DANTES ‘Learning Days’ Draws Heavy Interest from Supporters of Military-Connected Learners

CAEL continues to build and strengthen partnerships to improve system alignment among employers, educators and trainers, and workforce developers. This strategy is sustaining a steady growth in collaboration among both new and established partners. The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) has been providing education and career planning support at no cost to actively serving U.S. service members, including Reservists and those in the National Guard and U.S. Coast Guard, for 50 years. More than 600,000 service members use DANTES-sponsored programs annually.

CAEL and DANTES share a common interest: support for military-connected learners. As far back as 1981, the prior learning credits generated by DANTES programs have been recognized by CAEL member institutions. Most recently, CAEL hosted a webinar series featuring DANTES program managers to advance best practices supporting veteran education and career success, especially via credit for prior learning (CPL.)

The webinars, dubbed ‘DANTES Learning Days,’ were held on Sept. 18 and Oct. 3 and drew more than 500 registrations. Gina Perry, DANTES’ Credit for Prior Learning and Data Analysis division chief and member of CAEL’s military advisory team, suggested the webinar series to increase awareness of the programs available to support military-connected learners.

With Perry as a liaison, CAEL worked closely with DANTES staff to design and deliver the webinars. Each was structured as a two-hour workshop offering professional development for faculty and staff working with military-connected learners. Part one of the DANTES Learning Days series focused on helping institutions incorporate DANTES resources within a holistic approach to supporting adult learners’ personal and professional education goals. Mareba Mack, College and Career Planning program manager, and Beth Austin, Military Training Evaluation program manager, presented for DANTES.

The first Learning Days event covered DANTES’ Academic Skills Training and Kuder Journey programs, which prepare service members for civilian education pathways. It also reviewed the DANTES’ Military Training Evaluation Program, highlighting CPL available via military training and occupational experiences that have been evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE).

Matthew Schwantz, Credit by Examination program manager, Eddy Hattabaugh, DoD’s Memorandum of Understanding program analyst, and Laura Dean, Contingency Overseas Education Support program manager, represented DANTES during the second Learning Days event.

They continued the discussion about CPL and the critical role it plays in the success of military-connected learners, including a review of DANTES’ Credit by Examination Program. They also highlighted TA DECIDE, a college comparison tool to help service members navigate civilian education pathways. Stressing DANTES’ commitment to being inclusive of service members of all theaters, the second webinar reviewed the contingency/overseas education support DANTES provides to service members outside of the continental United States pursuing their education.

In comments about the webinars, attendees reported gaining knowledge critical for successful transitions to rewarding civilian education and employment pathways. CAEL is using the feedback to plan future events. The webinars have also contributed to the national military-connected community of practice CAEL is launching at the annual conference in New Orleans, October 30-November 1, 2024.

Both webinars can be viewed at cael.org. Inquiries about CAEL’s work in the military-connected space can be directed to membershipservices@cael.org.

Unclassified – Intended for Public Affairs Purposes