California Coast University - Distance Learning Accelerated Degree Programs for Mid-career Adults

California Coast University - 33rd Anniversary: 1973-2006

The Department of Defense (DoD) has standardized their Tuition Assistance (TA) program among military services and will reimburse active duty military members 100% of tuition costs for all courses offered by nationally or regionally accredited institutions.

California Coast University, a nationally accredited university, qualifies for the Department of Defense (DoD) Tuition Assistance (TA) program. CCU is listed in the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES) Catalog of Nationally Accredited Distance Learning Programs. This catalog can be found at every base/installation education office. An Education Services Officer (ESO) can advise students on the eligibility of programs.

Steps to Expediting Military TA

Complete the CCU application.

To receive a comprehensive evaluation please submit both military and civilian academic transcripts to CCU.

Once you receive your academic evaluation from CCU, you will need to visit your Base Education Center to have your TA forms completed.

Complete and forward the CCU Enrollment forms along with the TA form to CCU's Admission Department.

Forms:

Army: DA 2171 Form

Air Force: Form AF 1227

Navy and Marines: Form NAV/MC 10883 (Application for Tuition Assistance)

Obtain Information:

Review your Application Evaluation Report and select the course(s) you wish to enroll in.

Verify course availability online at www.calcoast.edu/programs

Start and End Dates for course(s)

Billing address for invoices to be sent

Signatures:

Proper signatures from Education Services Officer (ESO) and Command Representative

Student signature

Tuition Assistance Restrictions

The DoD, other federal agencies, and most corporations extend tuition assistance with the expectation that students will successfully complete the course(s) of study.

Students who fail to complete their course(s) may be expected to reimburse their employer for the amount of assistance received. Military students will have the amount of tuition not refunded by the school deducted from their pay, unless this provision was waived for operational reasons. A minimal grade of "C" in undergraduate courses and a "B" in graduate coursework is required to prevent reimbursing the government for TA received.

All students should check with their Education Services Officer (ESO) or HR Training Director for details pertaining to any restrictions before registering for courses and/or receiving tuition assistance.

Transfer Credit

Undergraduate Sources of Transfer Credit

Courses completed at nationally and/or regionally accredited institutions of higher learning

Military or civilian training evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE) for undergraduate credit

Approved examinations, such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). CCU accepts CLEP/DSST exams towards all general education and elective requirements at both the lower and upper division levels based on recommendations made by the most recent ACE publication.

Graduate Sources of Transfer Credit

Graduate courses completed at nationally and/or regionally accredited institutions of higher learning.

American Council on Education (ACE)
ACE (www.acenet.edu.) evaluates and makes recommendations on the amount, type, and level of transfer credit that a university should consider when evaluating an individual's prior military and/or non-military training and experience. ACE evaluates each version of a class and/or school. The evaluations may vary from year to year.

ACE makes recommendations on military education and training every two years in its Guide to Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. Every six months, ACE publishes a Handbook to the Guide to the Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces. The Guide and Handbook are available at military education service offices, as well as many public libraries. Most public libraries also have ACE guides where students can locate specific schools and/or courses to determine any credit worth.

Evaluation and Credit Award for Experiential Learning

In the awarding of academic credit for experiential learning CCU adheres to ACE recommendations outlined in the most recent American Council on Education (ACE) publication. Military students should also refer to ACE Guide for the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. Note: ACE does not evaluate all occupational specialties for all services, excluding: any Air Force specialties, any Coast Guard Qualification Codes, any Army Skill Qualification Identifiers (SQI) or Army Additional Skill Identifiers (ASI), and only select MOS's for the Marine Corps.

For more information regarding Credit for Prior Learning, click here.

Military Transcripts

Prior education and military experience may be applied towards graduate credit for an advanced degree, including graduate course work completed at other accredited institutions, professional or technical certifications, and military training. In order to receive credit, you must submit transcript(s) according to the guidelines listed below for the particular branch of military you serve with.

Army Experience, Education, and Training

If you joined the Army after October 1981 you can obtain a transcript of your education and training courses from the Army/ACE Registry Transcript Service (AARTS). AARTS receives information directly from official Army military personnel records and contains the following: current rank, military status, time in service, current academic level completed, additional skill identifiers (ASI), and skill qualification identifiers (SQI), formal military courses, military occupational specialties (MOS) held, standardized test scores, and descriptions and credit recommendations developed by ACE. Always submit a current AARTS transcript to be awarded the maximum number of transfer credits.

Eligibility for an AARTS transcript:

For Regular Army, Army National Guard or US Army Reserve, enlisted in service and have a BASD (or PEBD) of October 1, 1981 or later.

For Army National Guard must have been on the active rolls as of January 1, 1993.

For US Army Reserve (but not AGR) must have been on the active rolls as of April 1, 1997.

