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Operation College Promise (OCP)
Building a Community of Support for Veterans in Higher Education since 2007
"To, Through, and Beyond Higher Education"
Operation College Promise(OCP)
OPERATION COLLEGE PROMISE (OCP) BACKGROUNDER
Operation College Promise (OCP) is a national policy, research, and education program based in Trenton, New Jersey. OCP supports the transition of military-affiliated students “To, Through and Beyond,” their postsecondary advancement. Founded in 2008 as a web-based resource, the project was launched under the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU) to centralize comprehensive transition information. In 2009, OCP was one of 20 applicants awarded an ACE/Walmart Foundation “Success for Veterans” grant.
EDUCATION
The education of veterans, and those who serve them, is the linchpin of the OCP mission. In 2009, the program developed and published the nation’s first resource manual for veterans’ service providers in the Post-9/11 era. The OCP Field Guide provides a blueprint for local, state and national support services to aid veterans in transition.
The signature Certificate for Veterans’ Service Providers (CVSP) program is the only nationally disseminated certificate program designed specifically for higher education professionals. To date, over 900 professionals from 40 states, representing more than 100,000 military-affiliated students, have been certified. The CVSP training has been offered at twelve different locations including Stockton University (Pomona, NJ), Ramapo College of New Jersey (Lyndhurst, NJ), Texas State University (San Marcos, TX), the University of North Carolina (Charlotte, NC), Texas A&M (San Antonio, TX), Ashford University (San Diego, CA), CareerTech for Vets (Oklahoma City, OK), the Association of Independent State Colleges and Universities of Rhode Island (Providence, RI), Armstrong State University (Savannah), University of Maryland University College, Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ) and St. Philips College (San Antonio). The rigorous, 2 ½ day curriculum includes seven modules taught by a cross-section of thought leaders in the field of military education, including: the American Council on Education (ACE); the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU); as well as representatives from the Chairman’s Office on Reintegration (CORe), Soldier for Life, the National Association of State Approving Agencies (NASAA) and many others. Each presentation is tailored to meet the specific needs of the hosting agency and includes a tour with an “insiders look” at a local military installation. As of January 2020, the CVSP curriculum and student orientation options will be available online.
OCP’s direct outreach to veterans supports the dissemination of information to our veterans and service members. OCP staff has regularly participated in the New Jersey National Guard’s “Yellow Ribbon” Post and Pre-deployment programming. Additionally, OCP provides updated information on existing and emerging resources through the OCP website, quarterly “Mail Call” e-newsletter, and social networking sites.
RESEARCH
Beginning in 2011, OCP developed a methodology – the Graduation Probability Indices (GPI) - to survey institutions on the progress of military-affiliated students toward degree attainment.. This landmark research “Completing the Mission: A Pilot Study of Veteran Students’ Progress toward Degree Attainment in the Post-9/11 Era” was followed up in 2013 by an expanded study: “Completing the Mission II: A Study of Veteran Students’ Progress toward Degree Attainment in the Post-9/11 Era” which increased the size of the study to 23 four-year institutions. The 2013 report can be accessed here: http://www.ccmountainwest.org/sites/default/files/completing_mission_ii.pdf. In 2021, OCP published Completing the Mission III – Assessing the Impact of COVID on Student Veterans and Support Services.
POLICY
OCP staff has frequently testified before the New Jersey Legislature on policies affecting veterans and their transition. For its efforts, OCP was awarded a Senate Resolution recognizing the program as a national model. The project collaborated with the New Jersey State Senate to establish the first “Veterans’ Education Awareness Week,” which is recognized through a gubernatorial proclamation each year. This initiative was made annual as an ongoing effort to educate veterans on their education benefits as well as celebrate their service. OCP is also researching condensed degree programs that maximize the benefits of the Post-9/11 GI bill, while recognizing the skill sets of our military students in fields with potential for long-term employment. The first of these, “VETeach,” a streamlined teaching degree plan, was signed into New Jersey Statute on April 5, 2012.
COVID RESPONSE
In May of 2020, OCP launched “Operation Reboot,” which now provides virtual options for both student orientations and the CVSP professional development training. The program also offers a Mobile app option to support the connectivity between students and with their institution during the pandemic.
IN THE PRESS
OCP’s work has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Chronicle on Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, Military Advanced Education, NBC, Fox News, NPR and CNN, among many other media outlets. The project was also featured in a chapter in “What’s Next for Student Veterans – Moving from Transition to Academic Success,” a book published by the National Resource Directory
For more information on Operation College Promise (OCP), call 561-302-5282.
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