Navy College Program for Afloat Education available in the fleet
6/9/2010
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The Navy College Program for Afloat Education (NCPACE) offers flexibility for Sailors and Marines who are seeking opportunities to work towards an academic degree while underway.

NCPACE is designed to meet the academic needs of deployable units by providing college courses to service members assigned to eligible sea-going commands.

"The program began in the early 1970s when the Navy provided Sailors aboard Polaris submarines with educational films to view during off-watch hours and has steadily grown as a program since that time. In 2009 alone, NCPACE had 14,997 total enrollments," said Dr. Mary Redd-Clary, voluntary education director.

In 1973, the Navy allowed civilian instructors to teach aboard selected surface ships, and a year later the Program for Afloat College Education (PACE) became a fully funded program, with the exception of textbooks.

Then, in 1987, a technology component, PACE II, was added. Today, NCPACE is a contracted program with Central Texas College (CTC).

Currently, NCPACE provides courses in both instructor-led and distance learning for commands with Type 2 and Type 4 unit identification codes. The Navy funds the tuition at 100 percent and students are responsible for purchasing textbooks and related course materials.

The NCPACE program offers academic skills, developmental and college-level courses, both undergraduate and graduate, from regionally accredited institutions.

The objective of NCPACE is to provide shipboard personnel with educational opportunities comparable to those available to their counterparts serving on shore duty.

"NCPACE provides our deployed Sailors the equal access to further their education. Education is key to the Navy's future. Education enables Sailors to apply themselves to new situations and challenges, improves knowledge in support of their rating and provides a more effective, productive and flexible workforce," said Jennie Humes, assistant director of the Navy's Voluntary Education Program.

The institutions offering undergraduate courses are affiliated with Service members Opportunity Colleges Navy, making it easier to transfer credits and complete degrees. The participating institutions also offer degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

In coordination with the Navy, under the instructor led program, qualified NCPACE instructors deploy with the ships and offer courses in a classroom environment. Instructor-delivered courses include associate, bachelor and graduate levels. Distance learning courses are available via CD-ROM, personal digital assistant and iPod, and do not require internet access. Courses lead to degrees at the associate, bachelor and graduate levels. Because of the self-paced nature of the distance learning courses, first-time distance learning participants are screened and counseled by Navy College Office counselors during NCPACE orientation services and limited to one course during the first term.

During orientation services, students interested in NCPACE instructor led and/or distance learning courses are briefed on the NCPACE program, administered course placement testing as needed and provided with individual counseling. Additionally, the contractor, CTC, has implemented a program using the Hobsons' Retain Constituent Relationship Management Tool that provides a way to track retention efficiently. The system will automatically generate and send emails to the distance learning participants before, during and at the end of the term to help keep them engaged in the courses and programs.

For more information about the Navy College Program, visit https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/. .