October 2007 www.dantes.doded.mil

Education Support to the DOD—WorldwideNumber 371 October 2007

INFORMATION BULLETINwww.dantes.doded.mil

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Online associate degree in funeral service available

A unique new online associate degree program in Occupational Studies in Funeral Service is now available worldwide to the U.S. military and

their families. The accredited degree is offered byAmerican Academy McAllister Institute of FuneralService (AAMI), the fifth oldest funeral service school inthe U.S. Founded in 1926, AAMI has been continuouslyoperating for over 80 years from its campus in New YorkCity. It is approved by the State of New York and fullyaccredited by the American Board of Funeral ServiceEducation (ABFSE), the national accrediting organizationfor funeral service schools.

The associate degree requires the completion of 33courses totaling 69 semester credit hours. A student isable to take 31 courses and 65 total credits online. Theremaining two courses are the clinical requirements inRestorative Art and Embalming, along with theComprehensive Review course; they must be takenduring a two-week CAPSTONE program where a studentis required to travel to New York City. The finalrequirement for graduation is that each student must takethe National Board Exam (NBE), a requirement ofABFSE.

All online courses are offered in each of the foursemesters (which are 6-12 weeks in length), enabling a

Students in a Funeral Home Directing Class learn how to fold a flag.

student to move through the program as rapidly as he/shewishes. Since the online program began in January 2006,students have taken an average of seven credits persemester. The average time to graduation is approxi-mately 18-24 months depending upon whether, and how

Students working in the Restorative Art Lab with clay.

Continued on Page 4

October 2007 www.dantes.doded.mil

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October 2007October 2007October 2007October 2007October 20071 LSAT5 Excelsior Extended

Response (Essay)

November 2007November 2007November 2007November 2007November 20075-10 GRE Subject8, 13, 15 ASE (CONUS) **13-15 ASE (Overseas) **17-21 Praxis *

Notes:Notes:Notes:Notes:Notes:Overseas test centers send orders sixweeks before the test date. CONUS testcenters send orders four weeks beforethe test date. Contractors ship tests toarrive just before the planned test date.*Select only one test date from thepublished period for DANTES testingand specify that date on the orderform.** Deadline for ordering ASE examswas 23 September.Online calendar:http://www.dantes.doded.mil/dantes_web/library/docs/examinations/06-07cal.pdf

Testing Calendar

Want the DIBvia e-mail?

If you would like the DANTESInformationBulletin (DIB)e-mailed to youevery month,e-mailPublications atpubs@navy.mil.

The DIB isalso available on

the DANTES homepage athttp://www.dantes.doded.mil.

Future changes for GED TestingServices

GED Testing Service (GEDTS) announced the new GED exam version willbe available January 1, 2011. The new exam is scheduled to be normedagainst high school students this academic year. As with past exam revisions,GED exam scores prior to January 1, 2011 may not be combined with thenew exam version. The GED exam was last revised and released in 2002.The 2002 exam scores may not be combined with scores before January 1,2002. Additionally, GEDTS is studying the viability of offering the examonline beginning in 2011.

Helpful Web sites for counselorsWhen was the last time you visited the Counselor Support Programs link

on the DANTES homepage? (http://www.dantes.doded.mil - click on thelefthand side under Counselor Support Programs.)

The newest addition is the FY2008 DEPH Guidance MaterialsHandbook. While you are there, also check out the updated information at:Financial Aid for Spouses of Service Members and Guidance Materialsand Interest Inventories.

Other important links include: Reference Publications and the Directoryof Education Centers.

Pictured above: Kati Niemi, Assistant Director, Procurement and DocumentSolutions, (center) visits with DANTES Test Control Officers Lt. Shipman (L) andLt. Grant (R) during the recent annual GED conference.

