Thursday, March 28, 2024

College Credit for Heroes Continues Expansion with Five New Grants

image: Wikipedia.com
image: Wikipedia.com

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) recently announced the award of $800,000 to support five new accelerated certificate or degree programs through its College Credit for Heroes program, a statewide effort designed to maximize the award of college credit to veterans and service members for their military experience. The announcement further expands the reach of the successful program, which has now grown to include a network of 37 universities and community college partners.

Launched as a pilot program in 2011, College Credit for Heroes was designated as a permanent program with the passage of SB 806 in the 84th Legislative Session. Unique to Texas, College Credit for Heroes has achieved success by establishing a standard evaluation process used across the state for veterans to receive classroom credit, by growing a vast network of partner schools and by supporting the development of 76 fast-track programs to help veterans translate their military experience into civilian careers.
“Our veterans deserve credit for their military experience and the College Credit for Heroes initiative has made it possible for Texas’ veterans to translate their work experience into college credit,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “The State of Texas remains committed to supporting our veterans and military service members in obtaining valuable education and career credentials that will ultimately afford them the opportunity to support their families and prosper in the Lone Star State.”

These new partnership programs include a first-of-its kind partnership with Texas Tech University that creates a bachelor’s program for participating veterans. The additional programs will further expand College Credit for Heroes to locations throughout Texas. These collaborations will increase the number of veterans and service members who can benefit from the accelerated educational programs for in-demand occupations such as pharmacy technologist, emergency medical technician, medical assisting, dental assisting and registered nurse. Texas Tech joins the Texas A&M University System institutions and Angelo State University as the four-year universities who are now participating in this Texas program.

“We are pleased to announce the new accelerated programs that demonstrate a commitment to launching innovative approaches to better recognize and credit the training and service of our veterans,” said TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar. “TWC and our partners will continue to replicate and scale programs that ease the transition of our heroes into Texas jobs.”

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) is developing an accelerated Veteran Bachelor of Science in Nursing (VBSN) degree in which well-qualified veterans can earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree in less than one year. One unique and innovative aspect to this program is that veterans can participate in the program and receive their VBSN from locations throughout the state through online coursework and a network of participating hospitals. More information can be found on the TTUHSC website.

“We are grateful to the College Credit for Heroes Program for their cooperation, diligence and focus on helping our veterans in the classroom,” said Melinda Mitchell Jones, Associate Professor at TTUHSC. “Through this grant, we will be able to acknowledge the rigorous training these medics and corpsmen received in the military and provide them with the skills needed to rapidly place them into the workforce toward upward mobility.”

Other fields of study have been added by Alamo Colleges, Grayson College, Texas State Technical College Harlingen and the Lone Star College System. They include EMT, surgical technology, respiratory therapy, health information technology, cyber security, information technology, firefighting, advanced manufacturing, logistics, wind engineering and oil field technology. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) also supports program expansion through advisement and consultation on various military and higher education related issues and coordination of program partnerships with higher education entities throughout the state. For a complete list of participating schools and fields of study, visit collegecreditforheroes.org.

“Service men and women are highly skilled, experienced individuals who have a tremendous amount to offer their communities when they return home after serving their country,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton. “The expansion of College Credit for Heroes will give veterans greater employment opportunities and help fulfill the workforce needs of Texas.”

Since its launch in 2011, College Credit for Heroes has received more than 10,000 requests for evaluations for college credit by Texas veterans.

“Texas is home to nearly 920,000 military service members and veterans who possess the skills and experience needed by Texas employers,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Ruth R. Hughs. “By expanding the College Credit for Heroes program, Texas employers can more easily connect to this highly qualified group of service men and women across the state.”

College Credit for Heroes welcomes five new school projects to the third phase of the program:
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), Lubbock: $199,544 is dedicated to the TTUHSC School of Nursing’s “Operation RevUp,” which will begin the implementation phase of a new accelerated one-year Veteran to Bachelor of Science Nursing in (VBSN) Pilot Program designed specifically for veterans.

Alamo Colleges, San Antonio: $200,000 is dedicated to creating five new accelerated curriculum pathways leading to an Associate of Applied Science Degree in the fields of pharmacy technologist, emergency medical technician, medical assisting, dental assisting and nursing.

Grayson College (GC), Denison: $200,000 is dedicated to providing internship collaborations with industry partners in advanced technologies and manufacturing certifications created during Phase I and to replicate program areas developed by Phase I and II CCH grantees in which academic credit may be awarded for military training and experience, specifically in the area of healthcare.

Texas State Technical College Harlingen (TSTCH), Harlingen: $58,938 is dedicated to creating a new streamlined Associate of Applied Science Degree based or the Ford Maintenance Light Repair Certification. Well-qualified veterans have the opportunity to translate military skills into college credit for up to one full semester under the proposed program.

Lone Star College System (LSCS), Houston: $150,000 is dedicated to creating new streamlined curricula (fast track certificates) based on Prior Learning Assessments (PLA) in the fields of industrial diesel technology, oil and gas drilling and electrical technology.

About College Credit for Heroes
College Credit for Heroes was launched in 2011 using $3 million in Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funds. The program was authorized during the 82nd legislative session under Senate Bill 1736. Phase II of the program began in 2012 expanding to other regions of the state and continuing the development of acceleration curricula for veterans. To view the results of College Credit for Heroes Phase I & II, visit TWC’s College Credit for Heroes. For more information on workforce programs available for Texas veterans, visit TWC’s Just for Veterans.

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