CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The University of Charleston’s program aimed at allowing enlisted soldiers to improve their leadership skills through voluntary education classes enrolled its first group of students last week, and one university leader said the school expects “significant enrollment” in its second term.
The university was one of five institutions chosen for Army University’s Continuing Education Degree Program. Soldiers through the university have the opportunity earn an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree, the only institution to allow both degrees.
John Barnette, the associate dean of the School of Business and Leadership, said most of the program is done online.
“Their goal is actually for people who join the Army or enlist in any way by the end of their first term to have at least an associate’s degree,” he said. “If they are going to stay, they want them to get a bachelor’s or a master’s (degree.)”
Barnette said the school said they are using their relationship with the U.S. Navy to understand how to better serve students.
“We’ve had about 700 students so far from the Navy, primarily SEALs and boat operators,” he said.
Victory Media named the University of Charleston as a Military Friendly School in November, the eighth year in a row the institution’s been named.
The programs second term will begin in March.