--- kind: "section" citation: "10 U.S.C. § 8595" title: "10" title_heading: "Armed Forces" number: "8595" heading: "United States Naval Community College: establishment and degree granting authority" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/8595" units: - "Subtitle C — Navy and Marine Corps" - "Part III — Education and Training" - "Chapter 859 — Professional Military Education Schools" --- # §8595. United States Naval Community College: establishment and degree granting authority - (a) **Establishment and Function.—** There is a [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) Naval Community College. The primary function of such College shall be to provide— - (1) programs of academic instruction and professional and technical education for individuals described in [subsection (b)](#b) in— - (A) academic and technical fields of the liberal arts and sciences which are relevant to the current and future needs of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) and [Marine Corps](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-2), including in designated fields of national and economic importance such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and software engineering; and - (B) their practical duties; - (2) remedial, developmental, or continuing education programs, as prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1), which are necessary to support, maintain, or extend programs under [paragraph (1)](#a-1); - (3) support and advisement services for individuals pursuing such programs; and - (4) continuous monitoring of the progress of such individuals. - (b) **Individuals Eligible for Programs.—** Subject to such other eligibility requirements as the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) may prescribe, the following individuals are eligible to participate in programs and services under [subsection (a)](#a): - (1) [Enlisted members](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) and [Marine Corps](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-2). - (2) [Officers](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-5) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) and [Marine Corps](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-2) who hold a commission but have not completed a postsecondary degree. - (3) Civilian employees of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1). - (4) Other individuals, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1), so long as access to programs and services under [subsection (a)](#a) by such individuals is— - (A) in alignment with the mission of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) Naval Community College; and - (B) determined to support the mission or needs of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1). - (c) **Degree and Credential Granting Authority.—** - (1) **In general.—** Under regulations prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1), the head of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) Naval Community College may, upon the recommendation of the directors and faculty of the College, confer appropriate degrees or academic credentials upon graduates who meet the degree or credential requirements. - (2) **Limitation.—** A degree or credential may not be conferred under this subsection unless— - (A) the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of Education has recommended approval of the degree or credential in accordance with the Federal Policy Governing Granting of Academic Degrees by Federal Agencies; and - (B) the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) Naval Community College is accredited by the appropriate civilian academic accrediting agency or organization to award the degree or credential, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of Education. - (3) **Congressional notification requirements.—** - (A) When seeking to establish degree or credential granting authority under this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives— - (i) a copy of the self assessment questionnaire required by the Federal Policy Governing Granting of Academic Degrees by Federal Agencies, at the time the assessment is submitted to the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Education’s National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity; and - (ii) the subsequent recommendations and rationale of the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of Education regarding the establishment of the degree or credential granting authority. - (B) Upon any modification or redesignation of existing degree or credential granting authority, the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the rationale for the proposed modification or redesignation and any subsequent recommendation of the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of Education on the proposed modification or redesignation. - (C) The [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing an explanation of any action by the appropriate academic accrediting agency or organization not to accredit the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) Naval Community College to award any new or existing degree or credential. - (d) **Civilian Faculty Members.—** - (1) **Authority of secretary.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) may employ as many civilians as professors, instructors, and lecturers at the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) Naval Community College as the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) considers necessary. - (2) **Compensation.—** The compensation of persons employed under this subsection shall be prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1). ## Source credit (Added Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title V, § 557(a), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1739.)