Center for Military Education

Veteran Outreach at Fort Drum ACAP Career Fair

Veteran Services and Outreach Director Judy Reed recently participated in the Fort Drum Army Career & Alumni Program (ACAP) Quarterly Career Fair. The ACAP Fair assists transitioning soldiers, family members, veterans, and retirees to make informed career decisions, find employment, research career options, and experience success in the civilian sector.

The first hour of the fair was open only to Fort Drum’s wounded, injured, and ill soldiers, allowing them the opportunity to visit booths at their own pace and the time to ask questions. Many visitors to the Excelsior College booth during the five-hour career fair — soldiers and civilians — completed interest forms for a preliminary evaluation and requested more information on degree programs and certificates

Recognized by G.I. Jobs Again

G.I. Jobs has named Excelsior College a top military-friendly school for 2011. This marks the fifth time in a row that the College has been recognized as such, placing Excelsior in the top 15 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools nationwide that are doing the most to embrace America’s military and veteran students.

The latest G.I. Jobs designation is based on a poll of more than 7,000 schools nationwide. The process included an academic advisory board of educators from colleges and universities from around the country as well as representatives from the Veterans Administration, the American Council on Education (ACE), the College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP), and Student Veterans of America.

College Hosts Veteran and Military Open House

Excelsior’s spring Veterans and Military Open House was well attended by Capital Region military, veterans, and their families as well as guests from longer distances. The guest who traveled the farthest was an associate degree nursing student and veteran from Colorado, visiting the event in conjunction with his Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination (CPNE®). Several enrolled students from the immediate area dropped in to meet their academic advisors and visit with other College staff.

The Center for Career Services provided resume critiques to several guests during the open house. Career Services representatives assisted servicemembers and veterans in developing and refining their resumes by highlighting their most marketable skill sets in a clear, concise, and visually appealing format. In addition to providing resume critiques, other career resources on all aspects of career development were available to participants.

Guest participants who supported the event included representatives from the New York State Division of Veterans Affairs, New York Small Business Development Center, New York State Troops to Teachers, and the New York Army National Guard.

U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy

This 2010 class of the Sergeants Major Academy, the first group to experience face-to-face instruction by Excelsior College professors, has now graduated. The ceremony was held at the Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas. Susan Dewan, executive director of the Center for Military Education; Scott Dalrymple, dean, Liberal Arts; and David Elliott, associate dean, Liberal Arts attended the graduation event on May 25. Two-hundred-eighty Sergeants Major, who completed their degrees and certificates with Excelsior College, were recognized.

The Academy trains between 500–600 top senior noncommissioned officers through 1,200 hours of intensive instruction over a nine-month period. During this time, students can also complete civilian education programs earning associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. This past year, more than 1,000 courses were taught by Excelsior College instructors through face-to-face instruction at the Fort Bliss Sergeants Major Academy.