Obtaining AARTS transcripts:
AARTS transcripts are provided at no cost. Use the DA Form 5454-R (that can be downloaded from the AARTS web site, (http://aarts.army.mil/Form.htm) to request an official AARTS transcript. Forms are also available at Army Education Centers or by written request to: AARTS Operation Center at 415 McPherson Ave., Ft. Leavenworth, KS 66027-1373. Students must include: Name, Social Security Number, BASD, or PEBD, current mailing address, signature, and the accurate mailing address of Columbia Southern University (P.O. Box 3110, Orange Beach, AL 36561). Though your official transcripts must be on file prior to your enrollment, copies will suffice for evaluation purposes. If the seal has been opened on official transcripts they are unacceptable.

Students not eligible for AARTS:
Verification of Military Experience & Training
Students not eligible for AARTS or SMARTS transcripts will need to request a DD Form 295 or DD Form 2586 (Verification of Military Experience & Training). This form lists the ACE recommendations for courses completed. These two forms should provide a detailed list of any courses for which credit may be granted.

For Active Duty Enlisted with a BASD before October 1, 1981: use the DD Form 295.

For Army National Guard with a PEBD before October 1, 1981: use the DD Form 295.

For US Army Reserve with a PEBD before October 1, 1981: use the DD Form 295.

For all US Army Reserve on AGR status: The current plan is for AARTS to add the US Army Reserve AGR records sometime in the future. In the interim you must use the DD Form 295.

For Warrant Officers: must use the DD Form 295.

For Veterans (including retirees) with a BASD before October 1, 1981: use the DD Form 214 or NGB Form 22.

To get your DD 295 or NGB Form 22:
Forms can be obtained by visiting http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/vmet. Educational Centers also have on file the necessary forms. The form must be accurately completed and include the ACE course number found in the most recent ACE Guide.

If the course value cannot be located in the ACE publication:
You must submit a Request for Course Recommendation (an ACE designated form for use by colleges and universities) for each course to be evaluated when the ACE value for a course is not available. CCU evaluators will attempt to locate the ACE number. Failing to accomplish this, CCU will forward form(s) to ACE for research and the recommendation for credit to be granted.

Air Force Experience, Education and Training

Currently, the Air Force does not have a program like AARTS. Air Force personnel should contact their military personnel flight to obtain a computerized list of training courses they have completed. Once obtained, students may request a CCAF transcript.

Obtaining a CCAF Transcript:
Students on active duty AF, the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve, should request transcripts by completing Air Force Form 2099, Request for Community College of the Air Force Transcript. This form is available from education service counselors, CCAF advisors, or from the student's unit training monitors.

If you have received recent training and/or additional courses that might warrant additional credits being granted, please use Form 2099 to receive the most recent copy of your CCAF transcript. You must include your full name (or former name), social security number, and current address. CCAF does not have electronic methods of transcript requests and they do not accept or send transcript requests by fax.

Compare your list and your transcript:
If there are courses on your personnel office's list that are not on the CCAF document (and you want them evaluated for credit), you must list them separately on your Application. You will need to write the name of the course, course number, method of completion, and date of completion. You then must work with your education services center and their ACE guide to determine the recommended ACE credit for the course. You will need to include a student copy of the course completion certificate with your application materials.

When the ACE course value cannot be located:
For each evaluated course lacking the ACE course value that you would like to be considered for credit, you must complete an ACE's Request for Course Recommendation Form (used by colleges and universities). Following receipt CCU will attempt to locate the ACE recommended course value. If CCU is unable to do so, the form(s) will be forwarded to ACE for additional research and recommended credit value.

Navy and Marine Corps Experience, Education and Training

Eligibility for a SMART transcript:
If you are active duty Sailors (with BASDs from 1975 to the present), Marine (with BASDs from 1990 to the present), member of the USMC Reserve, or a Marine who left active duty on or after October 1, 1999, you are eligible for the Sailor/Marine ACE Registry Transcript (SMART). SMART is a computerized transcript system that produces official transcripts for eligible service members upon request by combining a service member's military education, training and experience with descriptions and credit recommendations developed by ACE. SMART receives its data directly from official Navy/Marine military personnel records and contains the following: current rank, military status, time in service, current academic level completed, additional skill identifiers (ASI), and skill qualification identifiers (SQI), formal military courses, military occupational specialties (MOS) held, standardized test scores, descriptions and credit recommendations developed by ACE, and completed college coursework at accredited colleges and universities while on active duty.

Getting your SMART transcript:
Simply go to http://www.navycollege.navy.mil/transcript.html and request one. Please note: CCU will need to have official transcript(s) prior to enrollment, but can use copies for evaluation purposes. Official transcripts received with broken seals will not be accepted.

If you are not eligible for SMART:
You will need to request a DD Form 295 or DD Form 2586 (Verification of Military Experience and Training) from your local Navy College Office or Marine Corps Education Center. This form lists the ACE recommendation for courses completed. The issuing official must certify this form. The combination of the two forms (the DD 295 and the DD 2586) should provide a detailed list of any courses for which you may receive credit.

Students using Top-Up will need to submit corresponding paperwork at each registration.