Legislature(2013 - 2014)BUTROVICH 205
02/12/2013 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB1 | |
| SB2 | |
| SB4 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 4-MILITARY TRAINING CREDIT
9:47:27 AM
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, sponsor of SB 4, introduced the bill.
He stated that he has been working on the bill with the U.S.
Department of Defense for about two years. The bill passed the
Senate and House last year. It is the top priority of the
Department of Defense. The bill directs state boards to accept
relevant military education training and service as equivalent
to some or all of the qualifications required while applying for
a license or a certificate. It also authorizes issuance of
temporary licenses or certificates for active duty service
members who had an equivalent license or certificate issued in
another state.
He discussed a major concern over unemployment issues for newly
separated veterans. The jobless rate for post-911 veterans was
9.9 percent as of last September, with young male veterans
experiencing an unemployment rate of 18.1 percent.
He noted that 25 states have passed similar legislation.
He emphasized that the University of Alaska is doing a good job.
SB 4 would simply codify some requirements.
9:50:40 AM
CHRIS CHRISTENSEN, Associate Vice President, State Relations,
University of Alaska, addressed Section 2 of the bill which
directs the university's president to adopt policies and
procedures to award credit for military training, education, and
service. He noted that Alaska's university is already in
compliance with this mandate.
He related that the university is committed to offering quality
educational experiences to active military, veterans, and their
dependents. "GIJobs" is a magazine and web portal that exists
specifically to serve people who are transitioning from the
military back to civilian life. It has designated both UAA and
UAF as "military friendly schools." Only 15 percent of all
universities, colleges, and vocational schools in the country
have earned this distinction, which is based on an institution's
financial and non-financial commitment to recruit and retain
military and veteran students.
MR. CHRISTENSEN reported that the web portal "Guide to online
schools.com," which bills itself as the most comprehensive
authority on distance education and online learning, has ranked
the most military-friendly online colleges in the country, and
out of the multitude of schools that offer online education, UA
was rated number five.
He shared that the transfer of credit has been problematic at
the university, and military transfer of credit is a piece of
this bigger issue. He explained that the Board of Regents has
adopted a written policy that says campuses must accept in
transfer as much credit as is appropriate to a student's new
degree and graduation requirements. All three campuses have
established transfer credit policies designed to give maximum
credit for courses and training taken elsewhere, including in
the military. Awarding appropriate credit for military training
is one of the university's responsibilities, and another way to
show commitment to recruit and retain military and veteran
students.
He addressed misconceptions about the credit transfer process.
Transfer credit processes at the university are managed at the
campus level, although there is intentionally a great deal of
uniformity in the system. With respect to credit for military
training, all three campuses transfer credit based on
recommendations made by ACE, which is the acronym for the
American Council of Education. For over 65 years, ACE has had an
agreement with the Department of Defense to review military
training and experience for the award of equivalent college
credits. Its recommendations on equivalent college credits are
utilized by many colleges and universities across the country.
The three Alaskan campuses have each entered into written
agreements with the Department of Defense to use the ACE
recommendations.
He continued to say that the three campuses are also members of
the SOC Consortium. He explained that SOC stands for the
Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, a consortium of over 1,000
colleges and universities that enroll military, and dependents
in special degree programs, both on campus and through distance
learning. Its purpose is to let the military get degrees, rather
than just accumulate credits as they move from base to base. To
be part of SOC, the campuses signed written agreements to, among
other things, follow specific guidelines to ease transferability
of credit between the member institutions and to limit the
number of credits military students have to earn at UA in order
to get a UA degree. For example, military students working on an
Associate's Degree at UAA only need 3 UAA credits to earn the
degree; UAA will take all the rest of the credits from other
schools in the SOC Consortium.
He said UAA is currently accepting approximately 51 credits per
student from those military students who attended the Community
College of the Air Force, the service academies, and other
regionally accredited military institutions. At UAF, a military
student can use approximately 30 credits of typical training for
the Bachelor of Emergency Management Degree, or 90 credits for a
General Studies Bachelor of Arts that does not require
satisfying particular major requirements.
