What Four-Year Institutions Could Learn From Marine Corps New Faculty Preparation

Abstract

In Short Being a subject matter expert does not make someone a good instructor. Most institutions do little to prepare first-time instructors. The Marine Corps puts new instructors of graduate-level programs through a rigorous 4-week program to prepare them as first-time instructors. They are exposed to adult learning theory, assessment processes, and classroom management and are given the opportunity to teach for the first time in front of peers who serve as the types of students who often present problems for the first-time teacher. Following a similar approach, traditional institutions could ensure a more positive experience for first-time faculty and their students.