By Jeff Murphy,
August 3, 2021
Whether they serve at nearby Whiteman Air Force Base or across the globe, men and
women in the United States Air Force who are pursuing an associate degree can now
apply their Air Force college credit toward an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology from the 欧美视频.
This opportunity is made possible through UCM鈥檚 selection as a partner in the . UCM was informed in July that its application to join the cooperative has been accepted.
Air Force members (who have a CCAF in Criminal Justice) may now continue their studies
toward a baccalaureate degree from UCM, beginning this fall. This can be accomplished
completely and conveniently online and at the active military tuition rate, which
provides a savings for military members seeking undergraduate credit.
According to Courtney Swoboda, director of Military and Veterans Services at UCM,
after Air Force personnel have completed their Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
degree from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), AU-ABC provides an opportunity
for them to transfer those credits to a number of partner institutions nationwide
that will enable them to obtain a bachelor鈥檚 degree.
Swoboda said the university has been looking at opportunities to enable Air Force
members to apply their CCAF credit toward a UCM degree. While UCM offers many different
types of academic programs, the Criminal Justice and Criminology program aligned well
with the needs of service members, particularly meeting the online requirements for
individuals who may be mobile.
With Whiteman Air Force Base situated less than 10 miles east of the university, UCM
already offers in-person graduate classes for military personnel. This experience
has provided an understanding of not only what the need for the Criminal Justice and
Criminology program may be at Whiteman but also well beyond its boundaries.
鈥淗aving an AU-ABC agreement for Criminal Justice and Criminology is a great opportunity
for members in the Security Forces AFSC at Whiteman, which has a large presence at
the base,鈥 Swoboda said.
Lynn Urban, chair of UCM鈥檚 School of Public Services, which houses the Criminal Justice
and Criminology program, noted that similar to other community college transfer agreements,
the AU-ABC 鈥減rovides a well-defined pathway for CCAF students to complete their bachelor鈥檚
degrees at UCM.鈥
鈥淧roviding a clear list of how CCAF courses transfer in, and how many courses a student
still needs at UCM, helps students make decisions about the program that are right
for them. This agreement brings peace of mind to students pursuing a Criminal Justice
and Criminology major at UCM because they know with certainty what their completion
plan looks like,鈥 Urban said.
Courtney Irvine, who serves as the onsite coordinator for UCM programs at WAFB, worked
with Urban, Swoboda and other university offices to make this opportunity possible.
Working out of WAFB鈥檚 Professional Development Center, she is instrumental in the
university鈥檚 efforts to maintain close connections with military personnel through
education.
鈥淯CM鈥檚 participation in the AU-ABC program allows Airmen the opportunity to build
a bridge between their Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree from the Community
College of the Air Force (CCAF) and UCM鈥檚 Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology,鈥
Irvine said. 鈥淎irmen who have completed their CCAF degree who elect to participate
in the AU-ABC program at UCM are required to complete no more than 60 semester hours
with UCM to complete their bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminal justice and criminology.
Students can complete all the required courses online. UCM is proud to offer a reduced
online undergraduate tuition rate for active military. By partnering with Air University
and the United States Air Force, UCM is helping Airmen to maximize their military
education and training and therefore achieve their educational goals more efficiently.鈥
UCM is a Military Friendly庐 institution that offers a military tuition package, active
duty military tuition rate, and military in-state rates. This is in addition to facilities
such as the Military and Veterans Success Center, which provides computer stations,
meeting space and personnel ready to service active duty military and veterans.
Individuals who want to learn more, including obtaining addition information about
the AU-ABC, can check out UCM鈥檚 Military and Veterans Services website. They can also call 660-543-8776 or email vets@ucmo.edu.