Texas Tech University and the Central Texas College District (CTCD) in Killeen recently partnered to actively commit to the Texas College Credit for Heroes Program, established by the Texas Workforce Commission in 2011.

The new partnership with the College Credit for Heroes Program will work to maximize the acceptance of college credits awarded to Texas veterans and service members for their military educational experiences and nontraditional learning.

“Our partnership with the College Credit for Heroes Program will provide veterans an excellent opportunity to receive credit for their military training and work experience that applies to their Texas Tech degree program,” said Lou Ortiz, director of Texas Tech's Military and Veterans Programs. “The university is committed to helping those who have served our country, and academic credit gained through this program will provide a shorter path for some veterans to earn their degree.”

Unique to Texas, College Credit for Heroes was designated as a permanent program after the passage of Senate Bill 806 in the 84th legislative session. The program has succeeded in establishing a standard evaluation process used across the state for veterans and service members to receive classroom credit through a growing network of partner schools. It also supporting the development of 76 fast-track programs to help transform veterans' military experience to civilian careers.

College Credit for Heroes program officials, along with Texas Tech, CTCD and other participating institutions, are projecting in some instances that veterans and service members will be able to earn their associate's and bachelor's degrees in an expedited manner which will allow them to transition into the workforce sooner.

Depending on each veteran's degree program, it is a possibility that not all military experience and nontraditional learning will be applied as credit. Each transcript will go through an evaluation process before the credits are applied to a veteran's schooling.

Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Andres Alcantar said the commission and its higher education partners are committed to providing innovative programs to help ease the transition veterans and service members face after going back to civilian life.Several Texas colleges and universities have partnered with the program, including the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Arlington, El Paso and San Antonio, and more.

To be a part of the College Credit for Heroes program, veterans and service members must first register as a user of the program. After becoming a user, they will then be able to:

• Receive an immediate estimate of credits based on military occupation and service schools attended
• Request an evaluation of military education experiences
• Request a College Credit for Heroes transcript to be sent to a college or university of choice

For more information about the College Credit for Heroes Program, visit its website.