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Press Release - March 8, 2006
Penn State World Campus Joins U.S. Marine Corps Education Service
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Two Online Programs are Now Available to Marines and Their Families
Whether serving at military bases or on ships patrolling the world's oceans, U.S. Marines now have a convenient way to enhance their leadership potential and management skills, thanks to Penn State World Campus' membership in the Marine Corps branch of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC). More than 177,000 active duty Marines and eligible family members can now enroll in two Penn State online degree programs: the bachelor of science degree in Organizational Leadership and the associate in science in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management.
"We value our partnership with the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges," Pete Rubba, senior director of Penn State World Campus, said. "Our participation in SOC is bringing some of Penn State's most highly regarded education programs within reach of more military personnel and their families."
Frank Boyd, project director for the SOC Marine Corps degree program, said, "We are delighted to have a university of Penn State's caliber and established track record join our program." He added, "Distance learning is particularly appealing to the Marine Corps, because servicemembers can pursue their education while on active duty."
Currently, Penn State programs are available to U.S. Army, Army National Guard and Coast Guard servicemembers through SOC's degree network system. With each SOC membership, Penn State's programs reach a wider military audience, because when one military branch approves a degree program, the program can be made available to all SOC military branches.
"Approximately 1,900 military veterans currently are enrolled at Penn State campuses," Ginny Newman, senior client development manager with Penn State Outreach, said. She expects the World Campus' membership in the Marine Corps branch of SOC to increase military enrollments in World Campus programs.
Newman has led Penn State's military education efforts during the last two years, in collaboration with Rubba, to align Penn State's credit transfer policies to meet SOC membership requirements.
"Penn State is pleased to be able to support our country by providing a quality education to military personnel," Rubba said.
Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges
Created in 1972, the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges provide educational opportunities to servicemembers, who, because they frequently moved from place to place, had trouble completing college degrees. SOC is a consortium of more than 1,800 colleges and universities that provide educational opportunities for servicemembers and their families.
Penn State World Campus
Launched in 1998, Penn State World Campus, a unit of Penn State Outreach, uses multiple technologies to make more than 50 of the University's most highly regarded graduate, undergraduate and continuing professional education programs available anytime, anywhere through the World Wide Web and other media.
Editor contact: Deborah A. Benedetti at 814-238-4895, dab12@outreach.psu.edu; or Amy Neil at 814-865-7600, aen4@outreach.psu.edu
Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.
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