08/20/12 kb

HAYS, Kan. -- With a new agreement to become part of the U.S. Air Force's Air University-Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC), Fort Hays State University now has formal educational associations with all branches of the military.

"We're excited to announce that the first degree available in the Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative is the Bachelor of General Studies in Information Technology," said Dennis King, director of FHSU's Virtual College and learning technologies.

"This degree will provide advancement opportunities for graduates while they are serving our country or when they leave the service," he said.

The AU-ABC offers enlisted personnel the opportunity to continue their education and earn bachelor's degrees. The first two years of the program are completed through the Community College Air Force (CCAF). The new partnership allows CCAF graduates to transfer into FHSU without a loss of any credits

"We're going to take them from an associate degree to a bachelor's degree," said King.

"Now that we have our first degree approved, we are targeting other degrees that will assist members of the Air Force, programs like the Bachelor of Technology Leadership," said Debbie Staab, military success coordinator.

Through its Virtual College, FHSU offers 40 bachelor's and master's degree programs. King said he hopes that, eventually, the university will also be able to offer its construction technology management program and a variety of the other Bachelor of General Studies programs through the AU-ABC.

The U.S. Air Force, through the CCAF, has a hundred affiliated Air Force schools, 82 education services offices and more than 1,500 civilian academic institutions serving more than 323,000 enlisted personnel on active duty and in the guard and reserves.

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