Posted by Captain Mika Jackson (Commandant) in Reintroducing Course Incentives

Posted by Amdirgol S in Reintroducing Course Incentives

Posted by Captain Mika Jackson (Commandant) in Reintroducing Course Incentives
Most of us are aware that the Academy site offers a wonderful library of courses. These courses are the result of much effort and experience, serving as valuable resources for any club member eager to expand their knowledge and grasp the nuances of their specialized department. It’s a shame that more folks do not access them. The Academy Advisory team and I suggest reinstating an old incentive for club members with an Ensign-ranked character who successfully completes a course aligned with their chosen department. By taking a department course exam and successfully passing, they would be eligible for a promotion to Lt. j.g. This initiative’s purpose is to offer potential benefits such as providing members with a chance to specialize in their chosen department, reinforcing best practices outlined in the courses, and offering Ensigns, especially those who just graduated from the Academy, an additional avenue for advancement. Your thoughts on this proposal are invaluable, and I welcome any input you may have to further refine and shape this initiative.

Mika J. ~ Academy Commandant

I, for one, think this is an excellent idea. It would (hypothetically) create a strong knowledge base among the newer segment of the club, and it would provide incentive to stay active with the promise of a promotion - a lot of the new members we lose before they ever get promoted. It would result in a much more confident and capable JO and junior DH population with somewhat more investment. The only concerns I would have would be with presentation - it would have to be displayed prominently enough new members could find out about it and find it, but at the same time, those courses can look intimidating, as someone comparatively new to the club myself.

Another avenue of exploration with this is the higher level classes. Obviously they can’t all be promotion incentives - we don’t have that many CO or XO positions, for one thing - but they don’t currently seem to have much tangible benefit. (I do think the knowledge gained is valuable, it’s just not particularly appealing to devote time to without knowing if it’ll even help you.) The DH exam could maybe be another promotion, to LT. Ideas on the others, or does the majority feel those ones are fine as is?

Amdirgol, PDir

I appreciate your insights and suggestions, Amdirgol. Establishing a robust knowledge base for newer club members is great idea, and I share your thoughts on incentivizing course activity may be one way to address member retention challenges.
Your concern regarding presentation resonates with me, you emphasized the importance of making information easily accessible while maintaining an approachable format. To address this, I propose including a link to the courses page in the welcome email for new members, accompanied by an explanation of the incentives. I also think we should actively promote our mentor program. Having a guide, especially for brand-new members, can positively impact their perception of the club and help in a smoother adjustment to their chosen role.
Also, your idea of integrating higher-level classes and their benefits into this incentive is interesting. While not every advanced/command course class can be a promotion incentive, recognizing benefits for members participating in these courses is a valid consideration. I particularly agree with the idea of the DH exam as a potential pathway to promotion to a full Lieutenant rank.
I’m excited to hear additional thoughts from the community on these proposals and to gauge whether there’s a consensus regarding the ideas presented in this discussion.
Any and all input plays a crucial role in shaping the future direction of the Academy as well as the club.

Mika ~ Acad. Comm

Oh, man. Bringing back memories of emailing a CO with my exam results and then pestering them for the promotion lmao.

I agree that there’s currently no incentives for members to take the courses; adding that could help provide a faster track for ascending the ladder for new members. To my recollection the incentive was originally dropped because it was often easier to apply for a new character on another ship, or be offered one by a CO, and get a promotion that way.

I would also ask then about Academy graduates. This isn’t anything new, but I often feel like we penalize people for joining an Academy ship. They go that route to learn about how we play, and three months later they’re out in a ship as an ensign; while someone else who chooses not to go the cadet route is likely Lt j.g. by then. Perhaps full Lt if this exam change goes into effect.

Nathan