FLINT, Mich. – Dr. Michael Heberling, president of Baker College Center for Graduate Studies and president of the Council of College and Military Educators (CCME), was recently invited to Washington, D.C., to take part in a White House forum on issues surrounding military credentialing and college credit.
The forum was held to obtain information and ideas on ways to allow veterans to use their military training in career areas toward college credit or professional licenses.
“Despite having valuable military experience, veterans frequently find it difficult to obtain formal private sector recognition of their military training and experiences,” said Dr. Heberling. “I am pleased the White House administration has recognized this important issue and is working toward a solution.”
First Lady Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium to welcome the forum participants on April 29, 2013.
In her remarks, Mrs. Obama stated, “In the coming years, more than one million servicemembers will be hanging up their uniforms and transitioning to civilian life.” She added, “It is unfair to this country, because when we don’t take advantage of the skills and talents of our veterans and military spouses, jobs go unfilled and, far worse, human potential goes untapped. And that’s bad for our economy, as we all know.”
Representatives from various organizations across the country, including academic institutions and the departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense and Education, took part in the roundtable discussion.
Dr. Heberling has been president of the Baker College Center for Graduate Studies in Flint, Mich., since 1998. He is responsible for the operation and quality of Baker’s six graduate programs: information systems, occupational therapy, industrial/organizational psychology, educational effectiveness, MBA, and doctorate of business administration. Prior to joining Baker College, Heberling was a senior policy and business analyst with the Anteon Corporation.
Retiring as a lieutenant colonel after 21 years of service with the Air Force, Heberling logged 1,500 hours of flying time in the B-52H Stratofortress Bomber. His last assignment was with the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. While there, he served on the faculty as a program director and department head. He earned a bachelor’s degree and officer’s commission at Cornell University through its Air Force ROTC program. Heberling holds a master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado using the GI Bill and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University through an Air Force-sponsored doctoral program.
CCME is dedicated to promoting and supporting quality education for service members, their families and veterans of the Department of Defense and the Coast Guard. More than 100 colleges and universities and 1,000 individuals are members of CCME.
Baker College Online and the Baker College Center for Graduate Studies are part of Baker College, the largest private college in Michigan. Both are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Center for Graduate Studies MBA program is also accredited by the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). The Baker Online MBA program is nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report’s usnews.com “E-Learning Online Graduate Programs: Business-Regionally Accredited Programs” and has been ranked as one of the first-established, largest and best-value online MBA programs in the nation. Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution, serving more than 40,000 students on 12 campuses and in three satellite locations. Baker grants certificates and associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, health sciences, education and human services, and various technical fields, as well as a doctorate of business administration. For more information, please visit the Baker College website at www.baker.edu.