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Air Force and Space Force General Education Mobile (GEM) Program

Complete Your General Education Requirements Through the Air Force and Space Force GEM Program

Thomas Edison State University is a participating institution in the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) General Education Mobile (GEM) program.

The University’s participation in the program enables Airmen and Guardians to complete up to 15 credits of their general education requirements at Thomas Edison State University that may be applied directly to a student’s Associate in Applied Science degree at CCAF or a degree at Thomas Edison State University. By earning the general education requirements in a single block of courses from one institution, students will benefit from greater continuity and be able to complete their degree more quickly. With online courses, students can continue their education without interruption, regardless of whether they go on temporary duty or deploy.

TESU undergraduate course cost for military students is $250 per credit. Undergraduate courses run in 12-week long terms.

View Thomas Edison State University courses approved for GEM Program

Enroll in the GEM Program using these five easy steps:

  1. Develop your Education Goal Develop your Education Goal in your Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC) account.
  2. Complete the TESU Application If you are not already a student with TESU, you must apply to the University.

    If you are only taking GEM courses to complete your CCAF degree and do not wish to pursue a degree with TESU, please follow these steps:
    • When creating your New Student Profile, enter “Undergraduate Non-Matriculated” under the drop-down box for “Please select your Program”.
    • In TESU Application, once you have entered your current military service information as “Air Force” and “Active” duty status, select “Yes” under the question: “Are you participating in the GEM (General Education Mobile) program?”.
    • Complete the application. The $50 application fee is waived for all military-affiliated students. You will receive an email once your application has been processed and you have been accepted to the University.
    • If you wish to pursue a degree with TESU, in addition to taking your GEM courses to complete your CCAF degree, please select your desired degree and program of study on the New Student Profile creation page and application.
    • Once you receive your acceptance email from TESU via email with your student ID#, you may register for courses.
  3. Register for Courses View a list of available general education courses approved for the GEM program, and on the AFVEC. Students are encouraged to confirm the courses they choose are approved by a CCAF counselor prior to registration.

    After you have chosen your course(s), you will need to register for them through TESU’s Online Student Services Portal.
  4. Apply and Submit Tuition Assistance Forms Apply for Tuition Assistance (TA) online in the AFVEC and choose TESU as your GEM Institution.

    Once the TA has been approved, please submit via the TA Upload Form.
  5. Order your Textbooks and Course Materials You can search for required textbooks for your course, and order them online through our bookstore.

For more information on getting started, contact Maja Mendez, Associate Director in the Office of Military and Veteran Enrollment and Outreach at (609) 777-5696 (Monday-Friday, 0830-1630 ET) or email mmendez@tesu.edu or militaryeducation@tesu.edu.