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SERVING OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM:
COASTLINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S MILITARY PROGRAM
Since 1976, Coastline Community College has been committed to
student success through accessible, flexible, student-centered
education within and beyond the traditional classroom. But did you
know that about 25% of our students access Coastline’s educational
opportunities while serving in the military, from a submarine in the
Indian Ocean, a military base on the East coast or from an aircraft
carrier in the Persian Gulf?
Coastline Community College’s Military Program boasts a current
enrollment of approximately 7,000 students who are serving our
country as members of the armed forces. While about 80% of our
military students are enlisted in the Navy, military personnel from
most other branches of the military—such as the Coast Guard,
Marines, and Army—are also continuing their education at Coastline.
Members of the military enroll at Coastline for two major reasons:
for personal development or for preparation for their post-military
career. David Powell, a Signalman Chief Petty Officer stationed at
San Diego’s Naval Station 32nd Street and a recent graduate of the
program, says “I enrolled for three major reasons: pursuing my
education was helpful to my current career in the Navy, I’m
preparing for my post-
military career, and I wanted to set an example for my kids!” David
plans to transfer to a four-year college or university by January,
2004 and complete his bachelors’ degree by the time he retires from
the Navy in three years. One of the post-military careers he’s
considering is teaching.
How does it all work? A student starts by working with Coastline
advisors to determine the transferability of their military training
to the program (all formal military training has been evaluated by
the American Council on Education, which determines the training
eligible for college credit). Many military students have also
completed formal college coursework that will transfer to the
program. The student and his or her advisor are then able to
determine which courses are needed to meet Coastline’s A.A. degree
requirements.
Courses are made available through the use of two major distance
learning technologies—Internet and CD. Both technologies provide the
flexibility, rapid response requirements and mobility required by
most members of the military. Military personnel with access to the
World Wide Web (typically available on base or on large ships) are
able to access Internet-based courses; in fact, the USS Lincoln,
which President Bush recently visited as it neared its home port of
San Diego, boasts more than 100 Coastline enrollees. Navy personnel
on smaller ships or submarines are able to access courses by CD.
Students are also able to set their own pace, based on their
personal preferences or lifestyle. To balance his coursework with
his family commitments and Navy career, David Powell decided to take
just one course at a time, completing his A.A. over a six-year
period. Leslie Williams, a Petty Officer 2nd Class serving at the
Naval Air Facility in El Centro, had already completely nearly half
of the coursework necessary when she entered the program, as a
result of transferable military training and other formal college
coursework. By committing about 10 hours a week to the program, she
was able to complete her A.A. in just one year.
“I’m the first one in my family to earn an A.A. degree,” says
Leslie, “and I’m definitely planning to transfer to another college
to earn my bachelors’. I was very happy with the program—my
instructors were extremely responsive, answering my questions
promptly by e-mail and providing any additional help and support I
needed. In fact, I’ve recently recruited a colleague to the
program!”
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