TROY – Troy University will allow the Graduate School of the United States Department of Agriculture to use TROY sites country wide to conduct training under a memorandum of understanding signed in November.

USDA’s Graduate School provides day-time training courses primarily oriented to federal government employees, state and local government employees and federal contractors. Troy University operates campus sites near federal installations in 17 states.

Dr. Susan Aldridge, vice chancellor of TROY’s University College and eCampus, which manages the sites outside Alabama, said the relationship was a win-win proposition.

“It’s cost-effective for USDA because we have numerous locations, and it’s a revenue generator for TROY plus an opportunity to market our programs,” she said.

Under the agreement, TROY will be able to market its educational program to the USDA students when they are on-campus.

“The arrangement is a good ‘handoff’,” said Dr. Jerry Ice, chief executive officer of the Graduate School. “There are two parts that can be broadened here: USDA programs can be assessed for college credit through TROY, and TROY can potentially recruit new students who come to a campus for USDA training.”

The agreement provides a $65 per day fee to be paid by USDA for use of the University’s classroom space.