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SOC Degree Network SystemTransformation
Council of College and Military Educators (CCME)January 26, 2015
SOC is funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) through a contract with theAmerican Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). The contract is managed for DoD by
the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).
The DNS as of January 2015
The DNS is a participatory college course articulation system, started in 1979 and includes:
155 institutions— 508 associate degrees— 466 bachelor’s degrees
9,995 participating courses, with more than 200,000 course to course articulations, across 472 standardized Course Category Codes— Two-way guaranteed course transferability among member schools where
Course Categories exist
More than one million SOC DNS Student Agreements issued — Student Agreements are “contracts for degrees” — Issued to active-duty servicemembers and eligible family members— Remains in effect through separation
Earning a Degree From a DNS SchoolStudent selects
home college
Home College
Home college issues Student Agreement based on full evaluation of prior learning:
--courses from other colleges --nationally-recognized exam results --ACE Guide credit recommendations for military training and experience --certification examinations
The student completes 25% academic residence (30% for fully online degree) while completing degree
Other Colleges
Remaining degree requirements on the Student Agreement may be completed at other colleges
Courses with SOC DNS Course Category Codes shared by Core Member institutions transfer back to the home college
Student seeks prior, official approval from home college to transfer other courses to meet degree requirements
Non-traditional Credit
Student Agreement is updated with additional, applicable military-related credit and nationally-recognized examination results
Home college awards degree
Meeting servicemembers
needs
The Value of a DNS Membership
Demonstrates/Documents identity as a military-centric institution
Provides program visibility to potential military student markets
Engages leadership in VolEd forums/exchanges
Supplies key data input into DoD/Military Services on educational programs and priorities
DNS Building Blocks
Key features valued by Military Services:
— Guaranteed-Transferability
— Evaluated credit for military training/experience
— Accelerated Degree completion
Student Agreements
Graduate Report
Career-related degree options
SOC DNS Changes
Consolidates SOC Degree Network System by removing Service distinctions by program (SOCAD/NAV/MAR/COAST)
Maintains guaranteed course transferability as central focus of the SOC DNS
Provides increased degree options for servicemembers across participating Services—Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard
Long-Term Initiatives
Enhanced search functionality and Web site
Revised Student Agreement (SA) and improved SA submission process
Communication/Training plan
Improved process for submitting Annual Handbook Update and Graduate Survey
Short-Term Tasks
Membership criteria modified
Proposed membership criteria awaiting Inter-service Voluntary Education Board (IVEB) approval
Two-tiered process
— institutional review for quality and compliance
— degree level based on VOLED needs assessment and enrollment patterns
Articulation agreements—2+2s, state articulations
Broader approach to career-related degree inclusion
Proposed Institution-Level Criteria for DNS Membership
Membership Criteria Definition
MOU Signatory Must have signed the current DoD MOU version
Current Enrollment TrendDoD/Services Quantifiable enrollments of students using TA funding
Current Enrollment Trend DNS
Quantifiable enrollments using SOC DNS Student Agreement data (average per year)
Tuition/Cost Tuition rate as identified in the DoD MOU application
Loan Default Rate The loan default rate, as identified by the U.S. Department of Education, for the Institution (3-yr average)
Median Borrowing Rate The Median Borrowing Rate, as defined by the College ScoreCard
Composite Financial Health The Financial Composite Score, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education
Membership Criteria Definition
90/10 Rule Violation Status Compliance with the 90/10 rule, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education
Retention Rates, calculated separately for institutions
with 2- and 4-year programs.
For DNS-2 Institutions: Retention Rate as defined by the U.S. Department of Education, for the Institution
For DNS-4 Institutions: Retention Rate, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education, for the Institution
Course Completion Rate For undergraduate students using military Tuition Assistance data
Flexible Policies Must clearly state, in its catalog, policies applying to Servicemembers ensuring flexibility towards completing a degree program with that Institution
Readmission Policy Clearly state the U.S. Department of Education Readmission Policy in its catalog
Prior Learning Assessment Policies Clearly state policies on awarding credit for Prior Learning in its catalog
Complaint History Identify complaints filed against the institution in PECS
Past Performance in DNS For current DNS members only: satisfactorily meeting the membership requirements during the last year
Proposed Institution-Level Criteria for DNS Membership
Membership Criteria Definition
Current Enrollment Trend-DoD/Services Quantifiable military enrollments in the degree using TA funding
Delivery Methods Flexible and multiple Delivery Methods, as identified by the U.S. Department of Education
Emerging Career Fields Degree program is listed as an emerging high demand career field with positive job placement opportunities, per U.S. Department of Labor
Guaranteed Transferability (GT) Participate in two-way guarantee of coursework with a minimum of 40% in the Major/Major Related degree requirements
Specialized Accreditation Degree has specialized programmatic accreditation, as identified by the U.S. Department of Education
Career-Related Degree A direct relationship to MOS/Ratings. If yes, does the Institution agree to award credit for military training and experience?
Academic Residency Metric from SOC Principles and Criteria
Agree to SOC Principles and Criteria regarding no final year/final semesterand the reduced academic residency of 25%/30%
Program Articulations Identification of existing articulation agreements (in-state, 2+2, degree completion) for the degree
Proposed Degree-Level Criteria for DNS Membership
Thoughts and Feedbackon the Proposed Criteria
TA Course completion rate-important to determine how to handle non-completion (W/M)
PECS Compliance-insure consider only valid complaints Increasing the requirements for DNS membership may make it
too difficult for colleges; creates barriers to military student access and success
Concern that current DNS members who are currently good stewards, are being penalized or adding more requirements
Retention of first time, full time students not a good indicator of how serving military students. Need to be cautious
Employability, Emerging Careers? Too much emphasis How about career paths of current TA users?
What advantage is there to stay in the DNS?
Proposed Criteria-What other criteria to add or consider?
Cost to Degree Completion Time to Degree Completion (av erage) Needs Assessment across the Services should be
standardized, consistent Might consider career services being offered by
institution, for military student populations Most of criteria are quantitative metrics, might want to
consider qualitative assessment metrics
Contact Us
Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges1307 New York Avenue, NW Fifth FloorWashington, DC 20005-4701
Phone: (800) 368-5622(202) 667-0079
Fax: (202) 667-0622E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.soc.aascu.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServicemembersOpportunityColleges