Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC)

What is SOC?

The Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) program was created in 1972 to provide educational opportunities to servicemembers who, because they frequently moved from place to place, had trouble completing college degrees. SOC functions in cooperation with 15 higher education associations, the Department of Defense, and Active and Reserve Components of the Military Services to expand and improve voluntary postsecondary education opportunities for servicemembers worldwide. SOC is funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) through a contract with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). The contract is managed for DoD by the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).

SOC campuses commit to the following core principles and criteria:

• Reasonable Transfer of Credit: avoid excessive loss of previously earned credit and avoid course work duplication
• Reduced Academic Residency: limited to no more than 25% of degree requirements with no final year or semester in residence (may require 30% for undergraduate degrees offered 100% online)
• Credit for Military Training and Experience: recognize and use ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services in evaluating and awarding academic credit for military training and experience
• Credit for Nationally-Recognized Testing Programs: award credit for at least one nationally-recognized testing program such as College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) General and Subject Exams, (DANTES) Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), Excelsior College Examinations (ECE)

The following SLN SUNY campuses participate in the SOC Program. SOC campuses should be contacted directly to find out more information about registering or enrolling for courses as an SOC student.

• Adirondack Community College
• Broome Community College
• Buffalo State College
• SUNY Brockport
• SUNY Canton
• Cayuga Community College
• Clinton Community College
• Dutchess Community College
• Empire State College
• Farmingdale State College
• SUNY Fredonia
• Herkimer County
  Community College
• SUNY Institute of Technology (SUNYIT)

More Information

For more information on military aid for SUNY study, please visit: http://studentaid.ed.gov

For more information on SUNY Financial aid programs and state and federal programs for financial aid at SUNY, please contact the Financial Aid Office at the campus offering your course or program online.

The SUNY Learning Network program is administered by the Office of the Provost.

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