Online ApplicationVONAPP -Apply for benefits online

Key Concepts and Critical Issues VA Assistance for Institutions -School Certifying Officials -SCO Hotline (ONLY for SCOs): School Certifying Official HandbookSchool Certifying Official Handbook -VA ONCEVA ONCE -Online enrollment certification -MI Education Liaison Representative (ELR) -Lisa Cox, -MI uses St. Louis RPO – Regional Processing Office

Tangible Strategies for Action Critical Issues to Explore on Your Campus Priority and capacity for promoting a comprehensively inclusive campus culture for student veterans, starting with intake processes Support for giving credit for competency-based educational structures, such as military training and experience Consideration of alignment of military occupational specialties (MOS) and/or credit recommendations with your academic catalog Faculty familiarity with ACE recommendations

Tangible Strategies for Action Recommended Areas of Emphasis Application and Registration Processes –Consider your application processes for student veterans –Transparency of processes- JST Processing, ACE credit evaluations & PLA –Consider priority registration for student veterans ACE Credit Recommendations –Create equivalencies tailored to your catalog –Track credits awarded on a master database Degree Mapping/Bridge Programming –Align military specialties and experiences with appropriate academic programs Innovations in Recognizing Applying Military Experience as Credit –“Gen ed” waivers for wellness/PE, global awareness, leadership, communications, etc. depending on the experience

Tangible Strategies for Action Get to Know the JST DoD JST Site –Introductory video about the JST –Opportunities for students and staff to give feedback on the JST ACE Transcripts for Military Personnel Obtain a Joint Services Transcript (JST)

Tangible Strategies for Action Transparency for Degree Seekers Resource/reference page for student veterans –Examples: Central Michigan University Grand Valley State University Macomb Community College Mott Community College Northwestern MI College Michigan State University Military credit databases –MNSCU exampleMNSCU example –Transferology – free to use for military equivalencies!Transferology

Tangible Strategies for Action Understand ACE Credit Recommendations Faculty Evaluation Process –ACE faculty reviewers must have at least 5 years teaching experience, come from accredited institutions Military Guide Online –Search by course or occupation –Updated daily Toolkit for Veteran Friendly Institutions –Includes a webinar overview of the ACE toolkit

Tangible Strategies for Action Explore Degree Mapping/Bridge Programming LCC’s Military Medic to Paramedic- Nationally recognized!LCC’s Military Medic to Paramedic Kirtland CC Military Police Program Central TX College Military Degree Maps Armed Forces Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) –Army COOLArmy COOL –Marine Corps COOLMarine Corps COOL –Navy COOLNavy COOL Marine Corps Career Colleges Program (MCCCP) ACE Degree Mapping Webinars –Navigating to the webinars can be a little tricky – call me for help!

Tangible Strategies for Action Innovations in Applying Military Experience Global awareness for overseas deployments Foreign Language, if appropriate PE/Wellness for Basic Training Leadership/Management for certain military rankings Waivers vs. credit awards PLA options as supplement to ACE credit recommendations What else? What ideas has this generated for you?

Katie Giardello Director, Veteran and Transfer Initiatives Michigan Center for Student Success Connect with CMVE on Facebook! Get in touch. Get involved!