Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges - Military Student Bill of Rights?

Hello, I just stumbled upon the term 'Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges' and the 'Military Student Bill of Rights'. Can someone break down what these are and how they can benefit me as a potential military college student?

The Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) program and the Military Student Bill of Rights are both designed to facilitate educational opportunities for members of the military, including those on active duty, reserves, veterans, and their families.

The SOC is a consortium of over 1700 colleges and universities that have agreed to flexible policies to accommodate and support military students. These colleges offer special benefits such as reduced tuition rates, credit for military training, and flexible course schedules that can accommodate deployments and transfers.

The Military Student Bill of Rights, on the other hand, is a set of guidelines developed by the SOC to ensure that military students are treated fairly by their institutions. It includes rights such as access to quality educational programs, the opportunity to complete degree programs, and fair evaluation of military learning experiences for academic credit.

Such provisions can notably benefit military students by easing their transition to higher education, acknowledging their unique experiences, and accommodating their varied schedules and commitments. A key advantage is receiving academic credit for military training and work experience, which can shorten the time needed to complete a degree. It can also provide a financial benefit, as the credit for military training can reduce the number of courses needed to graduate, thereby decreasing the cost of the education overall.

Just remember, these benefits are typically available at institutions that are participants in the SOC program, so it's crucial to do your due diligence when considering colleges and ensure they're part of this consortium.