Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC)

Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium and the SOC Degree Network System

Austin Peay is designated as an institutional member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium and the SOC Degree Network System.

Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Consortium

The SOC Consortium consists of colleges and universities committed to expanding and improving voluntary postsecondary educational opportunities for servicemembers worldwide.  SOC Consortium members subscribe to principles and criteria to ensure that quality academic program are available to active-duty military students, their family members and veterans.  A list of current SOC Consortium member institutions can be found on the Website at http://www.soc.aascru.org/.

SOC Degree Network System Membership

Austin Peay State University is a member of the SOC Degree Network System, a subgroup of SOC Consortium member institutions selected by the military services to deliver specific associate and bachelor’s degree programs to servicemembers and their families.  As a member of the DNS, we have agreed to adhere to academic policies intended to support military students in their academic endeavors towards degree completion.

1. Institutional Residency requirements for graduation to 25 percent of total degree requirements or in the case of degrees that are offered completely online, 30 percent.
2. Allows military students to complete residency hours at any time during their academic career.
3. Awards credit appropriate to the degree for service training school courses and military occupational experience based on recommendations in the american Council on Education Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services (ACE Guide).
4. Award credit appropriate to the degree from at least one nationally-recognized standardized testing program, such as, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or Dantes.
5. Issue a student agreement for each eligible military student by the time six hours of credit is earned at the home college.
6. Permits the student to complete his or her selected degree program under the terms of the Student Agreement even after separation from the active military service or if the institution no longer participates in the SOC Degree Network System.