He continued to say that neither UAA nor UAF have any limitation
on the number of military transfer credits they will award. He
said they used to, but they've done away with it as part of the
continual process to review the system and make it more student
friendly.
9:55:41 AM
CHAIR DYSON asked how long ago the university made that change.
MR. CHRISTENSEN thought that UAA made the change about two years
ago.
He shared that UAA awards over 15,000 hours a year of military
transfer credit for training, for education, and even for time
spent in the service. That number is increasing. Last year,
approximately 99.5 percent of the students who requested
military transfer credits received those credits.
He said that Alaska is widely known to service members as a
state that welcomes and appreciates the military. Alaska's
university, as demonstrated by its existing transfer policies,
reflects those prevailing social values.
He stated that in the last 12 months UAA has done a number of
things to improve the treatment of military, veterans, and their
families on campus.
CHAIR DYSON recalled stories of credit transfer problems within
the Alaska university system.
MR. CHRISTENSEN said it was an interesting question. He
explained that 98 to 99 percent of all credits transfer;
however, statistics can be misleading. President Gamble has
engaged in the University's Strategic Direction Initiative,
which is a comprehensive look at what the university is doing
right, as well as wrong. It was discovered that credits do
transfer, but the process is problematic, as is the amount of
time it takes. In 2011 at UAA it took 45 days for the credit
transfer process, but now it takes only 3 days. UAA transferred
275,000 credits last year or 41 percent more than four years
earlier. They transferred in credits for 6,000 students last
year, which is an increase of 65 percent. He concluded that
there is a commitment to change the system.
CHAIR DYSON said that was heartening.
9:59:47 AM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI shared that his staff member has had a
negative personal experience regarding credit transfer from UAS
to UAA.
MR. CHRISTENSEN explained that credits sometimes transfer as
general education, but not as requirement credits. He suggested
referring problems to him.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said he would.
CHAIR DYSON recalled President Hamilton saying that each
discipline within the university has its own credit standards.
He asked if that is still a problem.
10:01:47 AM
MR. CHRISTENSEN agreed that has been a problem in the past, but
he said the situation continues to improve. For example, 100
percent of general education credits are now accepted between
UAA and UAF.
CHAIR DYSON said he had an impression that the university was
monolithic.
MR. CHRISTENSEN countered that the opposite is true; he said it
is the least monolithic institution he has been exposed to.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if there is a policy in place for
National Guard members attending school.
MR. CHRISTENSEN offered to find out.
10:03:48 AM
CHAIR DYSON shared a story about a military person's problem
with receiving credit. He voiced appreciation for the ability to
adjust credits for military members. He requested information
about allowing military experience for credit.
MR. CHRISTENSEN could not speak to that issue.
10:04:41 AM
THOMAS CASE, Chancellor, University of Alaska - Anchorage,
stated the importance of his deep personal commitment, and the
University's commitment, towards the good treatment of military
veterans. He spoke of his 33 years of active duty military
service and said that Alaska is the most military-friendly state
he has served in. He predicted Alaska's commitment to veterans
would increase due to the pending "draw down of engagement"
around the world and the return of more veterans.
He shared statistics about how many veterans are currently
enrolled. There are 1,850 active duty and veteran students in
the UAA system. The university has established a Military and
Veteran Student Task Force in order to take a close look at each
of the programs. He referred to the example Chair Dyson
mentioned and said that an attempt is being made to see what
will work for that individual.
He shared that UAA is one of eleven campuses nationwide to be
accepted to participate in Vet Success on Campus. The university
has a new Military and Veterans Student Resource Center. Much of
the progress the university is making is impacted by legislative
support. Aspects of the budget that go toward building up the
counseling program are making a difference. He said the
university is working very hard on the transferability of
credits and making great progress.
10:07:54 AM
CHAIR DYSON requested information about how military work
experience, or "hands on," translates to credits, such as in the
medical profession.
CHANCELLOR CASE offered to provide specific examples.
