Monday, April 1, 2013

UIS to offer credit for military experience

Both military veterans and active personnel will have a chance to earn college credit for their life experiences as well as share them with other service members in a new online class at the University of Illinois Springfield.

The eight-week online courses begin June 3. Current UIS students may enroll for credit for prior learning courses starting Monday.

The courses will allow service members to share their experiences through an online discussion board. Participants will be allowed to moderate discussions and suggest topics.

“Credit for prior learning is traditionally a way for older students, typically, to get college credit for life experiences,” said Kevin Beeson, visiting clinical professor of Experiential and Service Learning at UIS.

He used as an example a former drill sergeant taking an oral communications course.

 “They’ve already been yelling at recruits for 25 years,” he said.

Students in the courses also will keep journals and write portfolios about their military service.

The story was featured by The State Journal-Register on March 31, 2013.

Read the article online