2024 College of Commissioner Science
The Future of Unit Service
Two commissioner events on one day
November 2, 2024
November 2, 2024
(1) All-Council In-service day through our Continuing Education Program.
For all commissioners to be updated on the Future of Unit Service.
(2) Degree Programs leading to a Bachelor, Masters, and Doctorate Degree
For those commissioner aspiring to a bachelor or higher degree.
Join us for our 37th consecutive annual college on
Saturday November 2, 2024
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
in the Great Trail Council
Plan to join us for an exciting and rewarding Commissioner College in the Great Trail Council, with plenty of hotels nearby so you can make the drive and not worry about heading back on the same day. We will meet at
St. Stephen's Lutheran Church
3725 Kent Rd, Stow, OH 44224
Prices:
$25 participant
$30 walk-in
$15 Staff
Celebrating Friendship,
Fun,
and Flourishing Together
The night before!
November 1, 2024
2024 Great Trail Council
College of Commissioner Science
College of Commissioner Science
The college on November 2, 2024, will be a live in-person training event for all commissioners hosted by the Great Trail Council. This page has your links to online registration, prices, directions, hotel accommodations, college and dean contacts, program reciprocity, course listings with abstracts and learning objectives. Courses offered in the years before this college are listed at the bottom.
Saturday, November 2, 2024
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Doors open with continental breakfast at 7:15 am.
The GTC Commissioner College in 2024will be organized with an all-new national curriculum as recently revised for our Bachelors and Masters, Doctoral and Continuing Education program. Our curriculum is organized in each college by our deans. Because of all of the pending changes some of our courses this year will be locally produced based on the best information that we have as the these soming changes. If you have a question please contact the appropriate Dean below.
What is the College of Commissioner Science
It is a continuing education experience in a college environment designed to help commissioners keep up to date with the newest training materials and problem-solving techniques to help units deliver a quality Scouting program. All Commissioners should attend this nationally recognized program annually. This program has a four-year cycle; Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate Degrees can be earned. Those with their doctorate or taking a break in the process will benefit from courses offered by the continuing education college.
Why do Commissioners Need the College?
The mission of the commissioner is to help the unit succeed and the way to accomplish this mission is through education and practical learning experiences. Just as every Scout deserves a trained leader, every unit deserves a trained commissioner!
A trained commissioner is an effective commissioner. Nationally-created training and resources are being updated on a routine basis. Therefore, to stay up to date, commissioners should view continual learning as an important part of their entire scouting lives.
Even though updated training materials are available on the BSA Commissioner Training web page, holding a college gives commissioners the opportunity for interaction with other commissioners, and a better understanding of the material during a group discussion.
The college provides an in-depth knowledge of the essential aspects of the commissioner’s duties and responsibilities. The final result is a stronger and more knowledgeable commissioner corps serving units.
What opportunities does the College offer?
Learn the information essentials to provide the best service to scouting units
Enjoy fellowship amongst the commissioner corps
Reinforce and expand on the lessons learned during previous training
Receive updates on commissioner service and scouting
See you on Saturday, November 2, 2024.
Track your College Program
Worksheet for the Doctorate of Commissioner Science Knot Personal Progress Record. Print out and complete.
3 pages pdf (direct link download here)
DCS 503 - DCS Knot Personal Tracking Record.pdfProgram for the 2024 College
will post here later closer to the event.
Reciprocity Statement
You may register for one of the following four college tracks: Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate I and II, and Continuing Education. The document below shows the prerequisites and requirements for each degree. and includes information on earning the Doctor of Commissioner Science Knot award. This is a national standard to which we adhere.
Click to reveal document details
Statement of Course Work Reciprocity:
The College of Commissioner Science accepts a Commissioner's course work from any Boy Scouts of America College of Commissioner Science provided that an official transcript is made available.
The College of Commissioner Science will credit courses from another Council to be applied towards a College of Commissioner Science Degree if prior approval has been obtained from the current Dean of the College of Commissioner Science.
Classes taken at a University of Scouting that are not listed in the B.S.A. National Curriculum (http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/commissioners/training.aspx) will not be accepted for credit.
The college will also honor Commissioner courses taken at the Philmont Training Center. (Please submit a transcript to the College of Commissioner Science Registrar.)
