Halpin-Backed Law to Help Veterans Receive College Credit for Service to Take Effect    

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Military veterans will be able to receive college credit for their service, opening the door to new career opportunities, under a new law supported by state Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, that is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.

“Veterans deserve the very best when they return home or finish their service to our country,” said Halpin. “That means streamlining their ability to pursue a higher education by awarding credit for courses that relate to the training and valuable life and academic experience they gained while serving our nation.”

House Bill 3701, which would require institutions of higher education to implement policies that allow veterans of the armed forces to receive academic credit for their military service, will take effect on Jan. 1. This new law allows each higher education institution to adopt its own policies outlining which military training courses qualifies for academic credit. The new academic polices must be adopted by June 1, 2018.

“By recognizing their training and crediting it toward various degree programs, this new law makes sure that there is a path for veterans when they return home to conquer a new chapter in their lives,” said Halpin. “I look forward to continued efforts to expand educational opportunities for the men and women who have made sacrifices to protect our freedoms and country.”