CHAIR DYSON requested specific examples of military experience
that is considered for credits. He said he was impressed with
the progress the university has made.
CHANCELLOR CASE said, "We have only begun to fight."
10:09:14 AM
MARC SAN SOUCI, Northwest Regional Liaison, Department of
Defense, testified in support of SB 4. He related that in
September of 2012, the unemployment rate for young, male
veterans 18 to 24 was 18.1 percent. He said in 2012 a study
reported that Alaska had 1,231 military veterans separate or
retire back to Alaska. In the last two years, over 2,500
veterans returned to Alaska.
He emphasized that he is not asking for direct occupational
licensure if it is not equivalent. He is only seeking credit
where credit is due. The public has already paid for veterans'
training within the "Department of Defense (DOD) School.' The
DOD recognizes the need to make credits easier for credentialing
bodies to process and accept. Six pilot states are reviewing
military occupations to see whether training and experience
qualify for credits.
He said there is a new Joint Service Transcript (JST), which
will validate and document military credits so institutions can
review them. He added that DOD is also working on determining
which credentials relate to which military occupations.
10:14:21 AM
RIC DAVIDGE, National Chairman of Government Affairs, Vietnam
Veterans of America, talked about the crucial 90 days between
separation and the start of school or training or finding a job.
He reported that his organization aims to shorten the 90-day
period and provide training or work for returning veterans. He
said SB 4 will help with this goal.
He described the placement of two Veteran Services Officers on
campus in Fairbanks and Juneau to help meet the needs of
veterans.
10:17:38 AM
CHAIR DYSON thanked all of the testifiers.
SENATOR GIESSEL wished to focus on Section 1 of the bill which
has to do with licensing boards and temporary licensing. She
explained that subsections (b - e) on page 2 deal with
activities of the professional regulatory boards. She said she
appreciates (b)(2) which holds in place the criminal background
check for licensing. She voiced concern about subsection (d)
regarding a temporary license being issues for 180 days and
potential for another 180 days. She said when she reviewed
statutes for the Board of Medicine and the Board of Nursing
where competence is paramount, she discovered that they both
provide for a 180 day temporary license, which is non-renewable.
She wondered why the extra six-month period was provided for in
this legislation.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI requested his staff, Kendra Kloster, to
explain.
10:20:32 AM
KENDRA KLOSTER, staff to Senator Bill Wielechowski, sponsor of
SB 4, explained that the language was written with the help of
the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
(DCCED). She said the language Senator Giessel is referring to
is similar to language used for transferring temporary licenses
for spouses. She emphasized the word "may" is used, so it is up
to the boards on whether they want to extend the period.
SENATOR GIESSEL informed the committee that there are boards
that have temporary license limitations of only 30 days. She
related her concern that if an individual is not qualifying for
a permanent license after six months, it calls into question
their ability to meet the requirements. It also creates
additional administrative activity for the board.
MS. KLOSTER deferred to DCCED to answer.
10:21:45 AM
DON HABERGER, Director, Division of Corporations, Business, and
Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community, and
Economic Development, explained that the Division views it as a
policy call. There are a variety of temporary licenses, either
through statute or adopted by regulation from a professional
board. The Division does not have a specific comment on the
extra 180 days.
CHAIR DYSON asked if regulations are run by the professional
boards.
MR. HABERGER said yes. He explained that the 40 professional
licenses are split into "boarded" and "unboarded" categories.
The legislature has given the boards authority to regulate their
professions. The Division only sets regulations for those
programs that do not have boards.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI agreed it was a policy call. He recalled a
previous bill that provided similar provisions for spouses. He
said the legislature is free to change that language.
10:23:29 AM
At ease
10:25:21 AM
SENATOR GIESSEL offered a conceptual amendment:
On page 2, line 19
Add a period after "180 days"
Delete the rest of subsection (d)
There being no objection, the conceptual amendment was adopted.
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SB 4, labeled 28-LS0016\U, as
amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 4(STA) was
reported from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.