Degree Recognition:
The College of Commissioner Science will continue to recognize degrees earned from other Boy Scouts of America College of Commissioner Science and Philmont Training Center College of Commissioner Science degrees provided that an official transcript is made available.
Award Recognition:
The College of Commissioner Science will honor all Commissioner Arrowhead, Commissioner Key, Distinguished Commissioner, and the Commissioner Award of Excellence in Unit Service, and the Doctor of Commissioner Science Awards.
Degree Requirements and Reciprocity Guide.pdfWho may attend the college?
Prerequisite: Basic Commissioner Training. You may access this training online at my.scouting.org or contact our trainer David Rice.
Anyone from any Council is welcome to attend this college.
This year’s college curricula are the latest updated courses more aligned with current commissioner service functions. These courses include the integration of Commissioner Tools and place more emphasis on the five commissioner objectives. Course reciprocity will allow credits to transfer to your home council. Directions and nearby hotels will be listed below.
Every Commissioner is expected to attend at least the Continuing Education portion annually.
Hotels nearby
Hilton.com direct link4331 Lakepointe Corporate DriveStow, OH 442244.3 miles330.945.4160estimate: $85
by Hilton Stow AkronHilton.com direct link4097 Bridgewater ParkwayStow, OH 442244.8 miles330.835.6400estimate $110
by Marriott Akron StowMarriott.com direct link4170 Steels ParkStow, OH 442244.7 miles330.940.1450estimate: $96
Directions to St. Stephens
Here is the current schedule:
You will notice a strong departure from previous years: More courses across the colleges and more locally created content due to the massive changes underway for the Future of Unit Service
Course details are in each college below.
cocs schedule Sept 24 2024.pdf
The COCS Bachelor Program
Dean Mark Messerly, Great Trail Council (MarkMesserly@hotmail.com)
The Bachelor Program consists of courses numbered between 100 and 299, that will augment your commissioner basic training. Basic training should be completed before beginning the bachelor program. The courses cover some of the same topics but they are all covered more in depth and with more student interaction.
Click to reveal Prerequisites, Program Requirements, and the Descriptions of the 2024 Courses (updated soon).
Prerequisites:
Current registration as a Commissioner
Current BSA Youth Protection Training Certificate
Completion of “Commissioner Basic Training.” You may access this training online at my.scouting.org.
Course Requirements: Completion of seven courses of instruction, at least five of the courses at the Bachelor's program level.
Courses Offered:
The courses below and faculty are subject to change.
BCS 109 The Essential Element (A Servant’s Heart) updated 10/1/2021.
Faculty: Craig Wrobleski
Course Description: National Course
In 1970, Robert Greenleaf introduced the term “servant leadership.” He wrote an essay titled “The Servant as Leader” that was later expanded into a book. That book is a very influential management text that launched the servant leadership movement. However, the concept is thousands of years old and stems, at least partly, from religious teachings on leadership.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this session, each participant should be able to
Define the characteristics of servant leadership
Understand a servant’s heart
Apply this concept in unit service
The COCS Master Program
The Master Program offers more advanced courses, numbered from 300 to 499. These courses will be most beneficial to an experienced or an administrative commissioner. Again many of the topics are familiar but are explained in more detail with more student interaction.
Click to reveal Prerequisites, Program Requirements, and the Descriptions of the 2024 Courses (updated soon).
Prerequisites:
Current registration as a Commissioner
Current BSA Youth Protection Training Certificate
Earned Arrowhead Honor.
Completion of Bachelor's Degree or have been awarded the Commissioner's Key
Course Requirements: Completion of seven (7) additional courses of instruction (total of 14), at least seven of the courses at the Master's level.
Courses Offered
MCS 312 Recruiting the 21st Century Volunteer (updated 4/15/2022)
Faculty: Stephanie Rickets
Course Description: National Course
Course Objectives:
By the end of this session, each participant should be able to
Understand the recruiting vision
Review the various commissioner roles
Review the 5 Ps of recruiting
Explain the Skill, Thrill, Ill and Kill of recruiting
Know the when, where and why of recruiting
Review some recruiting tips
The Doctorate Program
The Doctorate Program consists of the courses, numbered from 500 to 699, that are required to write an approved thesis or complete an approved project. In addition, there are some advanced courses available for the very experienced commissioner.
Click to reveal Prerequisites, Program Requirements, and the Descriptions of the 2024 Courses.
Prerequisites:
Current registration as a Commissioner
Current BSA Youth Protection Training Certificate
Completion of Master’s Degree
Have been awarded the Commissioner’s Key
Course Requirements: Completion of 10 additional courses of instruction (total of 24) at least five of the courses at the Doctorate or Continuing Education program level. Courses may not have previously been counted toward other college degrees.
Thesis or Project: It is recommended that the topic of a project or thesis be directly related to unit service. There may be specific circumstances under which a topic related to another area of Scouting would be appropriate. Local councils have the authority to approve topics related to another area of Scouting when selecting one directly related to unit service isn't appropriate or practical. The council commissioner or designee may authorize an alternate topic. This can be on any topic related to Commissioner Service.
The topic must be pre-approved by the college of commissioner science committee.
Complete the thesis/project using the approved format as determined by the college.
The topic and final paper must be approved by the doctoral review committee.
All segments (proposal, proposal acceptance, thesis/project completion, thesis acceptance ) of the degree must be approved by the college of commissioner science
Commissioner Performance: Serve for at least one year on the college of commissioner science staff (instructor or support staff), or work with training support for commissioners for at least one year.
Courses Offered
DCS-501 Selecting Your Project or Thesis Topic (new 10/31/2022)
Faculty: David Rice
Course Description:
This session assists doctoral candidates in selecting their project or thesis concept.
Course objectives:
Identify what constitutes a good topic or focus area.
Distinguish between a project and thesis.
Describe DCS Degree and Knot requirements
DCS-503 Developing Your Project or Thesis (new 10/31/2022)
Faculty: David Rice
Course Description:
This session covers the project or thesis outline and a variety of suggestions for writing and revising the report.
Course objectives:
Identify the main parts of a project report / thesis.
Develop a first draft outline.
Identify methods of gathering information.
Give examples of common writing errors to be avoided when writing the project report or thesis
DCS-509 Legacy of Servant Leadership (new, 12/31/2022)
Faculty: Sherri Buck
Course Description: National Course
In one of your first CCS experiences, you more than likely participated in a class called The Essential Element (A Servant’s Heart). That Bachelor’s level class introduced the concept of servant leadership and established the expectation that commissioners served units and other volunteers. Simply put, servant leadership is people-centered, unselfish and an investment in the lives of others. It is a sincere desire to help rather than control. It reflects an inward sense of morality – right vs. wrong rather than what’s in it for me. That is the difference between leadership that works and leadership that endures.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this session, each participant should be able to
Explore characteristics of servant leaders,
Understand servant leadership in Scouting, and
Recognize the legacy of servant leadership
The COCS Continuing Education Program and All-Council In-Service Day
The Continuing Education curriculum exists apart from the degrees offered by the college. Commissioners not actively pursuing the training offered by degrees attend continuing education annually to catch up on the latest changes and to renew their commitment to service. Students in the Doctoral Track typically attend the Continuing Education Courses. Courses are numbered from 700 to 899. Courses from the Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate levels may be utilized.
Click to reveal Prerequisites, Program Requirements, and the Descriptions of the 2024 Courses (updated soon).
Courses Offered
DCS 509 – Legacy of Servant Leadership (NEW!! 12/31/2022 )
Faculty: Sherri Buck
Course Description: National Course
In one of your first CCS experiences, you more than likely participated in a class called The Essential Element (A Servant’s Heart). That Bachelor’s level class introduced the concept of servant leadership and established the expectation that commissioners served units and other volunteers. Simply put, servant leadership is people-centered, unselfish and an investment in the lives of others. It is a sincere desire to help rather than control. It reflects an inward sense of morality – right vs. wrong rather than what’s in it for me. That is the difference between leadership that works and leadership that endures.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this session, each participant should be able to
Explore characteristics of servant leaders,
Understand servant leadership in Scouting, and
Recognize the legacy of servant leadership
Courses offered 2017 to 2023
2019 final course schedule.pdf2019
2018 course schedule.pdf2018
2017 College Courses.pdf