Clark State first to partner with Air Force on online training

Ohio’s first community college to be GEM partner, one of 65 schools nationwide.


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By The Numbers

65: Number of civilian academic institutions nationwide, including Clark State, to become a GEM partner

5,576: Clark State’s 2015 fall semester enrollment, as of Friday

2,197: Clark State students who are taking one or more classes online

190: Total number of veterans, National Guard members and active military personnel currently enrolled at Clark State

* Source: Clark State Community College. Enrollment is still open for the B term, so these numbers are not final.

Clark State recently became the first Ohio community college approved as a partner with the U.S. Air Force to help service members obtain associate’s degrees online.

Clark State Community College is now one of more than 65 civilian academic institutions nationwide to become a General Education Mobile partner with the Community College of the Air Force. CCAF offers an associate of applied science degree in five career areas: aircraft and missile maintenance, allied health, electronics and telecommunications, logistics and resources, public and support services.

“The GEM partnership will enable Clark State to serve active duty military on a worldwide basis,” said Toni Overholser, Clark State director of business and community development. “Air Force students will be able to complete their general education requirements online and apply those credits to their Community College of the Air Force degree.”

Clark State’s 2015 fall semester enrollment stands at 5,576 students, it said Friday. The college has 2,197 students who are taking one or more classes online. Of those, 133 are veterans, 33 are National Guard members and 24 are active military personnel. Enrollment is still open for the B term, so these numbers are not final.

Clark State President Jo Alice Blondin said she was pleased about the college’s new partnership.

“The GEM designation demonstrates Clark State’s commitment to student completion by assisting our military in obtaining their general education requirements online,” Blondin said.

While on active duty, military members cannot always attend classes at an on-campus location, she added.

“Military members are always on-the-ready to serve, and their schedules may change at a moment’s notice,” said Overholser. “Our approved online classes better enable service members to continue their studies during times of transition or deployment.”

Overholser said Clark State does not know how many students are expected to participate in the program and does not have a goal for the number of students it would like to serve with the program.

“What a wonderful service to provide our service members,” William Nicholas, associate dean of campus relations for CCAF, said in a press release. “Having such an opportunity to complete the general education course helps tremendously.”

Each school has to meet specific criteria and offer certain courses online to become a GEM partner.

Service members will pay in-state tuition rates no matter where they are located, Overholser said.

“Service members all over the world can see we are a GEM school,” said Overholser. “They can register for classes and attend Clark State classes online.”

Through the CCAF program, service members can earn credits for their Air Force service and training, which leaves them with general education courses in order to complete their degree.

Clark County Commissioner Rick Lohnes, who retired in 2008 as the commander of the Springfield Air National Guard Base, said he is pleased Clark State has become a GEM partner.

Service members cannot always leave their station and take classes on a college campus to earn a degree, he added.

“It’s great they can do it on their own time,” Lohnes said.

CCAF students can search GEM school partners and register for classes online via the Air Force Virtual Education Center portal at www.my.af.mil.

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