OLD DOMINION NAMED A NAVY COLLEGE PROGRAM PARTNER
Old Dominion University will offer degrees to U.S. Navy sailors around the world as a partner in the Navy College Program (NCP), a new initiative to provide greater access to higher education and rating-related degrees to Navy personnel through distance learning.
Old Dominion will be one of just 16 colleges and universities in the new education partnership, which provides associate's and bachelor's degree programs related to each rating, and makes maximum use of military professional training and experience to fulfill degree requirements.
"Old Dominion is delighted to be selected as one of the universities supporting the Navy's latest strategy for worldwide quality education of its personnel," said President James V. Koch. "Old Dominion's TELETECHNET interactive, televised distance learning network, the largest of its kind in the country, matches nicely with Navy requirements, as do our recent strides in videostreaming and CD-ROM programs. Serving the military sector is included in the university's mission and we're therefore pleased to expand our contributions to the sea service."
Under the program, Old Dominion will provide bachelor's degrees in general engineering technologies, health sciences and medical technologies.
The announcement of the new partnerships was made on November 1, at the Secretary of the Navy's Presidents' Day visit by the educational partner presidents to Atlantic Fleet commands in Norfolk. Their visit culminates a year-long search for colleges willing to join with the Navy in this revolutionary partnering of technical and management skills with academic courses taken on-line or through other distance learning media.
In addition to Dominion, other college partners include Renton City University, Coastline Community College, Dallas County Community College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Empire State University, Florida Community College, Florida State University, Fort Hays State University, George Washington University, Pikes Peak Community College, Rogers State University, Thomas Edison State College, Troy State University, University of Maryland and Vincennes University.
Partner colleges will offer courses in a variety of formats, such as CD-ROM, videotape, paper, or over the Internet. The new partnerships build on the existing Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges-Navy (SOCNAV) foundation, which supports both the Sailor's mobile lifestyle and educational goals. With over 80 SOCNAV member schools, Sailors will have the option to pursue the degree of their choice. Many may want to pursue a rating-related program as the quickest route to a degree; others may choose to pursue other degrees within the Liberal Arts or Sciences. The NCP supports either option.
Over the past year, introduction of the Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART), the NCC and the virtual Navy College Office have provided easy access and revolutionized the Sailor's ability to find out the amount of recommended college credit they have. Additionally, the 64 Navy College Offices worldwide have had staffing increases to better provide academic counseling.
"NCP focuses on helping Sailors to voluntarily obtain a college degree while in the Navy, when they are ready, and at their own pace, anytime, anywhere. The response from the fleet has been overwhelming. As of October, the Navy College Center had logged more than 500,000 hits," said Ileen Rogers, the Navy's director of Voluntary Education Requirements and Policy.
One of the most requested items supplied by the NCP is the SMART, a computer-generated transcript that will automatically record the recommended college credit a Sailor earns for military training and work experience.
"Sailors can also submit official copies of their SMART to academic institutions of their choice. Every Sailor graduating from recruit training and evaluated 'A' and 'C' schools are given a summary SMART, said Barry Nelson director of the Navy College Center (NCC) at Saufley Field, Fla. "As of October, in just a little over a year of operation, the NCP staff had responded to more than 400,000 requests for the SMART."
To find out about education opportunities go to the Navy College Office, visit the NCC web site at www.navycollege.navy.mil or e-mail the NCC at ncc@cnet.navy.mil, or call the toll free number 1-877-253-7122, (DSN) 922-1828.