veterans and military pathway to the mba

Leading in a Civilian Context:

Credit Where Credit is Due

CAEL International ConferenceNovember 2012

Tai Arnold and Andrew Sherman

School for Graduate Studies

SUNY Empire State College

Veteran and Military Pathway to the MBA

Our goal is to help veterans and separating service members compete for civilian jobs sooner and less

expensively, with an understanding of how their existing military skills and experience can benefit a

civilian employer.

Project Sponsor

• The Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®) owner of the GMAT® exam and the leading

membership organization of graduate business and management schools worldwide

• The GMAC Management Education for Tomorrow (MET) Fund awarded more than $7.1 million in grants to 12

organizations across six countries second round of its Ideas to Innovation (i2i) Challenge

SUNY Empire State College

MBA in Management • Competency-based program• Transfer credit • Direct Assessment of Prior Learning for up to 24

of 48 credits • Enrolls over 300 students • Online courses with weekend residencies

SUNY Empire State College

Office of Veteran and Military Education • Course transferability through Servicemembers

Opportunities Colleges (SOC)• Pre-application advising• Unofficial review of military transcripts at no

charge

SUNY Empire State College

• Leader in Prior Learning Assessment • Committed to the idea that people deserve credit

for college-level learning no matter how it was acquired (undergraduate) Individualized PLA Standardized examinations Pre-evaluated non-formal education (ACE,

NCCRS) Transfer from other colleges and universities

Project Purpose

• Ease veterans and service member’s transition into civilian business leadership

Provides a smooth transition and clear path to an MBA for our service members and veterans

Addresses needs of those who have served as they transition from military to civilian life

Objectives

• Award graduate-level credit toward MBA degree relevant ACE evaluated military training and specialties Publish an articulation table that shows how ACE

recommendations apply toward MBA at ESC

• Replace an introductory MBA course with one designed to serve those transitioning to civilian life and business leadership Begin translation of military skills and knowledge into

civilian business context

Program Development

• Articulation of ACE evaluated graduate-level military training and specialties Keyword matches of military courses and specialties Faculty evaluation of recommendation Publication of articulation table

• Development of Leading in a Civilian Context online course: Recognize existing competencies and identify skill

gaps Skill coaching to build new abilities Independent Direct Assessments (IDAs)

Articulation Table Development Challenges

• Not all relevant graduate-level military training has been evaluated Reallocation of military education budgets Competing demand for remaining resources (undergraduate,

licensure or vocational training) Graduate level evaluations are later additions to ACE guides

• Development of graduate level Articulation Table. Data not included in ESC’s student information system – yet ACE recommendations are in text files rather than data bases

Student Pathway

• Prospects can obtain a free review of military training and graduate level transfer credit before application

• Applicants will receive an evaluation of military training and graduate level credit as part of their admission decision

• Students take the Leading in a Civilian Context online course in their first term and receive ongoing coaching and support through the program

• Graduates are prepared for civilian leadership sooner and incur less cost

Benefits

• Accelerated completion of MBA in Management degree

• Reduced overall degree costs, through the application of military training credit

• Enhanced civilian employability

First Cohort Fall 2013

• Free preliminary credit reviews available in late 2012

• Veterans and Military Pathway to the MBA Pathway Web site opens early 2013

• Application review continues through June 2013.

Project Dissemination

• February 2014 Council of College and Military

Educators (CCME) Conference

• August 2014 American Management Association

(AMA) Conference

• November 2013 CAEL Conference

• Publish Leading in a Civilian Context as an OER

• Publish project report and evaluation