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DANTES INFORMATION BULLETIN
2017
Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges In this issue: SOC Program Overview
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Counselor Tools & Resources
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SAT Updates
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Troops to Teachers Spotlight
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Contact Information
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What Counselors Should Know About SOC DNS Michelle Alexander, Communications Division, DANTES
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oday’s military members have access to a variety of voluntary education opportunities that can help them reach their personal and professional goals. However, military students face challenges that may slow their progression toward completing requirements for certificate and degree programs. This includes the mobile military lifestyle, deployment cycles, balancing family commitments, and being unaware of support resources. Students may also have questions about programs of study, degree requirements, transfer credits, and career plans. The Department of Defense (DoD) sponsors the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Degree Network System (DNS) to connect service members to high quality education institutions to help address some of the challenges and questions students may face.
Voluntary education personnel in academic advising roles should be familiar with the SOC DNS program and how it supports the military student. It is important as a counselor to be able to: • • •
•
•
Provide a thorough explanation of SOC DNS educational opportunities Refer service members to SOC DNS member institutions Discuss degree options, academic residency requirements, and how to navigate the SOC DNS Transferability Tables Provide instructions on how to obtain official evaluation of prior learning documentation, so the college can conduct a complete official evaluation in a timely manner Discuss how a SOC DNS Student Agreement reflects the results of that evaluation for a clear road map to degree completion Continued on page 2
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Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Program Overview SOC was established in 1972 to help meet the higher education needs of service members. The DNS is comprised of colleges and universities that have adopted specific DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (DoD MOU) policies to ensure service members earn college degrees that meet certain quality standards. The program facilitates the transferability of college credits while maximizing the proper award of academic credit for prior learning earned through military training and experience and credit by examination. The DNS consists of institutions selected to deliver specific associate/bachelor’s degree programs to service members. The SOC DNS includes: • •
DNS-2 for associate degrees DNS-4 for bachelor’s degrees
completion even with changes in duty station, or in response to other demands of a student’s military career. Student benefits include: •
• • •
The SOC DNS-2 and the SOC DNS-4 function as separate systems. Institutions may participate in either • system exclusively or participate in both systems. Military Student Benefits The SOC DNS program is designed to help service members begin a degree program and continue to
Receiving an official SOC Student Agreement that: »» Serves as a contract-for-degree to protect from changes to degree requirements »» Ensures quality standards of education »» Remains in effect, even if the member leaves the military before graduating Requires limited academic residency Enables completion of courses via in-classroom, distance learning, and prior learning assessment Guarantees two-way transferability: »» Courses eligible for transfer between academic institutions are listed on Transferability Tables under a particular SOC DNS Course Category Includes comprehensive degree plan listing all course requirements, transfer credits granted through training/experience
Additional information for students is available at http://www.soc.aascu.org/students.
Key Program Components Student Selects a Home College
Other Colleges
Home College
Home college issues SOC DNS Student Agreement (“Contract for Degree”) based on full evaluation of prior learning: • courses from other colleges • results of nationally recognized test (e.g. CLEP, DSST, ECE) • ACE Military Guide credit recommendations for military training and experience • certification examinations The student completes 25% academic residency (30% for fully online degree) while completing the degree.
Meeting Service Member’s Needs
Forwarding Credit
Transcripts and Documentation
Student seeks prior, official approval from the home college to transfer other courses to meet degree requirements.
Non-Traditional Credit
SOC DNS Student Agreement is updated as additional military-related credit and nationally recognized testing program are completed to satisfy remaining degree programs.
Home College Awards Degree DANTES Information Bulletin
Remaining degree requirements on the SOC DNS Student Agreement may be completed at other colleges. Courses with SOC DNS Course Category Codes shared by Core member institutions transfer back to the home college.
