Allows the granting of academic credit at state operated institutions to veterans

6 Co-sponsors

• Adriano Espaillat
• Daniel Burling
• Michael Montesano
• Joseph Saladino
• Felix Ortiz
• Gary Finch

BILL NUMBER:A10594A

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to grant- ing academic credit at state operated institutions of the state univer- sity of New York and the senior colleges of the city university of New York to veterans

Purpose or general idea of the bill

Allows the granting of academic credit at state operated institutions to veterans

Summary of specific provisions

Section one of the bill adds a new section 669-e to the education law which states that State operated institutions must recognize courses and award educational credits for courses that were part of a veteran's military training or service if the courses meet the standards of the American Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic credits.

Justification

Military service members receive an education each day, whether it's on the battlefield, through training, or through on the job experience. Based on their military experiences and training, service members may have college credit recommendations to apply toward a degree requirement or program of study.

Earning college credit can be accomplished in a number of ways. The military transcript of a service member is recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE), the national accrediting agency, who convenes teams of teaching faculty who travel to military installations to evaluate military training courses and occupation-based skills, know- ledge, and abilities. These evaluations are conducted to determine the learning acquired through these experiences. Team members review train- ing materials for programs of instruction, including lesson plans, instructor materials, and examination materials. The evaluators also interview service members, their supervisors, and subject-matter specialists.

Review teams then determine if the demonstrated learning outcomes are equivalent, in part or in whole, to the learning outcomes derived from college level coursework. Equivalencies are then expressed as credit recommendations that are quantified in terms of semester hours and qual- ified in terms of course titles or academic areas.

ACE is the only higher education organization that represents presidents and chancellors of all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting insti- tutions: community colleges and four-year institutions, private and public universities, and nonprofit and for profit colleges. This cross- sector membership enables ACE to serve as higher education's unifying voice.

For more than 60 years, ACE has reviewed and made credit recommendations for thousands of college level courses offered by the military services. In 1974, ACE started the evaluation of military occupational specialties as well.

Institutions of higher learning operating in New York State often accept the military transcript as a source of transfer credit. They law should be clarified to state that they shall always accept those courses which are certified by ACE as credit-worthy.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately.