An Evaluator s Primer Awarding Credit for Military Training and Experience Cynthia Bruce Director, Military Evaluations Nevada s WICHE-Facilitated Meeting Reno, NV June 2, 2009
Goals To provide a clear understanding of the review process. To increase the awareness, use, and benefit of the transcript services (AARTS, SMART, and ACE transcript).
ACE Center for Lifelong Learning Program Evaluations Military Programs Corporate Programs (CREDIT)
About Military Evaluations The Military Evaluations Program provides institutions with a basis for recognizing military educational experiences in terms of civilian academic credit. Since the early 40s, MEP has reviewed and made credit recommendations for thousands of college-level courses offered by the military services. Since 1974, MEP began evaluation of military occupational specialties as well.
About Military Evaluations 2008 Fiscal Year 35 installation visits 1,200 courses 25 occupations 150 teaching faculty members 3,400 semester hours in the lower division 900 semester hours in the upper division 300 semester hours in the graduate division
Course Evaluations Formal military instruction and military occupations specialties; courses approved by a central authority Correspondence courses with proctored end-of course exams Distance learning/online courses with documented rigid control test conditions and firm identification of the student.
Military Programs Does Not Evaluate Air Force courses transcribed by the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) Military schools with degree-granting status Courses outsourced to colleges and universities
Program Evaluation Activities Evaluate formal courses and occupational specialties Publish course and occupation descriptions and academic credit recommendations Transcript and registry services
Commission on Lifelong Learning Membership includes: campus CEOs higher education institutions educational associations businesses labor unions Term of membership: 3 years Meetings: Spring and Fall www.acenet.edu/content/navigationmenu/about/commissions/lifelong.htm
Reflections or Questions? On to the Evaluation Process
Evaluator Representation Community College 19% Practitioner or Other 3% Accrediting agencies 4-Year College 27% University 51% Types of institutions
Nevada Active Evaluators Name Institution MilProg CREDIT MIVER Dr. Patrick W. Carlton University of Nevada, Las Vegas X X X Dr. Paul B Davis Truckee Meadows Community College Dr. Christine Gibbs Springer University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Serve as an Evaluator You must be actively teaching college-level courses. When your discipline expertise is needed, you are contacted directly to serve on the ACE team. ACE pays all evaluators an honorarium and travel. www.acenet.edu/evaluators evaluators@ace.nche.edu
Faculty Evaluator Database Online application Academic institution affiliation Degrees / credentials Current teaching position Short biography Resume or CV required CIP codes identified Routinely audited www.acenet.edu/evaluators/serve
Military Evaluator Handbook www.acenet.edu/evaluators
Review Committees Content Review Committee (CRC) Role Determines the appropriate content and academic disciplines for courses and occupations Reviews discipline alignment by the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Determines the scope of the team Review Team Selection Committee Role Reviews evaluators nominated for the team Approves nominations
Military Course Evaluations: The General Process Conduct pre-meetings with points of contacts Travel to training locations Review materials (conduct interviews for occupations) Document evaluation and write descriptions Final reports
Sample Course Team Consensus Sheet (TCS) - Military
Military Occupation Evaluations: The General Process Review Committees Content Review Committee (CRC) Review Team Selection Committee Teams Travel to the military installation Review official occupation documentation Interview service members Develop final recommendations
Military Occupation Evaluations: Official Documentation Occupation manuals Technical guides and training manuals Promotion examinations Study guides Other official branch specific documentation
Military Occupation Evaluations: Service Member Interview Focus on the representation of the job expectations at the pay grade Clarification and validation of the official military documentation
Military Occupation Review: Team Process Synthesis of information Alignment to current curricula Determination of post secondary content and rigor Team consensus must be 100%
Military Occupation Evaluations: Team Consensus Sheet (TCS)
Military Evaluations: Related Competencies Aligned with each of the credit recommendation subject areas Displayed in Military Guide Online Implemented in October 2006
Sample Exhibits
Defining College Level Work Content, scope, and rigor must be at the postsecondary level.
Evaluative Criteria Course content Learning outcomes Depth and breadth of material Level of difficulty Applicability to postsecondary programs Evaluative instruments Outside assignments
Types of Credit Vocational / Certificate Lower Division Upper Division Graduate
No Credit Recommended Material presented in the course is not comparable to content and rigor at the post secondary level Material offered is inadequate for a judgment to be made Inadequate outcome assessments
After the Review Internal review Final reports within 30 days Exhibits uploaded to database
Credit Recommendation Life Military: Courses Military: Occupations POI updates No more than 10 years No more than 10 years Re-reviews included as part of DoD contract Trends of realignment, merges, job-task structures
Reflections or Questions? On to Transcripts
Transcript Data Calendar Year # of Transcripts Processed (AARTS) # of Transcripts Processed (SMART) # of Transcripts Processed (CREDIT) 2007 239,613 98,873 7,575 2008 217,913 105,799 7,963
2008: Top 10 Transcript List AARTS SMART ACE Corporate Central Texas College 33,326 University of Phoenix 28,497 University of Maryland University College/Europe/Asia 16,143 American Military University 9031 North Central Institute 8924 Troy University 7178 Excelsior College 5328 American Intercontinental University Online 4810 Grantham University 4342 Pierce College 3762 University of Phoenix 12260 American Intercontinental University 5446 Coastline Community College 4368 Excelsior College 3527 Colorado Technical University OnLine 3302 American Military University (Manassas) 2961 Thomas Edison State College 2374 University of Maryland University College 1807 Park University (Main Campus) 1489 Ashford University 1448 Thomas Edison State College 482 Excelsior College 220 University of Maryland University College 83 Community College of the Air Force 44 University of Phoenix 39 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 34 American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography 30 Ashford University 29 Walden University 29 Michigan Technological University 28
Military Guide Online www.militaryguides.acenet.edu 1954 to1989 The last printed Guide 2006
The Military Guide on CD Newest version on CD is October 2008
Military Transcripts: AARTS, SMART, and CGI
Features of Web Delivery https://aartscolleges.army.mil https://smart.navy.mil
Websites and Contact Information AARTS Operations 415 McPherson Avenue Ft. Leavenworth, KS 66027-1373 Carol Brown LEAV-AARTS@conus.army.mil aartstranscript.army.mil SMART Operations NETPDTC, N2 6490 Saufley Field Road Pensacola, FL 32509 Laurine Anderson sfly_smart@navy.mil 1-850-452-1001 x1097, 1236, or 1149 smart.navy.mil
The National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training www.acenet.edu/nationalguide
ACE Transcript Recognized by colleges/universities, state credentialing authorities, and employment agencies Learners can maintain their own accounts online www.acenet.edu/transcripts
Example CREDIT Exhibits SkillSoft (SmartForce) Learning Tree International FAA Delta Airlines Foreign Service Institute Defense Language Institute
ACE Military Brochures
A Transfer Guide Written specifically for the service member Released March 2009 Provides simple, straightforward guidance on understanding military credit recommendations and transcripts Includes definitions of common terms, answers to frequently asked questions, and a transfer credit checklist Website www.acenet.edu/militaryprograms/transferguide
www.acenet.edu/militaryprograms/resourcetools Quick access to presentation materials Examples of transcripts
Lifelong Learning Resource Center American Council on Education One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20036 Toll Free: 866-205-6267 Military Programs 202-939-9470 or mileval@ace.nche.edu www.acenet.edu/militaryprograms Corporate Programs 202-939-9434 or credit@ace.nche.edu www.acenet.edu/programs/credit