Admission, Readmission & Transfer Considerations
Because of their service, many veterans are launching formal higher education pursuits from a different time and place in life, when compared to their peers. As a result, they may not have current college entrance exam scores, or their scores may simply not reflect their level of readiness for higher education, especially after receiving top-notch, rigorous and formal military training. Therefore, it is important to consider the entire portfolio when reviewing veterans' information for admission or readmission. Many schools today are applying a prior learning assessment and/or portfolio model to reviewing veterans' applications.
Official military transcripts are a key element to the veteran's admissions package. Participants in the ACE Veteran Success Jam were clear–it takes the same skills to succeed in the military as it takes to succeed in school. Consider whether your institution can accept older college entrance exam scores from veterans or if their military service should positively impact admissions decisions, especially where other requirements may be lacking.
Additionally, you should determine whether veterans on your campus should be admitted as new students or transfer students. In many cases, veterans may have academic credits to transfer in from military transcripts and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests that can affect admissions decisions, housing eligibility, or class status. Review your school policies to help veterans get the most out of their education while providing accommodations for such circumstances.
The Joint Statement on the Transfer and Award of Credit is intended to serve as a guide for institutions developing or reviewing policies dealing with transfer, acceptance and award of credit. Use the ACE Online Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces for any questions you might have with regard to the transfer and award of credits. It is likely that all military credits will not transfer. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you clearly communicate, in writing, these reasons to the student veteran.
