By Gregory W. Fowler, PhD, President, University of Maryland Global Campus
For nearly eight decades, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) has maintained an unwavering commitment to the men and women who wear the uniform of our country. The program that grew into our modern institution was established in 1947. While GIs returning from World War II were a primary audience, the university quickly pivoted to creating physical locations in Europe for servicemembers stationed overseas. UMGC was the only institution that answered the government’s call to set up physical operations alongside military facilities, sending seven faculty members to Germany on short notice. That foundation shaped the institution we are today. This year, roughly 55 percent of the 100,000 learners we will serve have a military affiliation—active duty, veteran, spouse, or dependent. That representation is not incidental. It reflects deliberate choices about who we are and how we serve.
Meeting Students Where They Are
Military learners don’t choose their duty stations, deployment schedules, or time zones. UMGC’s model is designed around that reality. We offer more than 135 degrees and certificates across global locations in more than 20 countries and territories; classes may be face-to-face, hybrid, online, or even live-streamed. At different points in our history, UMGC has enrolled learners on all seven continents—and yes, that includes Antarctica. A student can begin a credential at Fort Campbell, continue while deployed in Europe, and complete it after returning home or moving to another duty location. And they can do so without losing credit, connections to classmates, or momentum.
Affordability That Meets the Moment
Cost is a persistent barrier for military learners, and UMGC works to reduce that burden on multiple fronts. Active-duty servicemembers and dependents qualify for lower rates, and the university participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program and helps learners leverage Tuition Assistance and GI Bill benefits. We also provide digital course resources at no additional cost in most classes, which is particularly important when students are stationed in remote locations.
Last year, UMGC awarded more than $21 million in scholarships, including the Pillars of Strength scholarships, which support caregivers of wounded, injured, or ill servicemembers.
“I’ve always told [my husband] that I’ve got him,” said 2023 recipient Candace Laguna, “and I’ve told my kids I’ve got them. But now, with this scholarship, someone is saying, ‘I’ve got you.’”
Validating Learning Journeys
Military training includes rigorous, college‑level learning. Recognizing this is both practical and respectful of servicemembers’ experience. UMGC enables students to apply up to 60 credits of military training toward a bachelor’s degree and up to 90 credits when combined with other forms of prior learning. Graduate students may transfer up to 12 credits for relevant professional experience.
By mapping military training to academic requirements, we can reduce cost and time to degree. In a little more than a year, our Military Rank for Credit initiative saved more than 15,600 military learners an estimated $19.1 million!
Supporting Persistence and Career Transitions
Education alone does not ensure completion. Life in and around the military presents unique pressures, including frequent moves, unpredictable schedules, and responsibilities that shift with little notice. UMGC’s dedicated military and veterans advisors work one‑on‑one with students to help navigate these realities and keep academic goals on track.
Our commitment extends well beyond graduation. Lifetime career services—offered at no cost—provide resume support, virtual recruitment events, access to a global employer network, and connections to alumni and mentors through Community Connect. For those transitioning from military service, these support systems can be as crucial as the degree itself.
A Win-Win Approach That Serves All Learners
Our focus on military learners has never been a single‑population strategy, and it produces benefits that strengthen the entire institution. To effectively serve military populations, we must be adaptable, responsive, and willing to build systems that support mobility and progression.
Innovations developed for military learners often become valuable tools for all students. For example, our winter intersession—initially designed to help military learners maintain academic momentum across operational cycles—is now a popular option for civilian students who want to accelerate completion.
Similarly, our operations in Asia—tailored to the needs of servicemembers—have afforded opportunities to reach new populations, including high school students. Through our Bridge Program, for instance, learners can polish English-language skills in preparation for college coursework. What began as a commitment to those who serve has expanded into a platform for broader educational access that can serve to improve community relations in countries across Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe.
What Success Looks Like
Accolades from Military Times and the Council of Colleges and Military Educators reflect the quality of our work, but the clearest indications of success come from our students. Staff Sergeant Shaun Paris, a U.S. Army combat medic and UMGC’s 2025 Student Veteran of the Year, carried a 4.0 GPA while serving at Fort Sam Houston. He described education not as a pause in service but a continuation of it—a means of “improving your foxhole” for those who follow.
“Continuing education is one of the most powerful ways we can serve our nation,” Paris said.
Our Enduring Mission
At UMGC, we believe those who serve deserve an institution that meets their commitment with equal resolve. Where they go, we go, literally and physically; our commitment to meeting learners where they are is much more than a slogan. It is rooted in beliefs that have guided us for more than 75 years, and it will continue into the future.
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