CLEP gets computerized; Navy loses

Discussion in 'CLEP, DANTES, and Other Exams for Credit' started by [email protected], Jun 8, 2003.

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  1. MarkIsrael@aol.com

    [email protected] New Member

    "[...] because of a move toward computer-based testing, the College Level Examination Program is on its last legs at Navy College offices throughout the Pacific. Several of the most popular tests — including chemistry, biology and German — will be gone by June 30. All remaining CLEP tests will be gone by next March."
    -- http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=15966
     
  2. timmyq45

    timmyq45 New Member

    This is truly a sad thing - I was always gone under the water on submarines and this was one of the only ways to earn college credit. I hope this gets resolved quickly!!
     
  3. dlkereluk

    dlkereluk New Member

    You would think that the Navy would have some sort of capability to handle the educational needs of its personnel. I know that submarines can be a different matter than the surface fleet, but if people can write directly to a sailor on an aircraft carrier (I "spoke" to someone on the USS Independence's last trip "home" to Bremerton in 1998), then surely setting up CLEP testing on most Navy vessels shouldn't be too much of a problem.
    Surely, even on submarines, some type of accomodation could be made for sailors who want to obtain university credits through CLEP.
     
  4. Charles

    Charles New Member

    Educational opportunities in the Navy have never been better

    The loss of CLEP exams may only be a temporary situation. DSST exams and ECE exams will apparently remain available options for the foreseeable future.

    On a side note, as part of Task Force Excel, the Navy is in the process of making college degrees and industry standard certifications an integral part of every Sailor's career path. A pilot program is already in effect for the the Mess Management Specialist/Culinary Specialist rating.

    "This is a work that is still in progress. The vectors are divided into Apprentice, Journeyman and Master segments defined as follows:

    Apprentice (0-4 years)

    Twelve-week Foundation School that incorporates all education requirements for an ACF Certified Culinarian

    Structured 6,000 hour chef apprenticeship

    Achieve Certified Culinarian at the 4-year career point Advanced initial placement for industry culinary experience and education

    Journeyman (4-10 years)

    Three week advanced Finishing School for all CS’s

    Associate Degree in Culinary Arts

    Achieve certification as Certified Sous Chef and/or Certified Chef de Cuisine

    Master (10-30 years)

    Continuous advanced education toward Bachelor and Master degrees

    Achieve certification as Certified Executive Chef and Certified Master Chef"

    http://www.excel.navy.mil/ms.htm

    More pilot programs are being developed. The Navy and Marine Corps are also currently working on implementing an A&P licensing program based on on the job training for aviation maintenance personnel.
     
  5. Jallen2

    Jallen2 New Member

    OT: Degrees and the military

    The military will have significant problems in the future justifying the amount of higher pay low level officers receive compared to what is becoming a better trained and educated enlisted force.

    I could say much more, but I'll leave it at that.
     
  6. timmyq45

    timmyq45 New Member

    I can only speak for my own experience, but while I could take a pace course while at sea, there was no other options for the most part unless in port which average 60-120 a year generally speaking. They also have a tremendous website www.navylearning.com which is wonderful for various types of IT, and personal development training, which was developed with NetG and Skillsoft. It is available to both retired Navy and active duty people.

    With regards to pay from another post, the low pay depends on what you do, however, the better educated enlisted force will probably result with fewer folks sticking around. Just my humble opinion.:D
     
  7. Charles

    Charles New Member

    Continuation of paper based exams

    "2. IN JUL 02, COLLEGE BOARD DIRECTED THE CONVERSION OF ALL
    PAPER BASED CLEP EXAMS TO COMPUTER-BASED EXAMS. HOWEVER, NOT ALL
    TESTS SITES (CIVILIAN AND MILITARY) WERE ADEQUATELY PREPARED TO
    ADMINISTER COMPUTER-BASED EXAMS RESULTING IN THE POSTPONEMENT OF
    THE CONVERSION TO COMPUTER-BASED EXAMS UNTIL 31 MAR 04. (A
    SCHEDULE OF THE EXAM WITHDRAWAL DATES IS AVAILABLE AT
    WWW.DANTES.DODED.MIL/DANTES_WEB/EXAMINATIONS/CLEP.HTM.)

    3. ADDITIONALLY, THE SOFTWARE ASSOCIATED WITH ADMINISTERING AND
    GRADING THE COMPUTER-BASED EXAMS IS NOT CURRENTLY COMPATIBLE WITH
    DOD SECURITY REQUIREMENTS, AND AS A RESULT, COLLEGE BOARD HAS
    AUTHORIZED THE CONTINUATION OF PAPER BASED TESTING. BEGINNING
    1 APR 04, 14 NEW PAPER BASED CLEP EXAMS WILL BE ISSUED FOR
    ADMINISTRATION. THESE TEST EXAMS, IF TAKEN AT AN NCO, WILL BE
    PROVIDED AT NO COST TO ACTIVE DUTY SAILORS. THE NEW PAPER BASED
    EXAMS ARE THOSE MOST OFTEN TAKEN (ACCOUNTING FOR 78 PERCENT OF THE
    TOTAL VOLUME) AND WILL REPLICATE THE ELECTRONIC CLEP EXAMS. (THESE
    EXAMS ARE ALSO LISTED AT THE WEB SITE PROVIDED ABOVE.)

    4. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SAILORS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY
    TO TAKE ANY OF THE EXAMS, DANTES HAS CONTRACTED WITH COLLEGE BOARD
    TO PROVIDE CLEP EXAMS TO MILITARY PERSONNEL AT NATIONAL TEST
    CENTERS AFTER JAN 04. DANTES WILL CONTINUE TO FUND THE COST OF THE
    CLEP EXAMS. HOWEVER, THE NON-REFUNDABLE ADMINISTRATION FEE
    (APPROXIMATELY $15 TO $35 PER TEST) CHARGED BY THE NATIONAL TEST
    CENTERS MUST BE PAID BY THE SAILOR. (A LIST OF NATIONAL TEST
    CENTERS MAY BE FOUND AT
    WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.COM/STUDENT/TESTING/CLEP/ABOUT.HTML UNDER TOOLS.)"

    http://www.bupers.navy.mil/navadmin/nav03/nav03296.txt
     
  8. chris

    chris New Member

    The Army Apprenticeship Program

    had apprenticeship training for its appropriate technical fields for years. However, it was an optional thing. The few people I knew who did it took several years to complete it and it was a fairly complex administrative task to conduct and document the training. If the Navy is going to make it mandatory it will become a massive job for the NCO's and Techs to undertake. Good luck to them.
     
  9. wfready

    wfready New Member

    Isn't it just logging in hours on certain systems you worked on into a logbook your assigned in A school? I seem to remember receiving a book for apprenticeship when I got out of school. I never used it though; however, we essentialy did the same thing in our training logs we were assigned at the squadron (I forgot what the Navy called them but ours were MATMEPs).

    Bill
     
  10. chris

    chris New Member

    Certain systems is the key

    In some specialties it is a lot of certain systems and as I recall it was in specific orders.
     
  11. Charles

    Charles New Member

    Task Force Excel's (now part of the Sea Warrior Program) goal is to make industry standard education and training (certification and degrees) an integral part of every Sailors career development. The education and training envisioned by Task Force Excel are separate and apart from and much more comprehensive than the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP).

    The story "A look at the future…" provides an idea of what the Navy is thinking.

    http://www.excel.navy.mil/training_rev.htm
     

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