HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass – The Community College of the Air Force will have limited services available to current and former students for the next several months as Air University migrates the college’s student academic records to a new enterprise-wide student information system.
The data migration process and ensuing training for the college’s staff, enlisted educators and installation education office advisors across the Air Force, including those here at Hanscom AFB, could take up to six months.
The migration will affect all enlisted Air Force active duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen and Space Force Guardians currently enrolled in CCAF courses.
For months, Air University officials have been working aggressively to ensure no student data is lost. One of the reasons for the lengthy service interruption is that officials must verify that active student records migrate correctly and are validated, to include 260,000 students currently enrolled in coursework.
During the modernization window period, while student data will still be collected, student records cannot be updated. Actions impacted include new enrollments, inputs from military and civilian course transcripts, course credit applications and updates in the Military Personnel Data System, or MilPDS.
According to Tracy Robertson, 66th Force Support Squadron education services specialist, the migration only affects members currently enrolled in CCAF degree programs.
“Students enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program outside of the CCAF program won’t be affected at all, because their records are handled through their respective schools,” said Robertson.
Lt. Gen. Andrea Tullos, Air University commander and president, said while the transition will be a challenge, it’s necessary.
“We must push through the pain of transitioning from an unreliable, antiquated system to the modernized system our students and instructors deserve,” she said. “We aren’t losing data – we’re simply going to have limited access to it for a period of time.”
Tullos added that once the transition is complete, officials will award qualifying credits, update student records and transcripts, and confer CCAF degrees.
Robertson said while some students at Hanscom AFB may feel delayed in their pursuit of their CCAF degrees, the migration offers an opportunity to pursue additional college education.
“If students have a bachelor or masters education goal, this is a great time to move forward and start that,” she said.
Students can still apply for tuition assistance through the Air Force Virtual Education Center.
Installation education offices, including the one at Hanscom, will still offer general education counseling services and assistance despite reduced access to student records.
The following CCAF functions will be available throughout the migration, but the information will only be current as of Sept. 28, 2022:
- Ordering CCAF transcripts and diplomas
- Participation in the Air Force Credentialing Opportunities On-Line, or AFCOOL, program
- Requesting and completing certificate programs, such as CCAF Instructor Certificates and Instructional Systems Development and FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic certifications
- Participation in the General Education Module program
- Use of standardized testing and exam programs, such as CLEP and DSST
Students assigned to Hanscom can contact the Education Center here by using the AFVEC messaging tool or by emailing Hanscom.TA@us.af.mil.
Over the next several months, Air University officials will keep installation education services offices updated with the migration progress and what services might become available as it proceeds. A frequently-asked-questions page to help address student questions and concerns is accessible at https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Barnes/CCAF/FAQs/.
(Editor’s Note: This article was localized for Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.)