CPPD's New Virtual Education Center Opens for Business

By Susan Lawson, Center for Personal and Professional Development Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 30 on Dam Neck Annex to commemorate the opening of the Navy's Virtual Education Center (VEC).

The VEC is a state-of-the-art, one-stop call center for voluntary education services including education counseling and tuition assistance processing.

"As 21st century Sailors increasingly turn to the web and other technologies to conduct business, the VEC provides the virtual venue for Voluntary Education services in addition to the traditional support through the Navy College Offices. Together, with the support of Navy College offices, the VEC will provide the utmost level of educational service to the Navy's most important asset-our Sailors," said presiding officer Rear Adm. Arnold Lotring, Chief Operating Officer for the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC).

The Navy College Center (NCC) was the predecessor of the VEC, and was established in 1999 at Saufley Field to provide comprehensive voluntary education services. On a weekly basis, the NCC handled more than 3,000 contacts, updated more than 200 college transcripts and degrees, and processed more than 1,400 official SMART requests.

"The establishment of the VEC has not changed our focus in any way; it's all about helping Sailors achieve their education goals," said Capt. Jon Picker, CPPD's commanding officer.

The VEC employs 27 education technicians, counselors, and managers to meet the current demand signal and will support the demand signal anticipated to increase in coming months.

"Our ongoing focus in this virtual 'call center' is providing outstanding customer service. We want to make sure we delight our Sailor customers with quality interactions, whether on the phone or via email requests for support," said Dr. Redd-Clary, Voluntary Education program director.

The VEC call center will be open five days a week, from 6 a.m. until 9:30 p.m., and will be staffed by academic advisors who will answer questions and process requests pertaining to all facets of the Navy's voluntary education programs.

Call center advisors can be reached via phone at 1-877-838-1659, via email at CPPD_VEC@navy.mil and by fax at 757-492-0595.

For more information about the Virtual Education Center, visit: https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/.

For more information about the Center for Personal and Professional Development, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/cppd/.

For more information about the Naval Education and Training Command, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/.