October 2007 www.dantes.doded.mil

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Troy: Building a relationship withthe Georgia National Guard

In August of 2003, Troy University entered into a partnershipwith the Georgia Army National Guard to provide educationalservices statewide to their traditional drilling soldiers. Since thattime period, the Southeast Region has been working to develop asuccessful strategy for providing post-secondary educationopportunities to Guardsmen and their family members, placingparticular emphasis on those who live and serve in the remote orrural communities within the State of Georgia. Working incomplete cooperation with the Georgia Army National GuardEducation Services Officer and Unit Commanders, Troy’sMarketing Department has been tasked to conduct classes andbriefings, during drills, on Troy University degree programs, andfederally-funded education benefits and entitlements, as part of theunit’s overall in-service training program.

The core goal of this partnership is to meet the educationalneeds of Georgia’s Soldiers by offering them a wide range ofdegree programs, at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels,which they may participate in at Troy sites throughout the state,or online through Troy’s eCampus program.

“For 50 years, Troy University has been helping members ofour military meet their academic goals. This is the first time thatwe have partnered with a state to reach out to the men and womenserving in our National Guard. We think that it’s an idea whosetime has come,” said David White, the program’s co-founder anddirector, Southeast Region Troy University.

For more information, visithttp://ser.troy.edu/contentpage.cfm?whatpage=National%20Guardor e-mail megilbert@troy.edu.

GMAT/GREgeneralreimbursements

DANTES reimburses the GMAT orGRE General fee for eligible militarypersonnel only. To be eligible forreimbursement of the GMAT or GREGeneral testing fee, the militaryexaminee must, at the time of testing,possess a current “Armed Forces of theUnited States” identification card andmeet the following requirements:

·Have never taken a DANTES-funded GMAT paper-based or GMATCAT or GRE General Examination.

·Is applying to or enrolled in agraduate school requiring the GMAT orGRE General.

·Is fulfilling a legitimate Servicerequirement.

·Agrees to apply for reimbursementwithin 90 days of the scheduled testdate.

The examinee is responsible forscheduling the GMAT or GRE General,paying all fees associated withregistration, and if eligible, completingthe reimbursement form and applyingfor reimbursement not later than 90days after the scheduled test date.

Reimbursement forms areavailable to Test ControlOfficers (TCO) and AlternateTest Control Officers (ATCO)through Chapters 7 and 8, theDANTES Examination ProgramHandbook (DEPH). The DEPHis available online or in CDformat. A TCO or ATCO mustsign the form to validate theexaminee’s eligibility. Theappropriate mailing addressesare on the forms. The GREreimbursement request ismailed to Prometric, while theGMAT reimbursement requestsshould be sent to DANTES.

October 2007 www.dantes.doded.mil

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“A Guide for Test Examiners”now available

The DANTESDistribution Centerhas the newly printed“A Guide for TestExaminers,”DANTES StockNumber 1229. ThisGuide is designed tofamiliarize examinerswith the DANTES-sponsored exams,testing environment,examiner’s duties,contractor addresses,inventories andinspections.

To order, e-mail theDANTES DistributionCenter, dist@voled.doded.mil.Include your DANTES ID number,item Stock Number, item quantity,and your current shipping address.

Examiners must also befamiliar with the policies andadministrative procedures inthe DANTES ExaminationProgram Handbook (DEPH)and have viewed theDANTES test security video,Test Security Is Your Responsibility.

much, transfer credit is received bythe student.

The online courses have the samerequirements and content as thoseoffered on campus, and 80 percentof the courses are offered by thefaculty teaching the same courses oncampus.

Basic admission requirements arean applicant must be a high schoolgraduate or hold a state approvedequivalent diploma.

All access to AAMI courses andstudent services are Web-based, soa student does not need any specialhardware or software to enroll. Allthat is needed is access to acomputer with a modem, a printer,an e-mail account and access to theWeb. Textbooks are ordered onlinethrough Akademos, an onlinebookstore.

Online students range in age from19 to 63 and the average age is 34.Approximately 50 percent of thestudents are female and 35 percentcome from a funeral family or definethemselves as related to someone inthe funeral industry.

