OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 5207

AN ACT CONCERNING COLLEGE CREDIT FOR MILITARY TRAINING.

SUMMARY:

This bill allows Connecticut public or private colleges and universities to award academic credit to veterans for military occupational specialty training and experience. If they award credit, institutions must award it in substitution for or fulfillment of degree requirements.

The bill also requires any institution that chooses to award such credit to (1) use the course equivalency recommendations adopted by the American Council on Education (ACE) and (2) consider the veteran's military and life experience using Charter Oak State College's prior learning portfolio assessment tool.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2014

BACKGROUND

ACE Course Equivalency Recommendations

ACE, a coordinating association of higher education institutions, collaborates with the U.S. Department of Defense to review military training and experiences and recommend appropriate college credit for armed forces members.

Prior Learning Portfolio Assessment

Charter Oak State College, a public online college, allows students to construct and present portfolios containing evidence of life experiences that relate to specific college courses. The college analyzes the portfolios and awards the appropriate number of credits to students' transcripts.

Related Bills

sSB 212 and sHB 5299, both favorably reported by the Veterans' Affairs Committee, have provisions requiring higher education institutions to award college credit to veterans with military occupational specialty training.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute