Through ACE’s Today’s Military Learners, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (Commission) and the University System of Georgia (USG) have joined forces in an initiative—Build America: Empowering Military Learners for Future Success—to establish a comprehensive understanding of credit for prior learning (CPL) policies and practices for military learners across institutions and states.The initiative is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. and aims to expand postsecondary education opportunities for 1.6 million military learners nationwide.
This partnership will advance the initiative’s first phase, which focuses on using foundational research to illuminate how CPL policies are implemented, identify barriers to access, and capture best practices for supporting military learners. The Commission, which serves as the coordinating agency for Indiana’s public colleges and universities and works closely with the state’s independent institutions, made educational attainment for veterans and the utilization of CPL key areas of focus for the agency’s strategic plan. USG provides strategic leadership and support to its 26 public institutions, expanding access to higher education by helping campuses recognize and award credit for knowledge gained through work, military service, and life experiences.
“Before we can transform CPL systems, we must first understand them,” said Michele Spires, assistant vice president, National Service and Defense Solutions at ACE and principal investigator for the initiative. “This collaboration begins with extensive research to provide an evidence-based foundation that will inform future strategies for expanding CPL access and success for military learners.”
This phase launches with a detailed survey of institutional CPL policies and practices across Indiana and USG institutions, capturing data on institutional awareness, implementation challenges, and success stories. Additionally, virtual focus groups of key stakeholders, higher education administrators, faculty, military-connected learners, and employers will provide vital qualitative data on CPL adoption.
Insights from these efforts will be synthesized into a comprehensive report that outlines actionable recommendations for enhancing CPL policies and aligning them with the unique needs of military learners.
“Credit for prior learning truly honors the diverse experiences of Hoosier veterans and the military-affiliated,” said Chris Lowery, Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education. “The Indiana Commission for Higher Education is pleased that Indiana is one of two states participating in the first phase of the Build America: Empowering Military Learners for Future Success initiative. Indiana’s participation will help ensure veterans and military-affiliated Hoosiers enroll and successfully complete their intended degree programs to secure a better quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities.”
“Our institutions regularly rank among the nation’s Top 10 military-friendly campuses and lead the way with strong residency policies that welcome service members, veterans and their families into the USG family and on to their degrees,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “That’s why collaborating with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the American Council of Education on this groundbreaking initiative makes so much sense. Learning how to make it easier to get credit for prior learning opportunities not only helps our system continue to innovate, but it creates more opportunities for military learners to get the tools they need to thrive in college and in Georgia’s workforce.”
The Build America initiative’s early focus on research and data collection will set the stage for systemic change, ensuring that subsequent phases are targeted, effective, and informed by real-world insights. By improving CPL processes, institutions will help reduce the time and cost of earning degrees while preparing military learners to thrive in civilian careers.
Military learners have and continue to serve our nation, and their pursuit of higher education amplifies that impact. By earning degrees, certificates, or licenses, they advance their goals while contributing to America’s innovation, security, and resilience.
Click here to learn more about the initiative and click here to learn more about ACE’s Credit for Prior Learning.