Foxhole University

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Foxhole University

• The story of the
• US Armed Forces Institute (USAFI)

COMETS April 10, 2008
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USAFI

• The largest educational institution in the
  world had no football team, no school song, and
  did not even have a campus. Yet, almost 8
  million people attended the US Armed Forces
  Institute (USAFI) over its 32 year lifespan.
  Ironically, most people involved in higher
  education, and most Americans for that matter,
  have never heard of it.

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Foxhole University

• By the numbers
• 15 million
• 8 million
• 1.7 million
• 15,000
• 6000
• 1400
• 100

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USAFI

• Dates worth noting
• Dec 21, 1941
• Mar 27, 1942
• Feb 1, 1943
• April 1, 1974

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Foxhole University

• Institutions involved
• American Council of Education (ACE)
• University of Wisconsin
• University of Chicago
• Individuals involved
• Dr. George Zook, President ACE
• Dr. Frederick Osborne
• Dr. Fran Spaulding
• Dr. Ralph W. Tyler
• Dr. William Young

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USAFI

• Afford members of the armed forces an opportunity
  to continue their education voluntarily
• To prepare for desirable jobs on return to
  civilian life
• To satisfy a personal interest in some field of
  study
• To provide an interest for leisure time
• To enhance the value of service members as
  citizens

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Foxhole University

• Contributions of USAFI
• GED and CLEP
• Credible evaluation of military service
  (Tuttles ACE guide)
• Pioneered Distance education
• Self-study Textbooks
• Linguistics
• I can learn

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USAFI

• No crowded stadium, football team, or school
  songnot even a lecture halldistinguishes the
  worlds largest educational organization. Its
  campus is world wide. Its student body comes
  from the forty-eight states and the District of
  Columbia, and ranges from novices puzzling of the
  rudiments of elementary arithmetic to Ph.Ds
  seeking a refresher course in statistics.

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Foxhole University

• Their study halls are barracks, day rooms,
  pyramidal tents, bunks, foxholes, airplanes and
  wardrooms of ships - from Korea to
  Austriawherever the Armed Forces keep their
  vigilGeneral officers, admirals, privates,
  seamen, even prisonersparticipate on an equal
  basis. No truant officer or parental suasion
  brings these students to school. Participation
  is voluntary.

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USAFI

• Some famous USAFI Alumni

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Dons Story
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• This guy!!
• ltltltltltlt

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• When I was 18, I was appalled at my fathers
  ignorance but when I was 25, I was amazed at
  his intelligence!

Don Plunkett 1932-1991 I miss you Dad

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Thank you!!