Coastline College and Dyess Hold Grand Opening of National Test Center

June 24, 2008 - PRLog -- Coastline Community college and Dyess Air Force Base celebrated the grand opening of their National Testing Center on June 5th.  The ribbon cutting ceremony and following celebration speakers were Col James Hammes III, Commander, 7th Mission Support Group, Ed McKenney, Coastline’s Dean of Military Education, Dr. Rebecca Carson, Base Education Services Officer and Ms Kalina Hill, Master Site Administrator & Coastline Representative and a large crowd from the community the base and the college.  “Coastline Community College, which awarded 49% of all Associates-level degrees in the Navy in 2008, hopes to make an equally substantial impact in the Air Force,” said Ed McKenney, Dean of Military Education.

A National Testing Center at Dyess is a boost to the well-being of Dyess Airmen and their families.  The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) programs provide the opportunity for Dyess Airmen and their dependent family members to earn college credit accepted at over 2,900 accredited institutions throughout the United States.  This saves the airmen both time and money as they pursue their college degrees.  Since first coming online with testing in late February, the Dyess National Testing Center has saved the Air Force well over a half million dollars in Tuition Assistance (based on a $150 per credit hour course).

The increased pressure and scheduling challenges of the military family do not always allow our servicemen and women the opportunity to regularly attend a traditional brick-and-mortar school.  Through this National Testing Center college credit can be earned for military experience and training through the successful completion of secure, online tests.  Unlike the older paper-based exams where students would have to wait up to weeks to obtain results, this internet-based NTC can provide instantaneous results.  This allows a student to not only apply for and receive college credit for their successful completion, but it allows them to know precisely where they stand and the classes they still need to obtain their college degree.

Coastline Community College's permanent operation of this NTC will provide not only testing but will provide yet another college option for our men and women seeking to enrich their lives and careers through obtaining their college degree.  This official Grand Opening, was also to welcome Coastline Community College, which was voted a top 10 military friendly college, to the Dyess family of colleges including Cisco Junior College, McMurry University, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and the Community College of the Air Force.

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Coastline Community College has an international reputation as one of the nation's most innovative institutions. Founded in 1976, Coastline continues to deliver education through technology and a comprehensive curriculum.

Coastline began offering courses to the military in the early 1980s.  Since then Coastline has emerged as a leader in military voluntary education and recently awarded 49% of all Associates degrees in the 2008 graduation year.