Education Afloat
Written by Jennie Humes
NAVY COLLEGE PROGRAM FOR AFLOAT COLLEGE EDUCATION
HELPS SAILORS TAKE COLLEGE CLASSES WHILE AT SEA.
In the early 1970s, the Navy provided sailors aboard Polaris submarines educational films for viewing during “off-watch” hours. The University of South Carolina and Harvard were the first universities to offer college courses by this means to shipboard sailors. In 1973, the Navy allowed civilian instructors to ride and teach on selected ships home ported in Norfolk, Va. By 1974, with the advent of all-volunteer force, the Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) was established as a special component of the Navy’s voluntary education programs. Today, Central Texas College has the contract for NCPACE. Courses are delivered via instructor-led and distance learning.
HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
Navy College Office staff contacts the ship prior to deployment and conducts Orientation services. Orientation services is a series of events that includes command briefing, general crew brief, educational needs assessment survey, academic counseling, ASSET Testing and command debrief.
During the command debrief, the Navy College Office staff submits a Command Education Plan to the ship’s commanding officer. The Command Education Plan includes a listing of proposed students and course recommendations for NCPACE participation.
Once the orientation services are complete, the ship sends a “requirement request” to the NCPACE ordering officer and receives authorization for the class. Students then enroll in the class and purchase his/her own textbooks.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Personnel assigned to U.S. Naval vessels and deployable squadrons assigned to a Unit Identification Code (UIC) with a sea-duty code of type 2 or 4. Navy personnel on temporary assignment to the sea-going UIC may be eligible to participate as long as they have sufficient time to complete the course while assigned to the command.
HOW ARE CREDITS TRANSFERRED?
All NCPACE courses are offered by academic institutions that are accredited by an agency recognized by the Department of Education.
These institutions are also members of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Navy (SOCNAV). Under SOCNAV, institutions join together to form networks and accepts credits from all other members. This guarantees transferability of credits as sailors transfer from one duty station to another.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLETION RATES?
Completion rates for instructor-led and distance learning combined averages to over 75 percent. Our withdrawal rates for both contracts averages to 6 percent, which is really good.
HOW DOES A PERSON SIGN UP?
Sailors need to contact their Education Services Officer (ESO) on board the ship or their local Navy College Office staff.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE INSTRUCTOR-LED COURSES AND THE DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES?
Under NCPACE instructor-led, courses are taught by college professors/ instructors who ride with the ship during deployment. These instructors are afforded berthing on board the ship. Distance learning courses are offered via several modes of delivery such as CDROM, PDA and IPOD.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD THE READER KNOW?
NCPACE is tuition free. Students do not pay for tuition. Students only pay for textbooks. ♦
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Jennie Humes is the deputy director, Voluntary Education, Center for Personal and Professional Development, Naval Education and Training Command.