Army Recruiting and Retention College holds 2nd university partnership signing

FORT KNOX, Ky. -- The U.S. Army Recruiting and Retention College hosted its second Continuing Education Degree Program signing ceremony here Aug. 10.

The commandant of the RRC, Col. Carter Price, and representatives from six academic institutions formalized an education partnership designed to support Soldiers with a multitude of degree options.

"This partnership represents the greater investment in our Soldiers and civilians through improved educational opportunities," Price said. "Most importantly it enhances the ability of military professionals to integrate their military and civilian education, receiving valid academic credit for their educational investment."

The signing was a culmination of efforts that the RRC staff and Fort Knox Education services worked to cultivate relationships with multiple academic institutions to give the 79 career field the best opportunity for reaching academic goals and future career success.

"For Soldiers assigned to U.S. Army Recruiting Command, this program streamlines the selection of a college or university. USAREC Cadre will have the support of these institutions along with a degree plan that will be nested in prior learning from CMF79 specific courses." said Master Sgt. Channcey Croker, non-commissioned officer in charge of the faculty and staff division for the Recruiting and Retention College.

Waldorf University, Post University, Purdue Global University, Troy University, Trident University, McKendree University, and American Military University joined the growing list of the institutions that have agreements with the Army. They have degree maps outlining where Soldiers receive credit for training from military institutions and what courses a Soldier must take for degree completion. These institutions also maintain tuition assistance caps.

"An additional benefit will be the availability for students to transfer among the participating colleges. Many of these academic institutions have articulation agreements on file, which allow students to transfer in max credit from another participating college or university," Croker said. "Soldiers who take advantage of this program will become better leaders and more marketable civilians."

Each of these schools offers different degree programs and degrees of which recruiters can take advantage throughout their careers.

• Waldorf University -- Associates of Arts in Liberal Arts, Associates of Arts in Business, Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership, Bachelor of Science Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Human Resource Concentration

• American Military University -- Associates of Arts and Science in Technical Management, Bachelor of Arts and Science in Technical Management

• Post University -- Certificate of Human Resources Management, Associate of Science Management, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Management Concentration, Bachelor of Science in Management with Project Management Concentration, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Marketing Concentration, Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management, Bachelor of Science in Science Sports Management, Bachelor of Science Management with Concentration in Supply Chain Logistics

• Purdue Global University -- Associate of Applied Science Business Administration - Custom Specialization, Associate of Applied Science Public Safety and Security - Practitioner, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies, Master of Science in Management and Leadership.

• Troy University -- Associates of Science in General Education - Military Operation, Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor of Applied Science in Resource and Technology Management

• Trident University -- Associate of Science in Professional Studies, Bachelor of Science in Health Administration, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Human Resources and Management, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Management

• McKendree University -- Bachelor of Business Administration, Masters in Business Administration

"It's so exciting to be able to offer these programs that recognize the value of the teaching in the Army schools and also their experience in training through their occupational specializations," said Dr. Debra Louis, dean of the Glenn R. Jones College of Business for Trident University. "To be able to evaluate that and to give tangible transfer credit for those skills is a new thing, and it's really very exciting."

The ceremony, although brief, highlighted the hard work and effort that went into developing these partnerships, and pride emanated from university representatives and RRC leadership alike.

"Our best students are our military students," Louis said. "They have higher grade point averages, they graduate at a much higher rate and they bring an incredible wealth of experience… We look forward to deepening this partnership and continuing collaborations with Fort Knox and other installations."

Recruiters now have access to 16 colleges and universities. In addition to the six that signed Aug. 10, the RRC has agreements with Liberty University, Western Kentucky University, University of Louisville, Southern New Hampshire University, Central Texas College, Elizabethtown Community Technical College, Columbia Southern University, Sullivan University and the University of the Cumberlands.