General Education Mobile (GEM)

General Education Mobile (GEM) logo - Air Force

Empire State University is proud to be one of a select few academic institutions participating in the Community College of the Air Force's (CCAF) General Education Mobile (GEM) program.

GEM is a CCAF/Empire State University partnership to offer an online option for Airmen and Guardians to complete general education courses for their CCAF degree.  The program enables students to sign up for their general education requirements in a single block of courses from the same college, providing greater educational continuity and faster completion of an associate degree.

With the GEM program, students near the beginning of their education will enroll for general education classes as a single five-course sequence taken online. Credits will transfer and apply toward the CCAF degree.

The service branch education portal serves as the central online location for the program. Airmen and Guardians are able to browse course offerings, register for the five-course sequence and order CCAF transcripts.

Why Choose SUNY Empire State University?

Military Centered

  • Continuous application and registration for military students
  • Dedicated Office of Veteran and Military Education (OVME) outreach staff offers free evaluated educational plans for military/veteran students and their family members.
  • Low tuition with most fees waived for military students
  • Assistance withdrawing from classes or extending a deadline for military-related reasons

Transfer Credits

  • Accepts up to 40 credits towards an associate degree or 93 credits towards a bachelor's degree
  • May grant credit for prior college-level learning, including previous academic work, military training or life and work experiences
  • ACE-recommended credits, including CLEP/DANTES exams, accepted

Accreditation and Program Participation

  • Part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system
  • Regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Member of the Air Force and Space Force AU-ABC program and GEM partnership
  • Viable option for Career Advancement Account (CAA) program for military spouses