For the person who wants to earnan accredited funeral servicedegree, who wishes to attend part-time, and who does not have accessto a campus, AAMI’s online programis ideal.

For more information, review theDANTES Distance Learning Catalogonline athttp://www.dantescatalogs.com/NADLP/NADLP.asp?RecID=63.AMMI contact information:http://www.funeraleducation.org,Regina Smith, Academic Dean, tollfree (866) 932-2264, e-mailrtsmith@funeraleducation.org.

Funeral servicedegreeContinued from Page 1

Eighth-grade students whoseparents graduated from collegescored 32 points higher thanstudents whose parents did notgraduate from high school,according to the 2006 NationalAssessment of EducationalProgress (NAEP) CivicsAssessment. Source: NCES

Snapshot: Education statistics

October 2007 www.dantes.doded.mil5

Quick! This is a Test…

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the quickest way to order test materials?2. If you are a TCO, have you completed the DANTES testing site survey?

ANSWERS:

1. If you said “ordering exams by e-mail,” go to the head of the class! E-mail is amuch quicker and easier way to request test materials instead of ordering test materialsthe old-fashioned way by postal mail or fax, waiting weeks, and then calling the testingcompany to verify receipt. How does the process of e-mail applications for DANTES-sponsored examinations work? DANTES Test Control Officers (TCOs) can now scantheir request forms and submit them electronically by e-mail.

After they are submitted, the TCO should receive a response from the testingcompany confirming receipt of the application. There are currently three primarytesting companies with established e-mail accounts for ordering test material, and theseaddresses will soon appear on each of their application forms:

· For the ACT exam: ACT-Dantes@act.org· For Excelsior College Exams: dfax@excelsior.edu· For CLEP and DSST exams at Prometric Holdings: pnj-DANTES@prometric.com

2. If you said, “No, not yet!” you are also correct, as it hasn’t been issued yet. But,it is coming…Whether you are an experienced Test Control Officer (TCO) or the newestTCO on the block, DANTES wants to know how things are going at your testing location.So, TCOs, be on the lookout for a DANTES testing site survey coming to the inboxnearest you.

Are you “it” at your installation, or are there others who provide testing services toyour military members, either on or off the installation? Do you give certification orlicensure exams and, by the way, how do you handle distance learning course tests? Ifyou haven’t received your online survey by 15 October, drop a note toDANTESDL@navy.mil and we will make sure it gets to your inbox right away. We wantto hear from you and will publish the survey results in an upcoming issue of theDANTES Information Bulletin.

If you have questions, contact DANTES Examinations at exams@navy.milor DANTESDL@navy.mil.

October 2007 www.dantes.doded.mil

“Need A Lift” availableThe 2008 American Legion 57th Edition of Need A Lift publication was

automatically distributed in September bythe DANTES Distribution Center.

While the bulk of this financial aidhandbook lists loans, scholarships, grantsand the organizations that provide them, italso includes reference materials that canassist students in determining whichschool is best for them, finding careerinformation, and even possiblyemployment after school.

Are you unsure if you are on theautomatic distribution list or how manycopies you will receive? E-mail yourquestions to dist@voled.doded.mil.

Note: This publication may also bedownloaded or the content materialsearched online for free at:http://www.needalift.org.

Five factors for online sucessEarning an online degree takes hard work and dedication. The following

five factors will help you excel in the world of online education:1. Time2. Communication skills3. Self-discipline4. Support5. The right school

(military.com)

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Pharmacy Technicians CertificationBoard moves to Pearson VUE

The Pharmacy Technicians Certification Board (PTCB) recently beganoffering their certification examination exclusively in computer-adaptive-testing format through Pearson VUE. PTCB offers their Pharmacy

Technicians Certification Examination(PTCE) during four testing windowsthroughout the year.

The final testing window for 2007 fallsbetween November 26 – December 28.Candidates have 2.5 hours to complete theexamination.

