A new law in Texas allows colleges and universities to give college credit to veterans for their military training and experience, but a local university official wonders how such a program will work in a liberal arts environment.
Hardin-Simmons University Provost Tommy Brisco said the new program will be something that local universities such as HSU will have to take a look at because areas of training and experience the military has don’t translate well into a liberal arts educational system.
The discussion started after Gov. Rick Perry ceremoniously signed a bill Thursday — it was actually signed into law last month — that will help veterans earn college diplomas quicker, saying Texas has a special duty to help because so many military bases and veterans live in the state.
The College Credit for Heroes program is intended to help vets get college credit for military training and experience, enabling them to earn college degrees in less time for less tuition.
“Those experiences, those skills our veterans bring back from service are very valuable,” Perry said. “College credit for heroes will help them graduate more quickly so they can put those skills back to work back home, saving them money and tuition.”
Brisco isn’t sure how well such experience will be equal to the type of subjects HSU teaches.
If a veteran has computer training and experience, Brisco said, that would translate well to a computer science degree, but it wouldn’t be of significant help for an English degree.
“You don’t devalue these experiences. … But it is typically easier in technical areas with a major or minor than in liberal arts,” he said.
Brisco said the challenge for HSU will be for the university to enhance what it is already doing to help students. He said Hardin-Simmons, like other universities in Abilene, has had a longtime, good working relationship with the military and veterans.
The bill gained wide support from both sides of the political aisle during the recent legislative session.
“As the home state of so many that sacrificed so much, we have a special duty to improve the lives and circumstances of our veterans,” Perry said.
He touted other efforts approved during the recently concluded legislative session to help veterans, including a measure to extend a property tax exemption for disabled veterans.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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