Education Center

Contact Information
To call commercial within Belgium, dial 065-44-XXXX. Outside Belgium, dial 032-65-44-XXXX.
Program Manager	423-4270

The mission of the Education Center is to provide a full range of educational opportunities to service members, civilians, and their adult family members.

Programs and services include testing, basic skills classes, Headstart classes, and college courses leading towards a certificate, Associates, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degrees.

Degrees and Certificates

Four academic institutions offer classes in the Benelux:

• Central Texas College (CTC)
  
  
• University of Maryland University College (UMUC)
  
  
• University of Oklahoma (OU)
  
  
• University of Phoenix

Every year five college terms are conducted with classes held evenings, lunchtime, and weekends. Classes are offered in a traditional format (face-to-face), non-traditional format (online), and a combination of both.

Central Texas College

Central Texas College offers the following vocational-occupational degrees in the Benelux: Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Professions, and Emergency Medical Technician Program. CTC has a liberal transfer policy and awards credit for military experience and training. CTC classes are offered in all three education centers but offerings vary.


University of Maryland University College

University of Maryland University College offers Associate of Arts degrees in Business Management, Computer Studies, General Studies, and Management Studies. UMUC also offers lower and upper level courses leading to a Bachelor’s degree. Majors available in a traditional setting are Business Administration, Computer Studies, History, and Psychology; online offerings cover 26 majors. UMUC has a liberal transfer policy and awards credit for military experience and training. Undergraduate level courses in a traditional classroom format are offered at all three education centers, but offerings vary. A Counseling Master’s Degree program is available at SHAPE.


University of Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma offers a Master of Human Relations and International Relations. On-site classes are held at SHAPE and at Geilenkirchen, Germany, located within easy driving distance from Schinnen.

University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix offers an MBA and a Master of Education. Six-week long classes are held at SHAPE.

Online

All academic institutions offer extensive online programs.


Counseling

Army education centers have professionally trained counselors available to provide educational and career counseling services for the entire community. A Virtual Counseling System (VCS) workstation is used when a local counselor is not available at SHAPE and at Schinnen. Students can reach an education counselor anywhere in Europe using this state-of-the-art video telephony technology.


Benelux Headstart

The Headstart class is a requirement for all Soldiers assigned to Chièvres Garrison for the first time. Adult family members and other members of the Benelux communities may attend on a space-available basis. The five-day program at SHAPE is called Benelux Headstart and includes 30 hours of French language instruction. It also covers different aspects of Belgian life, traditions, history, and culture. The Benelux Headstart classes are free of charge.


FAST (Functional Academic Skills Training)

Classes are offered several times a year for Soldiers desiring to raise their GT score. FAST program is a commander’s program offered during on-duty time; classes are held Monday-Friday from 0830 to 1230. Soldiers are either recommended for attendance by their supervisors, education counselors, or by self-referral.

Multi-use Learning Facility (MLF)

MLF provides materials designed to increase or refresh MOS proficiency, to remedy educational weaknesses, and to stimulate independent study for professional and personal development. All three education centers in the USAG Benelux have an MLF facility.


Computer Lab

The Computer Lab provides free access to the Internet to assist students with research and studies. The Computer Lab is an integral part of the Multi-use Learning Facility. All three education centers have computer labs.


Academic and Military Testing

The USAG Benelux education centers offer College Level Examination Program (CLEP), DANTES Standardized Subject Tests (DSST), and Excelsior College Examinations (ECE) to service members, family members and authorized civilians.

College credit examinations are widely accepted by colleges and universities. These examinations are similar to end-of-course tests; students may earn one-third or more of the credits required for a college degree.

Soldiers receive promotion points for college credit at the rate of 1½ promotion points for each college credit. For example, passing a CLEP Humanities test will give a Soldier 9 promotion points. (6 credits x 1½).

A variety of military tests are available to service members assigned to the USAG Benelux. The education centers at SHAPE and at Schinnen provide full-time testing services; testing at Brussels is conducted once a month by appointment.


Tuition Assistance (TA) and other Financial Aid

The Army TA program provides financial assistance towards tuition costs for Soldiers enrolled in off-duty courses offered by an accredited college or university. The total amount of TA for FY08 is $4,500. Soldier can also use their GI Bill to help defray the cost of college tuition. The amount of education benefits depends on the date of entrance and the conditions under which the individual entered active duty. Additional payment of $600 to enhance a Soldier’s MGIB by $150 per month can be made.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available at your education center or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Spouses of service members stationed in Europe may be eligible for Army Emergency Relief tuition assistance.

DOD and service-specific continuing education

Army Education
http://www.GoArmyEd.com Army Continuing Education System (ACES)
https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/education/index.html

Air Force Education
https://afvec.langley.af.mil/Pages/home.aspx Army electronic Army University (eArmyU) Program
http://www.eArmyU.com

Navy Education
https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/ Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)
http://www.voled.doded.mil/voled_web/voledhome.asp

Heidelberg Army Education Center
http://www.heidelbergeducation.com/ Free practice tests (CLEP, ASVAB, SAT, ACT, GRE)
Use Activation Code SHAPE473
http://www.petersons.com/Army

Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC)
http://www.soc.aascu.org/ Troops to Teachers
http://www.proudtoserveagain.com

Sailor/Marine ACE Registry Transcript (SMART)
https://smart.cnet.navy.mil/ Army/ACE Registry Transcript System (AARTS)
http://aarts.army.mil

Green to Gold
http://www.rotc.monroe.army.mil Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL)
https://www.cool.army.mil/

Warrant Officer
http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant Officer Candidate School (OCS)
http://www.armyocs.com

e-Learning Program
https://usarmy.skillport.com

Financial Aid

The GI Bill
http://www.gibill.va.gov Pell Grant/Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Army Spouse Education Assistance
http://www.aerhq.org Air Force Spouse Education Assistance Program
http://www.afas.org/

Navy/Marine Corps Spouse Education Assistance Program
http://www.nmcrs.org/

Overseas contracted universities and colleges

Central Texas College (CTC)
http://www.europe.ctcd.edu/ University of Maryland University College (UMUC)
http://www.ed.umuc.edu

University of Oklahoma (OU)
http://www.goou.ou.edu/ University of Phoenix
http://www.uopxoverseasmil.com/europe/

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU)
http://www.erau.edu/eu