Case Study: Military Degree Equivalence at Dow
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In line with their corporate emphasis on developing an inclusive workforce, Dow recently began to focus their efforts on developing new ways to hire and retain members of the military community in roles across the organization. The effort to attract more veterans to work for Dow led directly to the adoption of the Military Degree Equivalence (MDE) program, which grants veterans in the U.S. and Canada equivalency to a bachelor’s or associate degree for Dow’s job openings. This allows members of the military community to leverage their experiences in the military as though they had spent that time in school earning a degree and to bring a broader scope of training, experience, leadership, and success in performing in high-pressure situations to a successful career at Dow.
Job postings on Dow’s website that require a diploma or degree are also listed with their military service equivalents. To accomplish this task, HR professionals are trained to rethink how a wider variety of experiences might make a person a good candidate for the job in question. In this way, the MDE program is a recognition both of veterans’ experience in the military as preparing them for individual success in the workplace, but also that Dow benefits from bringing these experiences into their company.
In a further effort to recruit and retain members of the military, Dow has also developed company policies that ensure that active duty servicemembers are supported through a Military Leave of Absence policy that offers compensation to employees who participate in active-duty assignments and guarantees that they have jobs waiting when they return.
Lessons Learned
- Dow’s Military Degree Equivalence program offers bachelor’s and associate degree equivalence for military experience in all job postings that list a degree requirement. This innovative approach resulted in a better appreciation for the variety of ways that veterans bring value to the company.
- The company’s VetNet ERG offers a mentorship program that includes an innovative mentor-matching service. Mentorship programs help transitioning servicemembers adapt to a company’s workplace and culture. They can also help to create a stronger support system in the community.
- Active duty servicemembers at Dow are supported with Military Leave of Absence policy that offers paid time off and guaranteed employment when they return from duty. This is not only a benefit to the men and women who currently serve in the national guard, but also helps Dow to build a pipeline for a younger generation to serve their country and gain experiences that the company considers valuable.
- Dow supports the broader military community by providing resources for military spouses, sponsorships for events, and offering paid time off for participants in Team Rubicon and other community outreach campaigns. Assisting veterans in helping other veterans is a proven way to show support for your workers
and participate in the community in a meaningful way.