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Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Home College The SOC DNS member institution from which the service member is seeking a degree is designated the “home college.� The home college is responsible for issuing a Student Agreement when the student has completed their first two courses at that school. DNS Member Institutions SOC DNS institutions are required to meet a number of institutional and degree membership criteria for participation in the system. These criteria are available under the DNS Membership section of the SOC website located at http://www.soc.aascu.org/degree-network-system/soc-dns-membership. All current and new DNS institutional members are evaluated against these criteria to ensure that the program yields quality educational experiences for service members. Institutional members of the SOC DNS agree to ensure that the programs within the network offer: Flexible Delivery Methods Emerging Career Fields
Delivery methods that are flexible, as identified by the U.S. Dept. of Education; includes classroom instruction, online and prior learning accessment Degree programs in emerging career fields that are in high demand with positive job placement opportunities, per U.S. Department of Labor
Guaranteed Transferability Programmatic Accreditation Career-Related Degrees
Guaranteed transferability among participating network institutions Specialized Programmatic Accreditation for applicable degree programs, as identified by the U.S. Department of Education Career-related degrees with a direct relationship to military occupational specialties and ratings
Program Articulations
DANTES Information Bulletin
Program articulations that include existing articulation agreements (for example, in-state, 2+2, etc)
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Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges
Degree Networks A SOC DNS Academic Network consists of a number of degree programs in a single academic area offered by SOC DNS member institutions. For example, the SOC DNS-2 Computer Studies degree network offers degree programs in Programmer Analyst, Computer Networking, Information Technology, and Network Security. DNS degrees are generally offered through a variety of delivery methods, including distance learning, traditional classroom setting, and prior learning assessment. Degrees in the network must achieve a 40 percent standard of two-way guaranteed transferability in major and major-related courses with other member institutions. Courses with two-way guaranteed transferability are listed in the SOC DNS transferability tables. In June of 2016, SOC completed its membership review and network revitalization. The review focused on reshaping the DNS to support high demand occupations with bright employment outlooks in support of DoD's Voluntary Education strategic plan. As a result, some of the previous networks were retired or reshaped. The following networks remain in the DNS: Associate Degree Networks Bachelor’s Degree Networks Applied Science & Technology Accounting Automotive Maintenance Technical Management Business Administration Business Administration Computer Studies Computer Studies Criminal Justice Criminal Justice Electronics Technology Education/Instructional Development General and Liberal Studies General Business General Business Health Services Management Management Homeland Security Psychology Human Resource Management Technical Management Information Systems Management Marketing/Retailing Psychology Psychology New networks are in the process of development or expansion in the areas of: • Homeland Security (4-year programs) • Health Services Management (4-year programs) • Applied Science and Technology (2-year programs) • Psychology (2-year programs) • Health Science Foundations (2 year) • Cyber Security (4 year) To search available degree programs through member institutions, use the SOC DNS Search tool at http://www.soc.aascu.org/degree-network-system/soc-dns-search-tool. DANTES Information Bulletin
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Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Student Agreements Every SOC DNS member institution must issue a Student Agreement for degree programs listed in the DNS to each degree-seeking student who has chosen that institution as their home college. The student agreement must be issued early in the student’s enrollment at the college, when the college has received all of the student’s relevant transcripts, or when the student has completed six semester hours with the home college. The Student Agreement is the official evaluation of the student’s prior learning, including courses taken from other institutions, military training school courses, military occupational experience (MOS or Rating), and nationally recognized examination programs. The student agreement serves as a degree plan so that the student has a complete assessment of remaining degree requirements. It also serves as a contract-for-degree that protects the student from changes to their degree program that may occur because of deployment or other military-related interruptions to their studies.
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Guaranteed Transferability & Course Categories The Guaranteed-Transfer Networks are designed to maximize guaranteed transferability for as many major and major-related course requirements listed in degree programs as possible. Students complete degree requirements as they change locations during their military careers without loss or duplication of credit, or respond to other demands of a military career. A SOC DNS Course Category Code is established whenever a group of institutions agree to accept courses in transfer from each other that are comparable in content. All comparable courses that have been reviewed and accepted in transfer by core member institutions in a particular course category are displayed in the transferability tables under that code. Core member institutions sharing the same SOC DNS course category must accept each other’s courses in those categories in transfer without prior approval.
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Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges
Articulation Agreements Articulation Agreements serve as a credit-granting map between two or more colleges or universities and their degree programs. The best example of how an articulation agreement works is when a student enrolls in an associate degree program to pursue a specific degree. The school offering the associate degree may have entered into an agreement with another school offering a bachelor’s degree in a similar field of study. By completing an associate degree that is part of an articulation agreement, the student is generally assured that all, or most, of the credits completed for the associate degree will be accepted into the bachelor’s degree program of the “receiving” school. All credits from an associate degree from one college may not be completely accepted by another college in transfer toward a bachelor’s degree. Courses are generally accepted in transfer only after a courseby-course evaluation by the accepting college. All member institutions in the SOC DNS-4, however, have agreed to accept an associate degree completed in a related SOC DNS-2 network as a minimum of 45 percent of the credits needed for a related bachelor’s degree, with certain stated limitations. The designated 2-year networks to which this guarantee applies, and the corresponding 4-year networks are: SOC DNS-2 Network SOC DNS- 4 Network Business Administration Business Administration Computer Studies Computer Studies Criminal Justice Criminal Justice General Business General Business Management Health Services Management Human Resources Management Management Psychology Psychology General Education Requirement The minimum transfer of 45 percent of the credits needed to complete the bachelor’s degree assumes that the associate degree included at least 30 semester hours of General Education credits. If a student does not have these courses when transferring a DNS-2 degree, the receiving institution may add sufficient General Education credits to the remaining bachelor’s degree requirements.