To register to take the PTCE, refer to the following link:http://www.pearsonvu.com/ptcb. Pearson VUE test facilities that areestablished at military base education centers can administer the PTCE. Foradditional information on PTCE, contact the DANTES Certification office at(850) 452-1111 x3213 or DSN 922-1111 x3213.

New militaryspouse program

Coastline Community College(Fountain Valley, Calif.) extendedits commitment to the militaryfamily by launching its one-of-a-kindMilitary Spouse Program. Thisunique program offers an affordabletuition rate of only $59 per unit, andtextbooks are provided free ofcharge to military spouses.Additionally, the program featuresaccelerated eight-week onlinecourses, five associate degreeoptions to choose from, and a mere12 semester hours needed to meetresidency requirements.

Coastline has a long history ofeducational innovation. It wasoriginally founded in 1975 as acollege “without walls,” dedicatedto distance learning. Drawing uponits vast experience producingEmmy-award winning telecoursecontent and its extensive selectionof Internet and CD-ROM courses,Coastline specifically began servingthe military audience in the veryearly 80s. Now, Coastline evenoffers courses in cutting edgetechnologies like handheld devices(PDAs) and Smart Phones.Coastline graduated over 1,500military graduates in 2007.

For more information, visit theWeb site athttp://military.coastline.eduand click on the Military SpouseProgram link.

October 2007 www.dantes.doded.mil

DANTES External DegreeCatalog newsNew schools affiliated with DANTES:

New Mexico State UniversityCollege of Extended LearningMSC 3WECP. O. Box 30001Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001(505) 646-4692Toll Free: 800-821-1574Fax: (505) 646-2044E-mail: distance@nmsu.eduInternet: http://extended.nmsu.eduBachelor Degree in:

SociologyBusiness Administration (General Business)Criminal JusticeHuman and Community ServicesInformation and Communication TechnologyHotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management

Master Degree in:Agricultural and Extension EducationEducationTeachingCriminal JusticeIndustrial EngineeringNursing (Psychiatric-Mental Health)

Doctor of Education in Educational Administration (Educational Leadership)

Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and InstructionCertificate in Online Teaching and Learning (OTL)Information Technology Coordinator EndorsementSchool Counseling LicensureSpecial Education Alternative Licensure

Duquesne University offers newbachelor’s degree concentrationsand program for NCO instructors

Duquesne University’s School of Leadership andProfessional Advancement will offer three additionalconcentrations within their accelerated online bachelor’s

degree program beginning this fall. Securityadministration, training and development, and publicand media relations are now available. Students choosetwo concentrations to comprise their major. Otherconcentrations include computer technology, criminaljustice and forensic science and organizationalleadership.

Duquesne University also has developed a newprogram for Army NCO instructors. The program allowsNCOES certified instructors advanced standing towarda bachelor’s degree. According to Mary Jane Snyder,director of military education, “We recognize theacademic rigor of the NCOES certification and haveworked to incorporate it into upper-level courses withinour bachelor’s degree. The response from theinstructors has been very positive.”

Duquesne, founded in 1878 and regionallyaccredited, is a member of SOC and offers specialmilitary tuition rates. For details on all undergraduateand graduate programs within Duquesne’s militaryeducation program, visithttp://www.leadership.duq.edu/mil or contact MaryJane Snyder at (412) 352-2354.

DANTES Catalog of NationallyAccredited Distance LearningPrograms newsNew schools affiliated with DANTES:

American Academy McAllister Institute of FuneralService619 W 54th StreetNew York, NY 10019(212) 757-1190Toll Free: 866-932-2264Fax: (212) 765-5923E-mail: amlanza@funeraleducation.orgInternet: http://www.funeraleducation.orgSpecialized Accreditation: American Board of FuneralService Education (ABFSE-CA)Associate Degree in Occupational Studies (A.O.S.) inFuneral Service

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October 2007 www.dantes.doded.mil

Working with ServicemembersOpportunity Colleges (SOC), DETC(Distance Education and TrainingCouncil) announces a practical wayfor DETC degree-awardinginstitutions to assist their studentswho are in the military transfer theircredits and degrees to otherinstitutions.

