PENSACOLA, Fla., Aug. 4, 2016 – Registration is now open for the Defense Department’s second Voluntary Education Virtual Education Fair, scheduled for Aug. 11 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT, according to a Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support news release.
The fair is for service members and spouses. It provides the opportunity to chat online with representatives from several schools about degree and certificate programs, financial aid, tuition and fee costs, and Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits.
Registration, which is required to participate in the fair, can be accessed here.
Information on participating schools will remain accessible online after the event as well.
Registration is open throughout the event, providing participants anywhere in the world easy access to benefits and the information necessary to reach their individual education goals, the release said. To ensure connectivity, participants are encouraged to use their mobile devices if they are unable to access the event via government computers.
Discuss Education Programs, Services, Options
“The online platform offers a no-pressure atmosphere for participants to discuss education programs, services and affordable options with more than 40 academic institutions and government organizations,” said Dawn Bilodeau, chief of DoD’s Voluntary Education program. In addition, she said, members will receive a variety of information on what to expect during the college application process and beyond.
Unique to this event will be the introduction of the new Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Career and Technical Education certificate opportunities, designed to help service members acquire the necessary skills and education credentials for high-demand career and technical fields while on active-duty, the release said.
The pilot event demonstrated that institutions and government entities could collaboratively deliver a virtual event commensurate with the Presidential Executive Order for Principles of Excellence, designed to empower students by ensuring they have the information needed to make informed educational choices, while holding institutions of higher learning to the highest standards, the release said.
Representatives from participating schools and government organizations will be available via live chat during the fair, offering informative, pressure-free discussions where members can learn about the following topics:
— Institutions partnering with the DoD to deliver quality education at all levels;
— Financial aid options to help defray the cost of a post-secondary education;
— Degree and certificate program opportunities;
— Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits; and
— Credentialing opportunities.