The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
Virginia’s active-duty military students may obtain college credit for their service and priority in registering for classes under two bills that advanced in the General Assembly today.
The House Education Committee this morning unanimously voted in support of two bills to accomplish those goals. The end result could benefit thousands of military service members in Hampton Roads seeking degrees from Tidewater Community College, Old Dominion University and other public schools.
House Bill 548 will require public colleges and universities to institute policies providing certain administrative benefits to active-duty military, such as priority in enrolling for classes. The goal is to “recognize the scheduling difficulties and obligations encountered" by military personnel, according to the bill.
The second, House Bill 195, will require those schools also to draft policies converting military training into college credit. For example, a sailor trained in information technology for the Navy may receive class credits toward an IT degree from ODU.
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Not needed
HB 195 is really not needed as there is such a system already in place. When I applied to TCC and ODU, I had a copy of my SMART transcript sent to each school, which outlines all of the military schools I attended and the work I did based on my rate/rank, all of which had been evaluated by the American Council on Education and assigned the appropriate number of credits and level (vo-tech, grad, upper/lower) along with the Serviceman's Opportunity College code, which the schools then align with their classes.
What is needed is a better evaluation of the military training by ACE.
Great idea!
Now if only some idiot politician doesn't mess it up!
Boooo
How about a bill for the citizens of Virginia that pay income taxes here?
Good Point
Maybe, just maybe with the difference between In State and Out of State tuition some of the folks may start paying Virginia income taxes. Not holding my breath if they are being reimbursed the tuition.