1. SOC Programs Update Lygie Hinkle, SOC DNS Articulation Coordinator Kathy Snead, SOC Director

2. Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) SOC was established in 1972 to help meet the voluntary higher education needs of servicemembers. SOC is a Department of Defense (DoD) contractor supporting government-sponsored education programs funded through a DoD-managed contract with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). SOC Mission  Serve as a vehicle to help coordinate post-secondary educational opportunities for servicemembers  Strengthen liaison and working relationships among military and higher education representatives  Advocate for flexibility needed to improve access to and availability of educational programs for servicemembers

3. SOC Principles and Criteria  Reasonable with Transfer of Credit from other institutions –Minimum loss of previously earned credits –Avoid coursework duplication  Reduced Academic Residency Requirements –25% maximum for most programs –30% for schools providing undergraduate degrees 100% online –No final year or final semester mandatory requirement  Credit for Military Training and Experience –Award credit for military service schools –Recognize and use ACE Guide in evaluating military training occupational specialty experiences  Credit for Nationally-Recognized Testing Programs –Award credit for at least one nationally-recognized testing program such as CLEP, DSST, ECE/UExcel ®

4. Promoting Best Practices  SOC Principles and Criteria –Embody needed institutional flexibility with thoughtful development of programs and procedures appropriate to the need of servicemembers –Recognize the necessity to protect and assure the quality of educational programs for military student populations  Standards of Good Practice –Stated expectations essential to translating SOC principles into performance and action in terms of college communications, enrollment and recruitment policies, enrollment incentives  Military Student Bill of Rights

5. FY 2015 SOC Changes  SOC Principles and Criteria and the Military Student Bill of Rights continue as integral components of the Services’ Voluntary Education programs  Only SOC Consortium dissolved on December 31, 2014  Provide additional program support for DoD and Military Services (regarding DoD MOU compliance and complaint resolution)  SOC, in coordination with OUSD, will solicit and research issues for white papers/studies from voluntary education stakeholders  Reshape and expand the SOC Degree Network System  Establish a Career and Technical Education Program

7. DoD Program Support  Student Advocate—Troubleshoot and Resolve Academic issues/grievances for servicemembers, family members  Voluntary Education Resource—guide varied group of stakeholders to appropriate resources  Advocacy for Standards of Good Practice (MSBOR, P&C)  Assist with DoD MOU compliance and complaint resolution  Convene info exchange forum /research and develop white papers, as requested

8. What is the Degree Network System? The DNS is a participatory college course articulation system, started in 1979 and includes:  Accredited institutions supporting servicemember degree completion through guaranteed course articulations  Structured Course Category Codes with course to course articulations, in 472 Course Subjects —Two-way guaranteed course transferability among member schools where Course Categories exist —Organized within Degree Networks (academic disciplines)  More than one million SOC DNS Student Agreements issued —Student Agreements are “contracts for degrees” —Issued to servicemembers and their families —Student Agreement remains in effect after servicemember leaves military service

9. DNS on the Web

10. SOC DNS Changes  Consolidated SOC Degree Network System (DNS) with no Service distinctions (SOCAD/NAV/MAR/COAST).  Increased degree options for servicemembers across participating Services— Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.  Focus on coordinating Degree Networks that have guaranteed course transferability among member schools. Affiliate member status phased out.  Major review of degrees/majors that servicemembers are currently enrolled in and those with potential expansion and growth into emerging career fields.  Identify articulation agreements between SOC DNS-2 and DNS-4 institutions for greater transfer acceptance for two-year degrees into four-year programs.  All participants must be DoD MOU signatories.

11. Guaranteed Transfer (GT)  Two-way transfer agreements –SOC DNS Course Category Codes –Grouped by subject area –Focused on major and major-related courses  Established through peer review –SOC DNS Course Circulation  Benefits for military student –Mitigates loss of credit –Provides roadmap and options for degree completion

12. SOC DNS Course Category Code Example

13. Where to Find GT Listings SOC DNS Web page CH. 5 of Handbook

14. Networks  Organizing construct for degrees –Two-way GT rules –Similar content and outcomes  Development –Five institution minimum –40% GT of degree coursework minimum  Request for degree programs –Emerging career fields –Course delivery via place-based, distance, blended

15. Network Development Course review & Category development Designate major and major-related requirements Define Emerging Network Network Launch Peer review through Course Circulation Results (Courses and Degrees) listed on Web and in handbook Emerging Networks under development for FY16-17: DNS-2 Aviation Studies Health Science DNS-4 Cyber Security Logistics Public Safety & Emergency Management

16. DNS-2 Networks Proposed Actions Guaranteed-Transfer Networks AccountingGeneral Business Automotive MaintenanceHospitality Management & Services Business AdministrationManagement Computer StudiesMarketing/Retailing Criminal JusticeOffice Administration & Technology Electronics Technology Paralegal Studies General and Liberal Studies Psychology Auxiliary Networks Allied HealthEducation/Instructional Development Applied Science and TechnologyOther Career-Related Aviation StudiesTechnical Management Construction Technology

17. DNS-4 Networks Proposed Actions Guaranteed-Transfer Networks AccountingHuman Resource Management Banking/FinanceInformation Systems Management Business AdministrationManagement Computer StudiesMarketing/Retailing Criminal JusticePsychology General BusinessPublic Administration Health Services ManagementTechnical Management History Auxiliary Networks Applied Science and TechnologyGeneral and Liberal Studies*** Aviation StudiesHomeland Security CommunicationInterdisciplinary Studies Education/Instructional Development Other Career-Related Electronics TechnologyReligion

18. Military Educator’s Role in Network Development You can assist in this development phase by sharing  High demand/high need occupations in your state/region/sector— bright outlook occupations  Developing programs on campus  High demand degrees that veterans/servicemembers are pursuing

19. Credit Evaluation Supplement  Purpose: academic placement guidelines for mapping non-traditional credit to courses, degree requirements  Credit mapping of ACE credit recommendations for military training & occupational specialty experience from ACE Military Guide  ACE-recommended credit for national testing programs –College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) –DSST –Excelsior College Examinations (ECE/UExcel ®)  Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)  SOC Course Categories (credit mapping recommendations) listed on Joint Services Transcript (JST) Summary Page

20. Where to Find Credit Supplement Mapping

21. SOC Credit Supplement Mappings on Joint Services Transcript (JST)

22. 2+2 Articulations  DNS-4 member institutions agree to accept associate degrees completed in related DNS-2 networks as a minimum of 45% (54 credits of the 120)  SOC charged to explore and implement other options for DNS-2 to DNS-4 course articulations  Discussion about types of existing articulations, college transfer agreements in your state/region  What is the level of detail military students need to know –when initially selecting a college/school –once enrolled and working toward associate level educational goal

23. SOC DNS Status to Date  Revised Institutional-level Membership Criteria: –http://www.soc.aascu.org/socdns/DNSMember.htmlhttp://www.soc.aascu.org/socdns/DNSMember.html  Two-tiered assessment: –membership at the institutional level –academic fit of program offerings within the DNS; review existing and developing emerging Guaranteed Transfer Networks –System that reflects the needs of the Services

24. How to Join SOC DNS Meet Institution Membership Criteria  DoD MOU Signatory  Enrollment trends  Tuition Rates  Course Completion Rate  Readmission policies  Prior learning policies  Complaints Meet Degree Membership Criteria  Minimum of 40% GT  Bright outlook occupation area  Delivery Method(s)  Specialized accreditation

25. SOC and GoArmyEd Academic Facilitator since October 2005 SOC works with HQ ACES (Army Continuing Education System) and the GoArmyEd technology integrator on issues relating to academic policy and college participation in the portal. Responsibilities and Activities  Develop and revise degree maps (with the technology integrator)  Respond to CRM Cases  Assist LOI schools with wide variety of issues  Monitor LOI school compliance  Communicate with stakeholders –Host and facilitate quarterly LOI School calls –Host monthly calls with HQ ACES and the technology integrator to discuss school issues –Send communications to LOI schools as requested –Participate on ACES/IMCOM Field Calls, meetings –Contact colleges when issues are raised by HQ ACES or others  Facilitate academic issues for new LOI colleges  Present school issues and concerns to HQ ACES

26. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program  New program that aligns with the DoD Strategic Plan for Voluntary Education –Promote educational pathways to career and technical programs; focusing on positive employment options upon program completion –Ensure servicemembers are properly informed of the array of educational opportunities including type of degrees and certificates available and education and career roadmap to successful completion  The Program Goal –Highlight and promote Career and Technical Education certificate/associate degrees with bright employment outlooks  Supporting data shaping the Career and Technical Education Program –Tuition Assistance usage and graduation patterns for previous years –Employment forecasts by Department of Labor (bright outlook)

27. New Focus: Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program  SOC to develop, vet, and maintain a resource list of career and technical education degrees (associate level) and certificates  No more than 200 schools/entities initially, covering broad career and technical program areas  Review of vocational/occupations programs completed by Servicemembers (across all Services) –Meets educational needs of military, have bright employment outlooks, and meet the program criteria –credit-bearing certificate programs closely aligned with identified career fields –Determined that bright outlook clusters/pathways at the associate level sufficiently covered by SOC DNS Networks

28. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program  National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) - www.careertech.org/Career-Clusterswww.careertech.org/Career-Clusters  The initial application phase began fall 2015 in these areas: –Business Management & Administration –Health Sciences –Information Technology –Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security –Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics –Transportation, Distribution & Logistics  CTE Resource Guide available on SOC Web site spring 2016  Additional solicitations may be released for underserved, high need Clusters

29. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program Business Management & Administration Business Administration Entrepreneurial Studies Human Resources Operations Management Information Technology Information Support & Services Network Systems Programming & Software Development Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security Emergency Management Services Homeland Security Transportation, Distribution & Logistics Logistics Operations Supply Chain Operations Transportation Operations Warehousing & Distribution Center Operations Health Sciences Healthcare Practitioners & Technical Occupations Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Emergency Medical Technician Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Paramedic Pharmacy Technician Healthcare Support Occupations Dental Assistant Endoscopy Technician Health Information Technician Medical Assistant Medical Records Phlebotomist Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Electronics Engineering Technology

30.  Institutional requirements can be reviewed at http://www.soc.aascu.org/soccte/CTEMember.html. http://www.soc.aascu.org/soccte/CTEMember.html  Must be DoD MOU signatories  Review evaluated credit for military training and occupational experience within each certificate program, where applicable  Approved by the appropriate State Approving Agency (SAA) for Veteran Affairs education benefits  Stackable or fully integrate into other college-offered degree programs  Programmatic accreditation, if applicable  Affirmation of compliance with the SOC Principles and Criteria Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program Criteria

31.  Received applications from 96 colleges/universities for 1,108 certificate programs  Active list includes 76 institutions from 33 states and Puerto Rico  More than 450 certificate programs are still actively being evaluated for inclusion  Break out by Career Clusters: –Information Technology – 35% –Business Management and Administration – 29% –Health Sciences – 27% –Science, Technology, Engineering, Math – 6% –Law/Public Safety/Corrections/Security – 3% –Transportation/Distribution/Logistics – 1% Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program Status

32. For Discussion  How to increase visibility of the career and technical education career options and outlook within the voluntary education community (servicemembers, counselors, colleges).  Ideas for potential partnerships and opportunities for attracting additional military students to the career and technical education certificates and degrees?

33. Where to Find CTE Answers

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35. Contact Us Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges 1307 New York Avenue, NW Fifth Floor Washington, DC 20005-4701 Phone: (800) 368-5622 (202) 667-0079 Fax: (202) 667-0622 E-mail: socmail@aascu.org Web site: http://www.soc.aascu.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ ServicemembersOpportunityColleges