With the stroke of a pen on Oct. 4, 2016, instructors and curriculum developers at the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development are nearly a third of the way to completing a graduate degree in adult education.

In a memorandum of understanding signed between the Holm Center and Troy University, up to nine hours of faculty development coursework can be transferred and credited to Troy’s Master of Science in Adult Education, with a concentration in Curriculum and Instructional Design.

Center personnel eligible to receive the credits are those who complete its faculty development courses: Academic Instructor Course; Instructor Qualification Training; Applied Principles of Instructional Design and Development; and Instructor Teaching Practicum.

“The instructors who take advantage of this program will have the opportunity to leave the Holm Center after a three-year tour with a great leadership and teaching experience and a graduate degree in adult education,” said Brig. Gen. Steven Garland, Holm Center commander.

Qualifying center personnel are Officer Training School flight commanders, academic affairs curriculum area managers and AFROTC assistant professors of aerospace science. The center is the umbrella organization for Air Force ROTC, Air Force Junior ROTC and Air Force Officer Training School.

“What the Air Force does to prepare its instructors, and subsequently how they instruct in the classroom, is very good,” said Dr. Joe Reynolds, Troy’s coordinator for adult education programs. “So, why not provide credit for what they know and what they’ve learned through their faculty development.”

While the program personally benefits Holm Center personnel, it also directly supports Air University’s transformational goals of recruiting and retaining high-quality and motivated faculty members and improving community partnerships, said Garland.

“Furthermore,” said the general, “the program will also allow our graduated instructors to play a key role in supporting the Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s desire to revitalize the squadron by equipping more Airmen to be trainers and educators at the squadron level.” 

Classes in the 33-hour program are available both in-resident and online, so students could complete the program even if they were to have a permanent-change-of-station move before completion.