Veterans’ military experience can translate directly into academic credit in ways that propel them to success and achievement during and after college.
“Experience in the military does count,” said Jene Hurlbut, VBSN Project Director and Principal Investigator, Roseman University of Health Sciences. “And awarding credit really validates what veterans bring to the table when they’re seeking a higher education degree.”
That’s why Roseman implemented the Veterans-to-BSN pathway, which allows students to enroll in one of Roseman’s two BSN programs -- the accelerated online program, or the more traditional on-campus program. The pathway began in 2015, when Roseman was awarded a HRSA grant from the Department of Defense.
“It’s important for higher education to take military experience and articulate it into academic credit and provide competency-based assessments to test knowledge and skill and award upper division credit,” said Imelda Revuelto, VBSN Grant Manager and Director of Student Affairs. “Since implementing the pathway we’ve seen a significant increase in veteran enrollment.”
Some of key steps to building the pathway included:
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Obtaining proper approval from the Nevada State Board of Nursing.
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Changing and updating admissions processes and policies to be friendlier to accepting credit by examination and military training and experiences.
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Adopting an innovative educational model for awarding credit for prior health experience and military training.
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Coordinating between academic and student affairs.
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Collaborating with area community college and public universities.
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Building partnerships with various veterans service organizations.
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Connecting with employers in Southern Nevada and its surrounding regions.
“We’re hopefully improving veterans’ employment opportunities in a high-demand field, as well as encouraging them to work with rural and underserved populations, as well as with veterans themselves,” Hurlbut said.
Revuelto and Hurlbut will discuss their strategies for reducing barriers to veteran enrollment in their special session at the upcoming AACRAO Technology and Transfer Conference, July 9-11 in New Orleans.
“We’ll showcase how both academic and student affairs worked together,” Revuelto said. “We came together, with a faculty member, and took the best of both worlds to serve veterans, ensuring their success from the point of inquiry all the way to obtaining a career.”