This is a working draft of a proposed Symposium on Roundtables as part of a new Initiative on Roundtables in Great Trail Council.
Questions and suggestions to Commissioners@gtcbsa.org. 

See the National Commissioner Service Team's Roundtable Support page at https://www.scouting.org/commissioners/roundtable-support. 

This symposium will be different than the typical College of Commissioner Science offered by the Great Trail Council. The primary difference is the entire day will be focused learning on Roundtables as a part of unit service. Another difference will be the invitation being extended to District Chairs and District Executives because of their importance to the effective execution of Roundtables. Finally, while much of the curriculum will include the Nationally developed and approved College of Commissioner Science courses, time will be given to discuss and reflect on our evolving practices in supporting unit service throughout Roundtables. 

Who may attend the Symposium on Roundtables?

This symposium is a part of the College of Commissioner Science offerings and follows the Great Trail Council's 2022 College of Commissioner Science by two months. The purpose of the one day symposium is to help strengthen Roundtables and the Roundtable Commissioners  directly. Every commissioner supporting and participating in roundtables on a monthly basis should attend this training day.  

Not just for commissioners: It is also an important opportunity for District Chairs and District Executives to review the best design and workings of a district roundtable and its unit service role. 

Prerequisite: Basic Commissioner Training is required if you are seeking a degree. You may access this training online at my.scouting.org. 

This day will offer the opportunity to earn a  Masters degree in the College of Commissioner Science. To receive the masters designation, you must meet all of the requirements for the Masters degree as set out below. 

All Councils Welcomed

Everyone from all councils are welcome to this college put on by Great Trail College, headquartered in Stow OH.

What can you expect from the day

While planning is fluid at this point you might expect some of the following:

• Nationally developed and approved college courses at the Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate and Continuing Education level (a full list of available courses is included below).

• Discussion with your fellow scouters about best practices in roundtable.

• Training in the technology to support Roundtable production including techniques to produce in-person, hybrid and virtual roundtables.

• Training in the technology to support Roundtable record keeping in Commissioner Tools

• A keynoter of importance in best practices in Roundtables.

• Leaving the symposium renewed and excited to enhance unit service  in your district. 

• Breakouts for discussion and planning.

• Light breakfast and lunch, similar to what you are used to at our colleges in the past.

Degrees Awarded

Our current thinking is to offer at least the masters degree in Commissioner Science via the offering of the 7 Masters courses in Roundtable. This is not a separate masters in roundtable, but a course curriculum leading to a masters in the College of Commissioner Science.  All courses offered are applicable to any College level degree following the National Standards. 

Our Reciprocity agreement can be read on our 2022 College of Commissioner Science website at college.gtcbsa.org. 

Survey based design

We expect to design the actual roundtables based on surveys so we better understand the needs of districts and unit leaders about roundtables. We will conduct local surveys, but a survey of all 310 Council Commissioners across the US in Spring 2022 (with 49% responding) found:

Council Commissioner confidence in their roundtable staffs’ possession of the needed skills to conduct virtual roundtables significantly influences their outlooks on virtual roundtables in their council.

• Council Commissioners who Agree/Strongly Agree their roundtable commissioners have the needed skills to put on virtual roundtables believe that roundtables are an effective way to support unit leaders at a significantly higher rate than Council Commissioners who Disagree/Strongly Disagree their roundtable commissioners have the needed skills for virtual roundtables. (83.6% to 33.4% / difference of 50.2%)

• Virtual roundtable attendance increased when roundtable staffs possessed needed virtual skills (45.6% to 23.8% / difference of 21.8%) and decreased when roundtable staffs didn’t possess the needed virtual skills ( 38.1% to 17.7% / difference of 20.4%)

You can see the results of this survey in our GTC library at https://www.gtcbsa.org/resources/commissioners/meeting-agendas.  Look in the month of May 2022. 

Possible Course Offerings

Available Courses for a Roundtable Curriculum from the National Curriculum. 

Friendly warning, all links below will download the full curriculum from the National Commissioner Development web page. 

BCS 150 – Roundtables in Unit Service (Updated 08/01/2021)  last offered 2019 by GTC COCS

BCS 151 – The Roundtable Commissioner Team (Updated 08/01/2021)

BCS 152 – Planning, Implementing and Promoting Roundtables (Updated 08/01/2021)

BCS 153 – Roundtable and Commissioner Tools (Updated 08/01/2021)  last offered 2019 by GTC COCS

BCS 154 – Roundtable Fundamentals (updated 12/31/2021)

MCS 350 – Unit & Roundtable Commissioners Working Together (updated 8/01/2021)   last offered 2019, 2020, and planned for 2022 by GTC COCS

MCS 351 – Conducting the Roundtable Planning Session (updated 01/31/2022)

MCS 352 – Roundtable is Over – Now What (Updated 08/01/2021)

MCS 353 – The Cub Scout Roundtable Breakout (updated 8/01/2021)

MCS 354 – The Scouts BSA Roundtable Breakout (updated 8/01/2021)

MCS 357 – Managing Long Distance Roundtables (updated 8/01/2021)

MCS 358 – Addressing Unit Challenges through Roundtable (updated 01/31/2022)   last offered 2021, and planned for 2022 by GTC COCS

DCS 550 – Leveraging Roundtables in Unit Service (NEW!! 12/31/2021)

CED 751 – Role of the Administrative Commissioner in the Roundtable Program (NEW!! 12/31/2021)

CED 752 – Advanced Roundtable Promotion (NEW!! 12/31/2021)

Possible models

Masters only program - Offer 7 MCS courses.

Participants would have to have Bachelors degree and other requirements to qualify for the masters.

We plan to offer a general session on roundtable commissioner tools administration, with desired local standards. 

Masters Plus program

Track 1: Offer  7 MCS courses in one track

Track 2: Offer BCS, DCS and CED courses as alternatives for those not needing the Masters program (those who already have masters or doctors) or desireous of the varied curriculum. 

We plan to offer a general session on roundtable commissioner tools administration, with desired local standards.