eArmyU Improves
Educational Access for Soldiers
But HBCUs may be missing out due to distance learning incapacity
By Phaedra Brotherton

The Army's venture into distance learning — dubbed eArmyU — is proving to be a big success with more than 12,000 soldiers enrolled since it began a year ago. Enlisted soldiers, particularly soldiers of color, have been lining up for the program that offers the soldiers a laptop, Internet access and free tuition to 23 participating colleges and universities. The three participating bases offering the program — Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Campbell, Ky., and Fort Hood, Texas — have waiting lists.
The eArmyU program began in January 2001, and expects to offer online courses to 80,000 soldiers over the next five years. Two additional Army installations in Fort Carson, Colo., and Fort Lewis, Wash., were added in February.
"An educated soldier clearly gives the Army a tremendous return on investment," says Secretary of the Army Thomas E. White. "We are meeting our goals to create technology-savvy soldiers to support Army Transformation, succeed on the digitized battlefield, enhance retention and help soldiers achieve academic degrees while they serve."
Soldiers must have at least three years remaining in the service to qualify. They also need to complete 12 credits within two years or they will be charged a percentage of college costs. General studies, business administration, information systems management and criminal justice are among the most popular majors.
The eArmyU partnership includes a collaboration of 23 colleges and universities and several hardware and software providers, offering soldiers more than 90 online postsecondary degree and certificate programs and 4,000 courses. The distance learning portal is designed, built and operated by PwC Consulting, a business of Pricewaterhouse
Coopers. 
North Carolina A&T State University is currently the only historically Black college or university participating in the program. Colleges with the largest percentage of  eArmyU enrollment are Central Texas College; Troy State University; Thomas Edison State College; Saint Leo University; and Rio Salado Community College, which PwC Consulting considers a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI).
To participate, institutions must:
• Be members of the Service Member Opportunity Colleges Army Degree program, which includes schools who agree to guarantee transfer credit for many courses at the undergraduate level;
• Offer degree programs consistent with the
   needs of the enlisted soldier population;
• Agree to abide by certain best practices in
   distance education;
• Be able to support students virtually;
• Have the business infrastructure to partici-
  pate effectively and agree to contractual
   requirements; and
• Be accredited by a recognized accrediting
   agency.