October 24, 2017

The Military Transition Program (MTP), a two-term transition program offered to military service men and women, received the Distinguished Credit Program Award at the Association for Continuing Higher Education Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon, on October 24, 2017.

Aspiring veterans who do not meet the requirements of their desired Drexel program are invited to the MTP, where they receive support from Goodwin College Degree Completion Programs in establishing a path of success through a clear plan of study, strategies for adjusting to academic life at Drexel and collaboration with advising teams in the student’s desired major. After two terms in the MTP, students matriculate into a degree program at Drexel. Before the MTP was established, veteran students who did not meet program requirements were unable to attend the University and were left with the options of attending a different school or applying again for a future term; the MTP provides a quicker pathway for veteran students to earn their degree, maximizing their ability to use benefits from the GI Bill. As of the ’16-’17 academic year, the program is now able to grant students full-time status, allowing them to apply for financial aid to supplement their Yellow Ribbon benefits. Since its inception, more than 60 veteran students have been given the opportunity to attend Drexel through the program.

"Degree Completion Programs Director Lamont Wilson, Senior Academic Advisor John Rans and Academic Advisor Amy Gulyas have put their all into this program, transforming the MTP from a simple ‘last chance’ option into a full-fledged program with a thriving community, extracurricular activities, and exceptional support for our veteran students," notes Tim Gilrain, Assistant Dean for Goodwin College of Professional Studies.

According to Lamont, the core values that MTP students experience are “access and collaboration." Amy adds, “It is a big change for most student veterans so the fact that I get to guide them in finding a major that they are excited about is very rewarding.”