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The need to bridge that gap led Alexandria Technical and Community College to seek $1.1 million in federal funds to support the creation of Minnesota’s Global Military Learning Network (GLMN). Supported by Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, this project was awarded funding in March 2022.

The GMLN project created a new partnership between the colleges and a university that crosses Minnesota’s 7th congressional district, building military curriculum bridge programs and establishing connections between traditional academic degree programs and military training. Participating institutions include Alexandria Technical and Community College, Northland Community & Technical College, Northwest Technical College, and Bemidji State University.

This initiative implements a new approach moving us past the outdated strategy of a simple course-to-course transfer model and into a comprehensive evaluation dynamic that more fully recognizes the knowledge and skills gained by military members while they are serving," said Dr. Tamara Arnott, a dean of educational services at Alexandria College. "The degree completion programs we will create are special because they require students to only take a limited number of courses. Students will no longer be required to retake course work they have already demonstrated proficiency in."

Since the project's inception, the curriculum specialists have been hard at work. This October, a formal partnership was formed with the Medical Education and Training Campus at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

“The partnership with the Medical Education and Training Campus is incredibly important,” said Dr. Kimberly Johnson, the principal curriculum specialist for Minnesota’s Global Military Learning Network. “Through this partnership, we gain access to training materials for faculty analysis of skills and competencies; this results in the awarding of maximum college credit towards the corresponding degree.”

The first military bridge program in Healthcare Administration is ready to launch. The bridge links those serving in the Army as a Patient Administration Specialist and those serving in the Airforce as a Health Services Management Apprentice who can now apply a significant number of credits (advanced standing) toward an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree with an option focused on management or medical coding.

The program also offers diploma and certificate options allowing military learners to better manage their duties and schooling.

While ATCC continues to serve veterans, building these military bridges for active duty personnel can be hugely beneficial,” said Johnson. “They can apply their learning and earn a degree while serving, which means they won’t need to delay college completion until they exit.

GMLN continues to work as they focus on building bridges in Cybersecurity, Business Management, and additional Healthcare-related degree programs.

For more information or any questions email Dr. Tamara Arnott at Tamara.Arnott@alextech.edu.