Bates Program Helps Student Veterans Earn Credit for Military Experience

Bates Technical College will offer a new pathway for military service members to earn college credit for past military training, experience and education.

Starting fall 2013, the Veterans Career Advanced Placement (VCAP) program will allow the college to apply prior learning and experience toward college credit, offer articulation and transition services, and establish dedicated facilities for student veterans at Bates.

“The VCAP program reinforces our commitment and dedication to the hundreds of veteran students who choose Bates as their educational partner after serving in the military,” said Bates President Dr. Ron Langrell. “As a community-based technical college with a major military base nearby, we make it a priority to help our veterans become job-ready sooner and build on the skills and abilities acquired during their military service.”

To help establish a veterans-only student club and create a dedicated space at the college, the Associated Student Government (ASG) created a new student government position.

“With the establishment of the VCAP program, our first move was to create a veterans liaison position to help connect us with student veterans and establish a relationship,” said Chris Hansen, ASG president and student in the Biomedical Service Technician: Clinical Engineering program.

The college has been acknowledged for its commitment to the military community in a variety of ways since fall. On Sept. 19, Victory Media, Inc. recognized Bates as being among the top 15 percent of colleges across the nation to be named a Military Friendly School for 2012-2013. On Nov. 14, First Gentleman Mike Gregoire and the Director of Washington State Veterans Affairs John Lee joined President Langrell to sign the Official Partner for Veterans Supportive Campuses certificate at the college’s annual Veterans Day Celebration.

“Our student body is excited about the college’s focus on veterans, and the new VCAP program is a great example of how our college continues to support military personnel and address the unique roadblocks and concerns common to student veterans. A program like VCAP serves as a bridge to help our veteran students earn college credit for prior learning,” said Hansen.

To help recognize the establishment of the VCAP program, President Langrell and Board of Trustees Chair Karen Seinfeld will sign a resolution at the monthly meeting of the trustees on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. in the college’s Clyde Hupp Board Room. The meeting is open to the public.

About Bates Technical College

Founded in 1940, Bates Technical College offers certificate and degree opportunities in 53 career education programs, and serves approximately 3,000 career training students and 10,000 more community members annually in extended learning, distance learning, high school, and other programs. For more information, go to www.bates.ctc.edu, or call 253.680.7000.