The Training Team is a multidisciplinary coalition formed to address training needs within the Division. It is the responsibility of this team to review current training offerings, make recommendations on new and improved courses and means of delivery, and expand training efforts outward from the Division to NRCS and partners, as needed.
Develop a training curriculum for all career trajectories within division
Coordinate to extend to other entities (states, centers)
Assist training coordinator in identifying, selecting, and developing a training cadre
Assist training coordinator in individual course development to fit within training curriculum
Review existing courses
Pursue the possibility of distance education for division staff to obtain advanced degrees
Identify gaps
Assist in development of web based courses
Work with BOA and MGT to provide guidance on priority areas
Conducted a face to face meeting at the National Soil Survey Center in December. Thirteen people participated in this meeting.
Developed a proposal process for ideas to be brought forward to the team for action. Four proposals received to date.
Completed review of all existing courses, including retired courses, for application into new curricula.
Completed round robin internal and external reviews of specialist curricula course lists. Incorporated suggested changes and additions from external reviewers.
Complied and released curricula for each specialist area within the Soil and Plant Science Division to all NHQ staff, Regional Directors and State Soil Scientists.
Work with internal and external customers to identify training priorities.
Start exploration of coordinating training efforts between NCSS members.
Long Range Projects
Assist training coordinator in individual course development to fit within training curriculum.
Assist training coordinator in identifying, selecting, and developing training cadres.
Assist in development of web-based courses.
Develop distance education plan for division staff to obtain advanced degrees.
Kevin Norwood, SSR 11 Regional Director, Indianapolis, Indiana Cynthia Stiles, SSR 2 Regional Director, Davis, California Shawn McVey, Training Coordinator, NSSC, Lincoln, Nebraska
Administrative Specialist Sub-Team: Benjamin Hannibal (AA Morgantown WV)
Ecological Specialist Sub-Team: Joel Brown (NSSC Las Cruces NM); Kendra Moseley (SSR2 Davis CA); Johanna Pate (CNTSC Fort Worth TX)
GIS Specialist Sub-Team: Carl Hill (DU East Lansing, MI)
Proposed Sub-Team -- Training Personnel: Responsible for determining training cadres and working with external entities such as NCSS cooperator institutes to cross-talk courses between agency and universities/other federal agencies.
