Careers in Progress

Written by Kenya McCullum

MAE 2010 Volume: 5 Issue: 1 (February)

But the economy is not the only factor that has made going back to school more attractive right now. In order to increase the morale of the families that sacrifice so much in their service, the military is offering more opportunities for spouses to attend school. One such opportunity is Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA), which provides up to $6,000 of financial assistance to these students.

“There has been an increasing morale type of support from the military, which recognizes the value of supporting spouses in an era when active duty officers are being asked to do multiple overseas deployments,” said Pat Partridge, vice president of marketing and enrollment at Western Governors University (WGU). “Being supportive of spouses has been a wise investment by the military, because the morale of the troop is improved with the morale of the spouse.”

BIG INCENTIVES

In addition to the extra boost in enrollment thanks to the MyCAA program, WGU is also attractive to military spouses because of the school’s model. Instead of traditional semesters where students take a certain number of classes for several years, students receive their degrees based on proving their level of competency.

“What we mean by competency- based is that our focus is measured on learning, not seat time, not even time at all,” said Partridge. “So, individuals who come to WGU focus on making sure that when they graduate, they really have high competence in their chosen field, as well as in the other basic requirements. The focus is on measuring competence, not simply getting through courses and ultimately a degree.”

Partridge says that this model, as well as affordable tuition and the financial support that is available for military spouses through the school (up to $1,500 per student), makes this online nonprofit university an attractive option for these students.

“What military spouses like about WGU is that our tuition is very modest for every six months,” he said. “The students can attempt as much as they want during that six month time period, so a really bright student who is willing to work hard can sometimes pass 15 to 20 competency units in that period of time, while the tuition stays the same.”

CAREER ADVANCEMENT

In addition to financial concerns, many military spouses choose portable careers that will allow them to move easily with their husbands and wives, which often require that they update their skills from time to time. Although these students already have experience in their fields, they will increase their skills and knowledge base in order to remain competitive as they move from one location to the next.

Likewise, some female military spouses who want to excel in their careers often return to school after they have hit their company’s glass ceiling.

“Even if they have comparable credentials to a male in the same position, very often these women are passed over for a promotion and they need another source of proof in order to get the position,” said Gloria Blackwell, director of fellowships, grants and international programs at the American Association of University Women, which offers fellowships and grants for women at various stages of their careers.

FAMILY MATTERS

In many cases, military spouses are following the path that other students follow—going to school to pursue the careers of their choice. However, the difference in the military lifestyle can make it take much longer to earn a degree while accelerating the process of building a family.

“We speak to some young spouses who, because of multiple deployments, have to accelerate the way they start their families nowadays,” said Sherry Koch, program manager at ThanksUSA, an organization that offers scholarships for students who are attending accredited two- and four-year schools.

Other military spouses go back to school when they’re older—after the kids have all been raised and left the nest—and decide it’s time to do something for themselves that will expand their own horizons. Some of these students did not get the opportunity to go to college when they were younger, while others are picking up where they left off before they started their families.

“There are many challenges facing adults looking to advance or change their careers in order to gain more financial stability for their families,” recognized Idalia Hill, a supervisor at Golin Harris. “For military spouses, the personal and financial challenges are even greater. In addition to balancing traditional college work with professional and family responsibilities, they must also relocate frequently with their families.”

TIMELY SOLUTIONS

Excelsior College, one of the nation’s oldest nonprofit distance learning institutions, has stepped up to help military spouses seeking portable careers that can bring steady income without the requirement of a college degree. The college’s Center for Professional Development (CPD) has embraced professional training programs for spouses, which dovetail with the MyCAA program.

The financial assistance offered by MyCAA, combined with rising demand for professional credentials, has made CPD a desirable option for military spouses looking for financial stability for their families through portable careers. Since 2008, over two-thirds of CPD course enrollments have been members of the military and their spouses. The CPD offers over 150 MyCAA-eligible programs, which many spouses have started using to build careers that move when they do.

Two years ago, Toni Morris of Clinton, Conn. left a job she had held for 21 years to accompany her husband to his military post in Hawaii. When she returned to Connecticut, she discovered her old company was in a hiring freeze. Consequently, she decided to improve her job skills and recently completed a Microsoft certification program offered by Excelsior College’s CPD program. She has already upgraded her Microsoft Office skills, taking the CPD’s Microsoft Office Specialist 2007 course, and is actively pursuing interviews with various companies.

Colleen Politi of Washington, D.C. also cashed in on her MyCAA benefits. After a hiatus from the workforce, her efforts to switch careers were often met with requirements for professional credentials she did not have. Faced with the need for more employment options and financial security, she also enrolled in the CPD program at Excelsior. She is now working her way toward a health care career in emergency and disaster management. So far she has completed three self-directed courses: Microsoft Office Specialist 2007, Terrorism and Disaster Management in Health Care and Project Management. ♦

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