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Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Basic Course Requirement The minimum transfer of 45 percent of the credits needed to complete the bachelor’s degree assumes that specified basic courses have been completed in the associate degree. Basic courses in DNS degrees in Business Administration, Human Resources Management, and Management, may include six semester hours in Accounting Principles and six semester hours in Principles of Economics (or Microeconomics and Macroeconomics), as well as other additional course requirements. If a student does not have these courses when transferring a DNS-2 degree into a related DNS-4 degree, the receiving institution may add appropriate courses to the remaining bachelor’s degree requirements. If the 4-year institution demonstrates that external regulatory or accreditation requirements mandate courses not contained in the associate degree being transferred, those courses may be added. Academic Residency Academic residency refers to the minimum amount of credits taken at the home college in order to graduate. Courses may be taken in any delivery format to satisfy the residency requirement. All degree programs limit academic residency to 25 percent or less of the total degree program. None of the degree programs require a “final year” or “final semester” residency requirement. The only excep-
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tion is when a degree may be completed entirely online. In those instances, the residency requirement may be increased to 30 percent. Participating institutions that offer degrees through the learning assessment method often require substantially less than 25 percent academic residency. Completing Degrees After Military Service One benefit of attending a SOC DNS institution is that all member schools must continue to honor Student Agreements even after the student leaves the military. Student Agreements remain valid as long as the student does not exceed the school’s degree completion time limit or break-in-attendance policy. Degree completion time and attendance policies vary by institution. Family Member Participation Adult family members who attend a SOC DNS member institution are entitled to many of the same policies and benefits as the service member. These include a Student Agreement, the use of two-way Guarantee-Transfer, reduced academic residency, etc. An adult family member is defined as a spouse or adult child of the military member. While member institutions are not required to complete Student Agreements for family members and do not submit them to the SOC DNS for processing, they may offer them to family members.
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Counselor Tools & Resources Quarterly Newsletter Did you know that SOC publishes a quarterly news and information bulletin? The SOC DNS Dispatch is the quarterly newsletter for the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Degree Network System program. View current and previous additions at http://www.soc.aascu.org/ publications-and-resources/publications/details/ soc-dns-dispatch Click on picture to go to website
SOC DNS Handbooks The SOC DNS Handbooks are an advising resource for academic advisors, military counselors and service members. These comprehensive guides serve as a reference tool outlining key components of the DNS including: • Contact and college information for all DNS member institutions • Degree programs and delivery methods • On-base locations where member schools offer traditional classroom learning opportunities • Transferability Tables • The SOC DNS Student Agreement
Click on the booklets to go directly to the handbooks
Access the Spring 2017 editions of the Handbooks for SOC DNS-2 at http://www.soc.aascu.org/
publications-and-resources/publications/ details/soc-degree-network-system-2handbook-spring-2017 and DNS-4 Handbooks at http://www.soc.aascu.org/publications-andresources/publications/details/soc-degreenetwork-system-4-handbook-spring-2017
SOC DNS Student Agreement
The cornerstone of the DNS is the SOC DNS Student Agreement. This is the college’s commitment to the student’s degree plan and a counseling tool that also brings together all the key components of the system. It encapsulates a blended learning model that includes an evaluation of traditional and non-traditional credit sources. To view the Student Agreement and an archived webinar explaining the form, visit http://www.soc.aascu.org/degree-network-system/
student-agreement
Not sure what academic credit should be awarded for inclusion on a Student Agreement? The ACE Military Guide and SOC DNS Credit Evaluation Supplement will help you!
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Counselor Tools & Resources ACE Military Guide
The American Council on Education (ACE) Military Guide presents credit recommendations for courses and occupations offered by all branches of the military as well as the Department of Defense. To access the ACE Military Guide, visit http://www.acenet.edu/news-
room/Pages/Military-Guide-Online.aspx
Click on picture to go to website
When advising a military student, it is important to map the ACE Military Guide credit recommendations to SOC DNS Course Categories. These mappings should serve as academic placement guidelines for optimizing the application of non-traditional credit to SOC DNS degree programs.