For students graduating fromDETC institutions, this has meantthat some colleges have refused toeven evaluate their academictranscripts only because the creditswere not issued by a regionallyaccredited institution.

DETC is happy to announce thatfor students at DETC institutionswho serve in the military, there is apractical way to ensure success ingetting their transcripts evaluated(and their credits, hopefully,accepted):

Suggest that the student orgraduate transfer to one of the1,800 colleges and universitiesthat are members of the SOCConsortium.

In other words, your students whoare in the military now have a choiceof several hundred regionallyaccredited institutions to transfer to,since each of these institutions haspledged they will not refuse toevaluate credits in transfer justbecause they are from a DETCinstitution.

Members of the SOC Consortiumare bound by the membershipcriteria of SOC to treat militarymembers fairly when it comes tocredit transfer decisions.

SOC institutions follow thegeneral principles of good practiceoutlined in the Joint Statement onthe Transfer and Award of Credit.This statement says, among other

Helping military students transfer credits, degreesthings, that creditsmust not be deniedbased solely on thesource ofaccreditation of thesending institution.Each SOCinstitution may berequired by SOC tosubmitdocumentaryevidence that itgenerally acceptscredits in transferfrom otheraccreditedinstitutions.

Recommendedadvisory language

In communicat-ing with yourstudents who are inthe military, onyour Web site, andin your catalogsand promotionalliterature about thisopportunity for fairconsideration ofcredits to betransferred, DETChas worked with the SOC staff indeveloping the followingrecommended language. Using thiscopy will help ensure that there willbe fewer misunderstandings bystudents and receiving colleges.Changing the wording is notadvised. (See box.)

When credits get deniedIf you learn of any cases where

your students who are serving in themilitary were denied acceptance oftheir credits in transfer from yourinstitution to a SOC Consortium

A Note on Credit Transfer Opportunitiesfor Members of the U.S. Military

As a member of the United States Armed Forces and a studentor graduate of _________________, you may at some pointelect to transfer or enroll for a degree at another college oruniversity.

It is very important to understand that each college oruniversity has the right to accept or reject academic creditsearned at another institution, if the credits fail to meet itsacademic requirements. No reputable institution can guaranteethat all or any of your credits will automatically transfer.

For military students, their family members, and veterans,Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) stronglyencourages all of its Consortium member institutions to haveinstitutional policies and practices that are fair, equitable, andeffective in recognizing special and often limiting conditionsfaced by military personnel.

To that end, SOC Consortium member institutions ensurethat academic transcripts will be reviewed based upon suchprinciples as the courses taken, the grades received, and thelevel, content, and applicability of the courses to their degreeprogram requirements, and not solely upon the source ofaccreditation of the sending program or institution. Additionally,each SOC Consortium institution is committed to assistingService members, their families, and veterans in minimizing lossof credit and avoiding duplication of coursework, whilesimultaneously maintaining the integrity of its academicprograms.

All SOC colleges and universities are military friendly andhave policies and practices that provide flexibility of programsand procedures in admissions, credit transfer, and recognition ofother applicable learning, including that gained in the military.

Member college, and the reasonoffered was that the credits were notfrom a regionally accredited college,please notify DETC and we will takethis up with SOC. Contact RachelScheer at Rachel@detc.org to alert usto any issues involving credit denialby a SOC member college.

(Reprinted with permission fromDETC Bulletin Number 18, Aug. 30,2007.)

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October 2007 www.dantes.doded.mil

The DANTES Information Bulletin ispublished online monthly to informeducation personnel about DANTESprograms. Send all inquiries and lettersto Code 10E at the above address.Reproduction in whole or in part ispermitted for any purpose of the UnitedStates Government, except thatcopyrighted materials may not bereproduced without written permissionfrom the copyright owner.

