What's happening
This bill requires SUNY and CUNY colleges to grant academic credit to veterans for military training and service courses.
Why it matters
Recognizes military training as valuable academic experience. , enabling veterans to apply their service courses toward college degrees, which could shorten the time and cost needed to graduate.
Eliminates financial barriers. by prohibiting any fees, tuition, or charges for evaluating and granting this credit, supporting veterans’ transitions to higher education without extra costs.
Standardizes the process across all SUNY and CUNY campuses. by requiring adoption of uniform procedures, ensuring veterans receive consistent treatment and recognition of their military coursework statewide.
Relies on established national standards. (American Council on Education or equivalent) to determine which military courses qualify for academic credit, promoting fairness and credibility in the evaluation process.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Veterans Get College Credit
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- Amended 3674b
- 1st report cal.300
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to higher education
- Delivered to assembly
Show 6 earlier actions
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- Amended on third reading 3674a
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.514
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Give Veterans College Credit
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Michael DenDekker
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3674--B Cal. No. 300
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 25, 2017
Introduced by Sens. ADDABBO, AVELLA, BRESLIN, COMRIE, HOYLMAN, PARKER, SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs -- reported favorably from said committee,… Show allHide
Introduced by Sens. ADDABBO, AVELLA, BRESLIN, COMRIE, HOYLMAN, PARKER, SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading -- recommitted to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first report, amended on first report, ordered to a second report and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of second report
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to granting academic credit at state operated institutions of the state university of New York and the senior colleges of the city university of New York to veterans
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 669-i to read as follows:
§ 669-i. Course credit for veterans. 1. For purposes of this section, the term "veteran" means a resident of this state, who has served in the active military or naval service of the United States, and who has been released from such service by means of an honorable discharge, or who has been furloughed to the reserve, or has resumed service back in the New York State Army National Guard, New York Air National Guard, or New York Naval Militia.
2. Every veteran who is enrolled on a full-time basis as an undergraduate student in good standing, at an institution within the state university system or the city university system, shall upon application be granted academic credits without limitation towards his or her degree for completion of courses that were part of such veteran's military
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07330-04-8
S. 3674--B 2
training or service if the completed courses meet the standards of the American council on education or its equivalent for the awarding of academic credits. No fee, tuition or other charge shall be assessed against a veteran who qualifies for such credit pursuant to this section.
3. The boards of trustees of the state university and the city university of New York shall adopt such procedures as are necessary to fully implement the provisions of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to granting academic credit at state operated institutions of the state university of New York and the senior colleges of the city university of New York to veterans
Purpose
Allows the granting of academic credit at state operated institutions to veterans.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Adds new section 669-i 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.
Section 2: Specifies effective date.
Justification
Military service members receive an education each day, whether it is 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 high- er education organization that represents presidents and chancellors of all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting institutions: 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
2015: S. 4233 - Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee. 2016: S. 4233C - Passed Senate. 2017: S. 3674A - Passed Senate.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.