SOC DNS Credit Evaluation Supplement The SOC DNS Credit Evaluation Supplement is a resource designed for use with the SOC DNS Handbooks and the ACE Military Guide. It contains tables that suggest appropriate mappings to SOC DNS Course Categories of the following: • Subject Area Terms Mapped to SOC DNS Course Categories; • ACE recommended credit for nationally-recognized credit-by-examination programs including CollegeLevel Examination Program (CLEP), DSST, and Excelsior College Examinations (ECE)/UExcel®; and • Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) courses.
Click booklet to go directly to booklet/ Website
To access the SOC DNS Credit Evaluation Supplement, visit http://www.soc.aascu.org/publications-and-
resources/resources/details/soc-degree-networksystem-credit-evaluation-supplement Mapping is displayed on the summary page of the Joint Services Transcript (JST). College counselors and evaluators are encouraged to consider these recommendations when evaluating and applying credit to DNS degree requirements appearing on Student Agreements.
SOC DNS 2 Year to 4 Year Articulation Map The articulation map identifies existing articulation agreements between SOC DNS-2 and SOC DNS-4 member schools. Many schools have articulation agreements with other schools; for example, community colleges often have articulation agreements with four-year public colleges and universities in the same state. The college information pages in Chapter 3 of the SOC DNS Handbook provide information about member schools’ participation in articulation agreements. Specific information can be obtained by contacting the school directly. To access the Articulation Map, visit http://www.soc.aascu. org/publications-and-resources/resources/details/ soc-dns-2-year-to-4-year-articulation-map
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Counselor Tools & Resources
Tips for Advising Students on the DNS The Military Service voluntary education counselor is a key advisor to potential military students and their family members who are identifying their education goals and degree options. This document is designed to assist the counselor in addressing important points of consideration for military students as they plan their academic career path utilizing the SOC DNS while serving in the military. Access Tips for Advising Students About the SOC Degree Network System at http://
www.soc.aascu.org/publicationsand-resources/resources/details/ soc-dns-2-year-to-4-year-articulation-map
Click on picture to go to website
Workshops and Webinars The SOC program conducts a number of Workshops and Webinars each year. These have two primary goals. One is to bring college representatives up to date on service-specific SOC programs. The second is to highlight ways colleges can use all SOC programs to recruit and retain students in a military market consisting of active duty service members, reserve component members, and veterans. For presentation slides from previous briefings and workshops and archived webinar recordings conducted by SOC visit http://www.soc.aascu.org/
workshops-and-webinars
Click on picture to go to website
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Program Updates
Hot News
course curricula and provides value to students pursing higher education. Beginning May 22, transcripts and score reports for the following DSST exams will include the updated 2017 ACE credit recommendations:
No SATs from July 1 – Sept 30 2017 June 30, 2017 is the last day for administration of this year’s SAT. SAT testing is not authorized from July 1 - Sept. 30. Therefore, any SAT 73 exams administered after June 30 will not be scored. Examinees should be informed of this deadline. In lieu of the SAT, please use the ACT from July - Sept.
3 Upper Baccalaureate: Fundamentals of Cybersecurity
3 Baccalaureate: Business Ethics & Society Business Mathematics Criminal Justice DANTES test sites may continue to use the current Environment and Humanity SAT examination 73, until the June 30 cutoff. Return Fundamentals of College Algebra Fundamentals of Counseling all SAT 73 exams immediately after June 30. Human Resource Management New materials will be available after Sept.1 and Lifespan Developmental Psychology may be administered upon receipt. SAT materials Organizational Behavior are not automatically shipped each new year and Principles of Finance will not be shipped until the previous year’s SAT 73 Principles of Statistics test booklets are received at the testing agency. Technical Writing Additional information is available by emailing View updated exam fact sheets at http://getcolexams@navy.mil. legecredit.com/exam_fact_sheets DSST Content Meets Curriculum Requirements Visit DSST’s credit awarding institutions page, As part of Prometric’s annual ACE review process, http://gcc.preview.dxrgroup.com/institutions/ 13 exams have been updated to include new test to review a summary on the test development questions and content outlines. They will be reprocess, scoring methodologies and technical published in mid-May. Prometric, owners of the data sheets. To view credit recommendation status DSST exam, participates in the ACE review process within the ACE Military Guide, visit http://www2. to ensure that the DSST exam is in line with current acenet.edu/credit/?fuseaction=browse.main DANTES Information Bulletin
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Education Spotlight
Principal Ernie Rosado, Major, AF (Ret.)
Mission Statement: “Do the Right Thing!”
By Erin Roberts, Communications Division, DANTES missile launch officer do in the civilian world?” He had no idea.