The Secretary of the Navy hasdetermined this publication necessary inthe transaction of business required bylaw of the Department of the Navy.Funds for printing this publication havebeen approved by the Navy Publicationsand Printing policy committee.

Jeffrey P. Cropsey, Ed.D., DirectorVictoria Street, Editorpubs@navy.mil

DANTESDANTESDANTESDANTESDANTES6490 SAUFLEY FIELD ROAD6490 SAUFLEY FIELD ROAD6490 SAUFLEY FIELD ROAD6490 SAUFLEY FIELD ROAD6490 SAUFLEY FIELD ROADPENSACOLA, FL 32509-5243PENSACOLA, FL 32509-5243PENSACOLA, FL 32509-5243PENSACOLA, FL 32509-5243PENSACOLA, FL 32509-5243http://wwwhttp://wwwhttp://wwwhttp://wwwhttp://www.dantes.doded.mil.dantes.doded.mil.dantes.doded.mil.dantes.doded.mil.dantes.doded.mil

Director’s Office 3150 1159 dantes@navy.milEnlisted Advisor 3153 1159 ea@navy.milReserve Advisor 3127 1159 rca@navy.milWeb Site 1322 dantes_webmaster@navy.milEuropean Advisor 011-49-6202-80-6008 dantes@eur.army.mil

Troops to Teachers 3141 1096 ttt@navy.mil

Education Support Dept. 3133 1162Military Evaluations/SOC/MIVER 3164 1162 ace-soc@navy.milWW Symposium/ACME 3126 1162 training@navy.milTraining 3131 1588 training@navy.milCounseling 3132 1162 counseling@navy.milReference Publications 3134 1588 refpubs@navy.milDANTES Publications/DIB 3135 1162 pubs@navy.mil

Education Programs Dept. 3124 1161Examinations 3122 1160 exams@navy.milDistance Learning 3129 1161 DantesDL@navy.milTuition Assistance 3130 1161 tahelp@navy.milCertification 3194 1005 certprog@navy.mil

Distribution Center 452-1082 1140 dist@voled.doded.mil

Office Extension F a x E-mail

DANTES telephone numbers are:DSN 922-1111 (plus extension); CML (850) 452-1111 (plus extension)

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eKnowledge, NFL players extend donationA group of National Football League players and

eKnowledge Corporation is continuing their multi-million dollar sponsorship of $200 SAT and ACT testpreparation programs to all active-duty, Reserve, andretired military membersand their families. Thosewho request the donatedmaterials need only payshipping and handlingcosts of packaging,processing, and shipping.

Some of the patrioticNFL players who have pledged to support theeKnowledge donation program for 2007 include: JonBradley (Detroit Lions), Scott Young(Philadelphia Eagles), Garrick Jones (CalgaryStampeeders), Corey Williams (Green BayPackers), Jason Radar (Miami Dolphins), andAhmaad Galloway.

Now in its third year, this generous eKnowledge/NFL player sponsorship effort has donated more than60,000 free SAT/ACT test preparation programs toService members and their families worldwide. In

response to the donation, eKnowledge and the NFL playershave received tens of thousands of thank-you letters fromService members and dependents who have received the highlyvaluable, free test preparation programs. One note was even

postmarked from Africa,where a Service memberwas stationed.

“As a military parentresiding in Kenya,” AirForce Maj. DouglasMcClain wrote, “I trulyappreciate the opportunity

to obtain these products for my daughter who attends theinternational school here. “This program will guarantee that shehas current material to prepare for the SAT and ACT.”

Service members and families interested in receiving freeeKnowledge products under the sponsorship program cancomplete an online request form athttp://sat.eknowledge.com/military or by visitinghttp://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil and link to“Donation: VSG/NFL Players”. Requests can also be made bycalling eKnowledge at (951) 256-4076 or via e-mail atsupport@eknowledge.com.