An agreement today signed at Fort Benning’s Bradley Hall will allow the seamless transfer of graduate-level course credit for studies at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.
Held in WHINSEC’s Gallery of Liberators, which commemorates the heroes for independence in North, Central and South America, the formal signing ceremony between TROY Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. and WHINSEC Commandant Col. Robert F. Alvaro marked the continuation of a 22-plus year relationship between the two educational institutions.
“We are very proud of our partnership with WHINSEC. It’s a quality program serving great students from many other countries. It’s that international flavor that has embellished that relationship … it’s that position of wanting to graduate globally competitive and globally aware students that we find really rewarding,” said Dr. Hawkins. “I can remember signing our first agreement in 2002, and to be able to renew that and build towards 2022 and beyond is rewarding.”
More than 100 WHINSEC students have completed a TROY graduate degree through the affiliation. The agreement provides for the transfer of 12 graduate hours earned for completion of the Command & General Staff Officer Course to be applied to the Master of Science in International Relations.
The course is designed to educate and train intermediate-level military, interagency and partner-nation officers to be prepared to operate in complex environments and field-grade commanders and staff officers. U.S. Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy officers study alongside international students at WHINSEC, and students have the opportunity to obtain a Master of Military Arts and Science degree, as well as master’s degrees from civilian institutions.
Also representing the University at the signing ceremony were Dr. John Schmidt, Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Administration; Dr. Steven Taylor, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. G. Doug Davis, Director of the Master’s in International Relations Program; and Dr. Brandon Stewart, assistant professor of political science.
