Minn. Stat. §197.775 Higher Education Fairness requires Alexandria Technical and Community College to recognize military courses and award credit when they were part of a student’s military training or service.

Background

Formal military courses must meet contract criteria to be evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE). Part of the criteria includes individual assessment of the learning. The scope of military courses may include lecture, small group work, case studies, skills lab, clinical, practical exercises, computer-based delivery, and discussion boards. Successful course completion is measured using various assessment tools that include case studies, summative examinations, performance tests, papers, group projects, and oral presentations. ACE only reviews courses with individual assessments. A team of teaching faculty from accredited institutions with experience in higher education conducts the ACE course review. The ACE recommendations are based on the content, scope, rigor, breadth, and depth of the course as compared to current college curricular standards.

ACE does not conduct evaluations of courses that align with regional accrediting military institutions, such as Community College of the Air Force (CCAF). Air Force courses have a limited scope under the ACE review process. Because CCAF is regionally accredited those transcripts and credit recommendations are treated the same as courses from other regionally-accredited colleges or universities in System Procedure 3.21.1.

ACE does not conduct evaluations of Air Force occupations.

Service members must complete a series of formal training courses to be assigned to a particular military occupation, and they also have the opportunity for on-the-job learning. The ACE occupation review process assesses the learning that occurs on the job, above and beyond the formal classroom training. Examples include, but are not limited to, Electronics Technician, Hospital Corpsman, Infantryman, Military Police, and Intelligence Specialist.

Credit for Military Courses and Military Occupations

ATCC shall recognize and award credit for courses and occupations that were part of military training or service and that meet the standards of ACE or equivalent standards for awarding academic credit. When awarding credit, consideration must be given to all aspects of the training, course, or occupation, and must not be limited solely to the physical fitness or activity components.

ATCC shall offer students the opportunity to demonstrate college-level learning for military courses and military occupations that include the components listed below.

Credit Award

ACE evaluates a military course or military occupation to determine a credit award and level. Once a credit award and level has been determined, students who provide documentation that they meet the military course or occupation requirements must be awarded the credit(s). This is documented on a Joint Service Transcript (JST).

Credit Awarded

ATCC shall honor credit for military courses and military occupations as a course or as an individualized subject area. Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) goal areas may be designated for military courses and military occupations when there are no equivalent general education courses at ATCC. Credits awarded for prior learning may fulfill general, technical, MnTC, program/major, and/or elective courses.

Residency Credit

ATCC shall award credit for military courses and military occupations consistent with residency and graduation requirements in Minnesota State Board Policy 3.36 and System Procedure 3.36.1 Academic Programs. Credit awarded for military courses and military occupations does not apply toward residency credit requirements.

Record the Credit Awarded

See Minnesota State System Procedure 3.29.1 College and University Transcripts, Part 5.

Credit Limit

ATCC shall not limit the total number of credits students may be awarded for military courses and military occupations

Tuition and Fees

ATCC shall not charge tuition for the award of credit for military courses or military occupations and shall not charge fees for assessment or evaluation services.

Transfer of Credit Awarded for Prior Learning

A student who is awarded credits based on military courses and military occupations and transfers to another college or university within the Minnesota State system must have their transcript evaluated by the receiving college or university pursuant to Minnesota System Procedure 3.21.1 Transfer of Undergraduate Courses, Credit, Associate Degrees, and the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. When a course equivalency has been designated by the sending institution, a receiving college or university may honor the original course equivalency.

Implementation

Student Responsibility

1. A student must be admitted to ATCC to be eligible for the award of credit for prior transfer credits, including military coursework.
2. Students seeking credit for the transfer of military credit recommendations are responsible for seeking information and advice on the use of that credit in ATCC programs, including understanding processes, expectations, and assessment criteria, academic and financial aid implications, and any applicable pre-requisites or limitations based on degree program, major, MnTC criteria, etc.
3. In order to receive credit for military courses and occupations, a student must request that an official military transcript (branch dependent) be sent directly to ATCC. Student should request military transcripts as follows:
   1. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard (active duty, guard, reserve, and veterans): Students who are serving or have served in these branches of the armed services may request an official military transcript through the JST webpage and have it sent directly to ATCC.
   2. Air Force (active duty, guard, reserve, and veterans): Students who have earned credit through Air University (AU), Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), and/or Air Force Institution of Technology (AFIT) may request an official transcript from their respective regionally-accredited institution(s).
4. Students shall adhere to ATCC policies and procedures for the awarding of military credit recommendations.

ATCC Responsibility

ATCC shall establish procedures for assessing and awarding credit for military courses and military occupations that will include, but not be limited to the following:

1. ATCC shall publish opportunities for CPL for military courses and military occupations in its print and electronic media catalog and related publications. Published information must include CPL policies and procedures, and CPL appeals;
2. ATCC shall provide students with information about CPL assessment processes, applicable policies, required documentations, appeals process, transfer information, and the impact that credit awarded for prior learning may have on financial aid eligibility.

Appeals

ATCC’s appeal process is outlined in ATCC Procedure 3.21.1 Transfer of Credit. 

Related ATCC Documents:

• 3.21 Course and Credit Transfer and the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum
• 3.21.1 Transfer of Credit
• 3.35 Credit for Prior Learning
• 3.35.1 Credit for Prior Learning - External Assessments
• 3.35.2 Credit for Prior Learning - Internal Assessments

Approved by: Leadership Council

Effective Date: 4/5/2021

Next Review Date: April 2024

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