I don't disagree with the dictionary. I just disagree with your "interpretation".
It seems as though you want to stay the course and change the meaning of a definition. Kind of like Bill Clinton.....
"That depends on what the meaning of 'is' is."
The air force academy, University of Minnesota, and Ohio State are all accredited from the same (The Higher Learning Commission of The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools). That's about the only thing they have in common.
While none of this changes the meaning of the definition of a "college", there are about 1,000 things in common (down to living in dorms, sitting at desks inside of a classroom, as well as the curriculum) and other characteristics that are
dramatically different. Some selective universities are even closer. Some military
colleges are
much closer to the Academies. But every last one of them are colleges for one specific reason: they fit the definition.
If accepted and given an appointment, do you think they can walk in with transcripts and "TRANSFER" them to the academy? NO. Not going to happen. At the MOST, the academy may allow such a student to test out of some basic pre-req type classes. But that individual is still going to do a full 4 years at the academy. They are still going to take close to 140 credits at the academy. They are still going to spend 70% of their time in a "Military Environment" (Not a "College Campus Environment).
.
In actuality, a lot more transfers that you assume. When entering the Academy, our son tested out of a two semesters of calc, two semesters of chemistry, two semesters of biology, some English comp, a history class or two etc and three of four other classes that I honestly cannot remember. But more than a year's worth of classes. The end result was that he could minor in Chinese, take other more advanced classes that interested him, and work on a medical research project at a nearby medical device company. Some departments are stricter with transfering (like Chem) and others not so much (Bio). Like other Universities, a few departments said no and he had to petition (the academy has a documented procedure just like any other college). That normally always means you have to show them a syllabus. Yet in other classes he literally had to take an exam to prove he knew the material. So yes, a lot of classes transferred. He could have petitioned even more classes but didn't. Every one he petitioned transferred.
Our son was a biology, chemistry, and calc tutor at the college at 11th and 12th grade. No, the Academy wasn't going to bore a student if they mastered the material. I propose if he was fluent in organic chemistry before he arrived (he wasn't), he could petition the department to get that credit too. So it depends on the department and the student. But we agree, it not as automatic as many other colleges. With all of this said, we learned that USAFA has it's rules just as other colleges do. As an example, many of the more competitive colleges mandate you take a minimum of 2 years of credits in their institution even though they will allow you to transfer 100% of the credits, It just so happens that USAFA mandates 4 years of attending their college. That is very different than every other institution. So when the definition of college means 100% of the classes transfer and you don't need to attend 4 years at the same institution, then by definition, we will agree that USAFA isn't a college. Until then, it is a college.
Re: "70% of their time is in a military environment". It depends on the student. Our son was in the Wings of Blue. A tremendous about of waking hours (40?? a week) were spent traveling, jumping, or at the airfield. Other cadets are D1 athletes and travel and practice for 40 hours a week too. So a solid 25% of the cadets would suggest that their waking hours (school, studying, and sports) are closer to a traditional college than you suggest. Some cadets are practicing hockey in a stadium that happens to be located on base and they go to college classes taught by a lot of ex military officers. Yes, they have military responsibilities. But for some cadets, their military exposure are well under 1/2 of others. But yes, USAFA is a
dramatically different type of college.
If that's what some what to perceive it as; that's fine. If it makes some parents feel better that their child "Went Off to College" instead of "Joining the Military"; that's fine.
I think this is where you are getting stuck and enjoy adding in statements like "Little Johnny or Jane..." inside of several of your posts. Give me and others some credit.
OF COURSE he joined the military.
OF COURSE USAFA isn't a typical college campus experience. The meaning of college doesn't mandatorily mean that students have the same experiences as U of Iowa student that "went off to college" (living off campus, partying, do as they please, quite etc). Then call a spade a spade: USAFA is a "Military College" because they joined the military. Therefore yes, we sent "little Johnny" to a military college where he decided to join the military.
I'll boil it down to the lowest common denominator: you cannot get a "college degree" without attending college. For that matter and in 2017, you can "go to college" without leaving your bedroom (online). And if someone pays for your school based off of merit, it's called a "scholarship".
Period. All the other paragraphs are simply noise.