(a) An institution of higher education shall award college credit for military occupational specialty training to a member of the armed forces or the National Guard or a veteran who enrolls at such institution and has experience in a military occupation recognized by such institution as substituting for or meeting the requirements of a particular course of study. For the purposes of this section, “veteran” and “armed forces” have the same meanings as provided in § 27-103.

(b) Not later than July 1, 2016, the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut, in consultation with the institutions of higher education in the state, shall develop and adopt guidelines on awarding college credit for a student’s military training, coursework and education. Such guidelines shall include course equivalency recommendations adopted by the American Council on Education or by other institutions or organizations deemed reputable by the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut. Until the adoption of such guidelines, any institution of higher education that awards college credit for such training, coursework and education shall use course equivalency recommendations adopted by the American Council on Education, a portfolio assessment process when appropriate or the institution’s transfer and articulation policies when assigning college credit to a military occupation. Upon adoption of such guidelines, the governing body of each institution of higher education in the state shall develop and implement policies governing the awarding of college credit for a student’s military training, coursework and education. Not later than July 1, 2022, and every five years thereafter, the governing body of each institution of higher education in the state shall review and update its policies governing the award of college credit for a student’s military training, coursework and education.