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HIGHER EDUCATION

also recognize a service mem- bers experience gained in the performance of daily duties and responsibilities assigned based on rank and military occupa- tional specialty. Additionally, the institution offers doctoral credits at an extreme discount for military members and first responders following the completion of a previous degree or doctoral certificate with Liberty. Many service members become aware of academic institutions based on word of mouth from their col- leagues, and in my case, it was no different.

Military Friendly: Via Word of Mouth

After completing my associ- ates and bachelors degrees from Troy University and an MBA from Brenau University, both of which I consider mili- tary friendly, I was looking to continue my educational jour- ney by pursuing a doctorate in business administration. Coincidentally, I was attending a military course with a then- professional acquaintance, whom I now consider a close friend. She provided some per- sonal insight on the benefits of attending Liberty. She empha- sized that while the program was entirely online, the cur- riculum was rigorous, and most of her professors had invested in her academic success. This friend graduated with her Ed.D. last month and will soon move into a position wherein she will be charged with oversight of a program of study for an entire cohort. The experience gained from her new job, combined with her academic achieve- ments, will allow her to transi- tion into a career in higher edu- cation following her retirement from the military.

Military Friendly: Considering the Lifestyle and Profession of Military Members

Before selecting Liberty University, I researched many DBA programs. I favored another school but ultimately decided that the university could not meet my needs. The critical determining factor was attendance at a mandatory summer residency in the sec- ond and third years of the pro- gram. I was not opposed to the residency, but the timing was awful as summer is the peak season for permanent change of station (PCS) moves. During this period, offices are fre- quently short-staffed as organi- zational members depart, and there is usually a significant gap between their departure and the replacements arrival. Additionally, suppose the ser- vice member is part of the PCS cycle. In that case, they are forced to utilize a substantial amount of accrued leave to cover the residency period, time allotted for the move and any summer vacation they have planned with their family. This is in addition to the require- ment of finding new housing accommodations and settling in at the new location. This would be complete chaos! The military community does not want special treatment. It is quite the opposite. We only wish that academic institutions would recognize that our needs and experiences differ from the general publics. In deem- ing organizations as military friendly, institutions must be willing to adjust their current operations to fit the compre- hensive military lifestyle.

Source: HigherEd Military