Navy Announces New Education Partnerships - higher education program for sailors - Brief Article

All Hands, April, 2001

Responding to Sailors' needs for greater access to higher education, the Navy College Program (NCP) has developed new partnerships with 16 colleges and universities to offer rating-related degrees via distance learning to Sailors everywhere.

These new education partnerships provide associate's and bachelor's degree programs related to each rating and make maximum use of military professional training and experience to fulfill degree requirements. The program also provides opportunities to take courses through distance learning so that Sailors anywhere will be able to pursue a degree.

Beginning in January 2001, the college partners can be reached by hotlinks from the Navy College Center (NCC). Although all Navy ratings are paired with at least one degree choice, some ratings need additional options.

NCP will seek additional education partnerships in spring 2001. The new partnerships are: City University, Renton, Wash.; Coastline Community College, Fountain Valley, Calif.; Dallas County Community College, Dallas; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.; Empire State University, Saratoga Springs, N.Y; Florida Community College, Jacksonville, Fla.; Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.; Fort Hays State University, Hayes, Kan.; George Washington University, Washington, D.C.; Old Dominion University, Norfolk; Pikes Peak Community College, Colorado Springs, Cob.; Rogers State University, Claremore, Okla.; Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, N.J; Troy State University, Troy, Ala.; University of Maryland, University College, Adelphi, Md.; and Vincennes University, Vincennes, Ind.

Partner colleges will offer courses in a variety of formats, such as CD-ROM, videotape, paper, or over the Internet.

During the past year, introduction of the Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART), the NCC and the virtual Navy College Office have provided easy access and revolutionized the Sailor's ability to find out the amount of recommended college credit they have. Additionally, the 64 Navy College Offices worldwide have increased staffing to better provide academic counseling.

"The response from the fleet has been overwhelming," said Ileen Rogers, the Navy's director of Voluntary Education Requirements and Policy. "As of October, the Navy College Center had logged more than 500,000 hits."

One of the most requested items supplied by the NCP is the SMART, a computer-generated transcript that will automatically record the recommended college credit a Sailor earns for military training and work experience.

"Sailors can also submit official copies of their SMART to academic institutions of their choice," said Barry Nelson director of the Navy College Center (NCC) at Saufley Field, Fla. "Every Sailor graduating from recruit training and evaluated 'A' and 'C' schools are given a summary SMART. As of October, in just a little more than a year of operation, the NCP staff had responded to more than 400,000 requests for the SMART."

There are many ways to find out about your education opportunities: go to your Navy College Office; visit the NCC web site at http://www.navycollege.navy.mil; e-mail the NCC at mailto:ncc@cnet.navy.mil; or call the toll-free number (877) 253-7122 or (DSN) 922-1828.