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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 491 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 491

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                    September 23, 2009.
Whereas in order to enhance their military effectiveness and to achieve their 
        educational, vocational, and career goals, servicemembers should share 
        in the same postsecondary educational opportunities that are available 
        to other citizens;
Whereas to enhance access to undergraduate educational opportunities for 
        servicemembers, institutions should maintain a necessary flexibility of 
        programs and procedures, particularly in admissions, credit transfer, 
        and recognition of other applicable learning, including that gained in 
        the military, in scheduling and format of courses, and in academic 
        residency requirements to offset servicemembers' mobility, isolation 
        from campuses, and part-time student status;
Whereas the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium, which was 
        created in 1972 to provide educational opportunities to servicemembers 
        who had trouble completing college degrees because of their frequent 
        relocations, today includes more than 1,800 colleges and universities 
        among its members;
Whereas the SOC Consortium is a vehicle to help coordinate voluntary 
        postsecondary educational opportunities for servicemembers by advocating 
        for the flexibility needed to improve access to and availability of 
        educational programs for servicemembers, helping the military and higher 
        education communities understand and respond to each other's resources, 
        limits, and requirements for meeting the education and training needs of 
        servicemembers, and strengthening the working relationships among 
        military and higher education representatives;
Whereas each year, hundreds of thousands of servicemembers and their family 
        members enroll in associate, bachelor, and graduate level degree 
        programs offered by SOC Consortium members on school campuses, military 
        installations, and armories within the United States and overseas;
Whereas SOC Consortium member institutions provide flexibility to 
        servicemembers, their families, and veterans seeking college degrees 
        and, in turn, these institutions benefit from the enrollment of mature, 
        highly motivated adult students who are making use of tuition assistance 
        or Montgomery GI Bill benefits to pay their education costs; and
Whereas in gratitude and respect for their service to the United States, all 
        institutions of higher education in the country should strive to provide 
        our servicemembers with the tools and opportunities they need to achieve 
        their educational, vocational, and career goals: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) encourages each institution of higher education in the country 
        to seek membership in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) 
        Consortium; and
            (2) recognizes the institutions of higher education that are 
        currently members of the SOC Consortium.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.
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