IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 491 
Encouraging each institution of higher education in the country to seek 
membership in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 2, 2009 
Mr. ADLER of New Jersey (for himself, Mrs. LUMMIS, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. 
MCGOVERN, Mr. TEAGUE, and Mr. LANCE) submitted the following reso-
lution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 
RESOLUTION 
Encouraging each institution of higher education in the coun-
try to seek membership in the Servicemembers Oppor-
tunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium. 
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 citi-
zens; 
Whereas to enhance access to undergraduate educational op-
portunities for servicemembers, institutions should main-
tain a necessary flexibility of programs and procedures, 
particularly in admissions, credit transfer, and recogni-
tion of other applicable learning, including that gained in 
the military, in scheduling and format of courses, and in 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:04 Jun 03, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR491.IH
HR491
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
•HRES 491 IH 
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 edu-
cational opportunities to servicemembers who had trouble 
completing college degrees because of their frequent relo-
cations, today includes more than 1,800 colleges and uni-
versities 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 pro-
grams for servicemembers, helping the military and high-
er education communities understand and respond to 
each other’s resources, limits, and requirements for meet-
ing the education and training needs of servicemembers, 
and strengthening the working relationships among mili-
tary 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 Con-
sortium members on school campuses, military installa-
tions, and armories within the United States and over-
seas; 
Whereas SOC Consortium member institutions provide flexi-
bility 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 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:04 Jun 03, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR491.IH
HR491
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
•HRES 491 IH 
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 edu-
cation in the country to seek membership in the 
Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Con-
sortium; and 
(2) recognizes the institutions of higher edu-
cation that are currently members of the SOC Con-
sortium. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:04 Jun 03, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR491.IH
HR491
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS