The purpose of the College of Commissioner Science is to provide supplemental training for all functions in the council and district related to commissioner service. It is recognized that commissioners are key to the continued health and growth of the units in the council.
BACHELOR OF COMMISSIONER SCIENCE DEGREE
Credit for a Bachelor of Commissioner Science Degree will be granted by this College if the participant Commissioner completes the following:
PREREQUISITES:
- Has up-to-date Youth Protection Training
- Has current BSA Youth Protection Training Certificate
- Completion of “Commissioner Basic Training”
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
- Completion of seven courses of instruction, at least five of the courses at the Bachelor’s program level.
MASTERS OF COMMISSIONER SCIENCE DEGREE
Credit for a Masters of Commissioner Science Degree will be granted by this College if the participant Commissioner completes the following:
PREREQUISITES:
- Current registration as a Commissioner
- Current BSA Youth Protection Training Certificate
- Has earned the Arrowhead Honor.
- Have received a Bachelor of Commissioner Science Degree or a Bachelor of Roundtable Degree, or has 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.
DOCTOR OF COMMISSIONER SCIENCE DEGREE
Note: Earning the Doctor of Commissioner Science Degree does not qualify you to receive the Doctorate of Commissioner Service Knot Award.
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.
DOCTORATE OF COMMISSIONER SCIENCE SERVICE KNOT AWARD
Credit for a Doctor of Commissioner Science Degree will be granted by this College if the participant Commissioner fulfills the following:
PREREQUISITES:
- Current registration as a Commissioner
- Current BSA Youth Protection Training Certificate
- Completion of Doctoral Degree in Commissioner Science
TENURE:
- Serve as a commissioner for a minimum of 5 years. (Years need not be consecutive). This service can be in one or more roles or positions commissioner of service.
RECRUITING:
-
Recruit or assist in recruiting at least three new commissioners during tenure as a commissioner.
FINAL APPROVAL:
-
Approval of council or assigned assistant council commissioner.
BSA SUGGESTED 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 BSA 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.
COLLEGE STAFF
Greater Tampa Bay Area Council President – Benson Porter
Council Commissioner – Matthew Cordani, G. T. B. A. C.
Dean of the College – Dr. G. S. Torres, G. T. B. A. C.
Dean of Bachelors – Javier Fuentes, Ft. Brooke District.
Dean of Masters – Tim Bobo, Suncoast District.
Dean of Doctoral – J. Ronayne, Miccosukee
Registrar – Bob Huff, Pathfinder
Assistant Registrar – Matt Cordani, G. T. B. A. C.
2025 GREATER TAMPA BAY AREA COUNCIL COLLEGE OF COMMISSIONER SCIENCE
Dr. G. S. Torres, Program Director
15 November 2025
GREATER TAMPA BAY AREA COUNCIL OFFICE
TIME
11/14/2025 2000 College of Commissioner Science Friday Night
Legacy of Servant Leadership
Matt Cordani
2100 – 2150 Friday night Cracker Barrel
____________________________________________________________________________________
11/15/2025 0830 College of Commissioner Science Official Start
0700 – 0800 11/15/2025 Breakfast for Friday night campers.
0800 – 850 Coffee, Introduction for ALL Colleges With Council Commissioner, Matthew Cordani
BACHELORS-Javier Fuentes, Dean MASTERS-Tim Bobo, Dean DOCTORATE-Jim Ronayne, Dean
Core Concepts Unit Service Support Unit/Member Renewal Selecting a Project /Thesis Topic
Javier Fuentes Tim Bobo Dr. Eric Renker
Unit/Member Renew Process Resolve Critical Unit Issues Developing Your Project/Thesis
Paul McGrane Matt Cordani Bill Haggard
Comm. & S.A.F.E. Scouting Recruiting 21st Century Volunteer Coaching Commissioners
Paul McGrane Mike Ferraz Don Oliver
1200 – 1300 LUNCH with Council Service Territory Commissioner Bill Gilliland & Council Commissioner Matt Cordani
Building Relationships Unit Service in Rural Community Be a Project/Thesis Advisor
Alex Sobtzak Adam Clinkenbeard JIm Ronayne
Commissioner Culture Unit/RT Commis Work Together Turning Relations into Partnership
Don Olivier Chris Perry Dr. Eric Renker
Planning/Impl/Promote RT Scouts BSA RT Breakout Roundtable Today
Alex Sobtzak Chris Perry Frank Brown
Combat Comm. Stress/Burnout Combat Comm. Stress/Burnout Combat Commiss. Stress
Matt Cordani Matt Cordani Matt Cordani
All Course Material
Bachelors
Masters
Doctoral
1700 – 1720 GRADUATION – Bachelors, Masters Colleges and Doctoral Colleges
portal. Commissioner Tools helps commissioners perform by providing access to information critical to supporting units. Here are a few examples of Commissioner Tools capabilities:
Includes speaker notes that could be used for local training. Note: For the sake of completeness and to promote learning through repetition, there intentionally is some overlap between this presentation and the Unit Service Plan presentation.
Team Detailed Assessment Blank Form 