More than 80 higher education professionals across South Carolina completed a training program designed to help colleges award academic credit for military training and experience, according to the S.C. Commission on Higher Education.
Based on a release from S.C. Commission on Higher Education.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education has concluded a multi-phase training initiative aimed at helping colleges and universities award academic credit for military training and experience, according to the commission.
The program, called “Connecting Service, Credit, and Collaboration to Strengthen Pathways for Military Learners in South Carolina,” was created in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs, according to the commission. More than 80 professionals from public and independent institutions and the South Carolina Technical College System completed the training this year.
“From a statewide perspective, advancing credit for prior learning is both an educational priority and an economic imperative,” said CHE President and Executive Director L. Jeffrey Perez. “Ensuring that military learners can effectively translate their experience into academic credit supports their individual success while strengthening South Carolina’s workforce and long-term competitiveness.”
South Carolina has more than 33,000 active-duty service members, and thousands of military-connected students pursue postsecondary education in the state each year, according to the commission. The University of South Carolina enrolls approximately 2,300 military-affiliated students, while Clemson University supports more than 1,200 through dedicated engagement programs, the commission said.
Retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jelani Edwards, the Midlands regional integration officer for the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs, spoke at an in-person session as part of the training.
“Every year, transitioning service members and veterans enter South Carolina with leadership experience, technical expertise, discipline and a ‘mission first’ mindset. But when they walk onto a college campus, too many of them are told (directly or indirectly) to start over, and that doesn’t just cost time. That costs them confidence, momentum and financial resources. And in some cases, they believe that higher education is not even worth it,” Edwards said.
“If we streamline systems and processes for veterans to succeed from a higher learning perspective, they will want to stay here. If we value their experience, they will invest in our communities. If we create clear pathways, they will strengthen our workforce,” Edwards said.
The training combined self-paced online coursework with in-person engagement, according to the commission. An initial phase of five online micro courses opened March 6, followed by an in-person kickoff event April 17 in Columbia that included regional breakout sessions, a student panel and a guest panel.
The program covered how military training translates into college-level outcomes, use of the American Council on Education Military Guide and ACE Engage platform, and strategies to evaluate military transcripts, align military learning with degree pathways, and reduce excess credits and costs, according to the commission. Participants who completed the online phase received an Advocate Certificate of Participation, and those who completed both phases received a Champion Certificate of Participation.
The commission said the training is part of its broader effort to connect higher education with workforce priorities through the SC Military Credit for Prior Learning Advisory Board. This is CHE’s second training focused on military credit mobility; in 2025 the agency partnered with American Council on Education Learning Evaluations for a four-phase training program.
Source: S.C. Commission on Higher Education original release.
