Taking Advantage of External Funding for Air Force Officer Ph.D. Candidates at Civilian Universities
Abstract
In order to fill billets requiring Advanced Academic Degrees (AADs), the Air Force routinely sends officers to complete doctoral degrees at AFIT and at civilian institutions. The Air Force typically fully funds the tuition and other costs incurred at civilian universities, constraining an officers choice of universities due to budgetary restrictions. The 3-year time limit typically imposed by the Air Force for degree completion further restricts the number of universities that an officer can consider, since typical doctoral programs require significantly more time to complete. This paper argues that the Air Force could save money while simultaneously opening up a wider selection of universities to its officers by making targeted policy changes that would better align its practices with those of American higher education. First, the Air Force should routinely encourage officers to apply for fellowships and assistantships to pay for their tuition the majority of doctoral students in the U.S. win such sponsorship. Second, the Air Force should relax the 3-year time limit, simultaneously waiving the requirement for doctoral candidates to hold a masters degree. This report considers these proposed changes within the historical context of graduate education in the Air Force and current practices in civilian doctoral programs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- AD1019743
Entities
People
- Clark L. Allred
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College