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rincipal Ernie Rosado is the epitome of doing what’s right in life; serving his country, pursuing personal and professional goals, taking care of family, and giving back to his community. His story starts in 1978 with the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Puerto Rico, where he was introduced to the value of leadership and the importance of discipline. After he was commissioned, his military career began pulling alerts with the missile nuclear program and the Minuteman-III, where he served on crew perfecting teamwork and doing his job to the best of his ability. His Air Force career included other roles as Deputy and Commander, missile instructor and evaluator, and various other leadership positions further expanding his skills.
He went to the University of West Florida to look at becoming a math teacher. They said certification would take 3½ years, but he needed a job sooner. Teaching simply didn’t look like an option; but a month later, Rosado received a call from the Special Education Department at West Florida telling him that DANTES, the Defense Activity for Non -Traditional Education Support and the university were setting up a “Troops to Teacher” program. “Sounded interesting…” said Rosado and he took a chance. He was sent to observe behavioral disorder students at a local middle school, “And something in my heart said, “This is it. This is what you were meant to do.”” About 25 prior-military students were recruited for the program. Rosado remembers, “We went through a few classes and a few left. We were down to 10 half way through. Four members made it all the way.” Certified in 18 months, they received a Masters in Special Education and graduated in 1995 – all thanks to a non-traditional program called Troops to Teachers (TTT).
As life would have it though, Rosado’s military service took a personal turn when his wife was diagnosed with cancer. What did he do? He did the right thing. Rosado turned down promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and retired early. His main focus now was to take care of his wife. At this point in life, Rosado asked himself that question many military members find themselves asking, “What does a DANTES Information Bulletin
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Education Spotlight was called to active duty and Rosado was selected to fill the position. “From ROTC, to active duty, to retiring, and DANTES helping me transition into the new world through the TTTT program, it all came together and I said here’s my time to show’em what a retired Air Force officer can do. It was a blessing,” said Rosado.
Rosado began his student teaching in Alabama. Two months in, a shortage of special education teachers opened the door with an interview on a Friday and a job on Monday, with 10 behaviorally-challenged students, “And it was tough… transitioning from the military with order and policy to students misbehaving all the time.” Did the military training help? Rosado quickly replies, “Yes! It did… I used the skills I had from the military and I tailored it to the classroom… loyalty, respect, consistency, work ethic and helping my kids prepare for their future.” Fast-forward a few years and Rosado was groomed for an administrative position and returned to school to complete his administrative certification. Every year, he updated his experience with TTT and eventually became an assistant principal, “I never thought that the skills of a missile launch officer could translate into a teaching position and it did… any of us in the military have something inherent in our training… organization skills, leadership skills, teamwork.” The next step for Rosado was to become a principal. This proved not an easy task, “I was told that I just wasn’t the perfect fit.” He was passed over several times and decided to get his doctorate degree. Education was one thing he never took for granted. Then, one day, he fit. An Army Reserve principal
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Rosado eventually became Principal of Gulf Shores High School, Alabama, in 2008, where today he’s proud to walk the halls and mingle with students and teachers alike, “Now, after nine years, I think I’ve made a major difference… it’s been an awesome career through DANTES and TTT taking that leap of faith and doing it through the non-traditional way.” After nine years as Gulf Shores Principal, Rosado is moving on, but not without some advice for other military members looking to teach… • •
• •
“I never turned anything down in the military or the education field. I took everything and learned as much as I could all the time.” “Teaching in the classroom was awesome. But moving into administration directly affects the schools culture and teaching style of the building. Start a culture of caring. If they know you care, they’ll do the work. It’s the personal touch. “I had to sell myself… in the right way, you’ve got to be humble and help others. In order to receive, you have to give.” “Do the right thing… Show’em from the top. Actions speak louder than words… never ask anyone to do something, unless you’ll do it.”
What’s next for Rosado? By choice, he is taking his education experience and going back to his military roots. He will become a military admissions officer for Columbia Southern University, where he says boldly, “Education opens the doors of opportunity and you better be ready with your education cause when that door opens up, if you’re not ready, it’s gonna close and they’ll go with somebody else.”
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DANTES Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support
DANTES OCONUS European Advisor (Contingency Operation Support)
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011-49-611-143-544-1230/1210
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DANTES Information Bulletin The DANTES Information Bulletin is published monthly to inform education personnel about DANTES programs and to help promote more efficient customer service to service members. Email all inquiries to DANTES_Outreach@navy.mil. Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted for any purpose of the United States Government, except that copyrighted materials cannot be reproduced without written permission from the copyright owner. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by DANTES of the linked websites, or the information, products, or services contained therein.
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