R 021826Z MAY 25
MARADMIN 214/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC DCI WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026 NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE UNIVERSITY
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES//
REF/A/USD(P(AND)R) DODI 1322.25 W/CH3//
REF/B/OUSD (I&S) MEMORANDUM 25 AUG 23
REF/C/CMC/MCO 1524.1//
REF/D/CMC/MCO 1200.18//
NARR/REF A IS DODI 1322.25 W/CH3, VOLUNTARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
REF B IS OPNAVINST 1520.23C W/CH1, GRADUATE EDUCATION. REF C IS
MCO 1524, MARINE CORPS GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM.
NARR/REF B IS UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY
MEMORANDUM ON NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE UNIVERSITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR
DEPT OF DEFENSE WORKFORCE 26 AUG 23.//
POC 1/T. M. WILSON/MAJ/SENIOR SERVICE ADVISOR/NIU/301-243-2335/
EMAIL: THOMAS.M.WILSON@NIU.ODNI.GOV//
POC 2/NIU ADMISSIONS OFFICE/301-243-2094/EMAIL:
NIU_ADMISSIONS@NIU.ODNI.GOV//
POC 3/P. L. KOLLATH/DIRECTOR/NIU QAC/703-632-1976/EMAIL:
PLKOLLATH@FBI.GOV//
POC 4/J. CHAVIS /MSGT/INTEL DIV/703-614-3489/2082/EMAIL:
JUSTIN.CHAVIS@USMC.MIL//
POC 5/K.F BINVERSIE/MGYSGT/INTEL DIV/703-5450-552/EMAIL:
KURT.BINVERSIE@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. The purpose of this message is to solicit
applicants for part-time master’s degree, certificate, and
continuous education opportunities through the National Intelligence
University (NIU) in accordance with the references. NIU offers free
Master’s Degree programs, Master’s certificates, and continuing
education (audit) opportunities to any Marine or Marine civilian
with an active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information
(TS/SCI) security clearance who possess a baccalaureate degree from
a U.S. college or university accredited by one of the regional
accreditors recognized by the Council for Higher Education
Accreditation (CHEA). Any change to employment or clearance status
during the application period or while enrolled as a student must be
reported immediately to the Office of Enrollment Management and the
Office of Security as it may impact eligibility to attend.
1.a. Marines or civilians can utilize NIU’s part-time program
opportunities without Service sponsorship. Only the full-time
program, executed via a permanent change of station move to the
National Capitol Region (NCR) and coordinated via a separate
MARADMIN, requires Service sponsorship.
1.b. NIU is funded by the U.S. Federal Government. This funding is
overseen by the Director of National Intelligence, and ultimately
approved by the Administration and Congress. The NIU does not charge
tuition and does not receive funding from Department of Education
grants or loans.
2. Background.
2.a. The list of all available programs and certificates is located
on the NIU Academics page located at
https:(slash)(slash)ni-u.edu/academics/. Contact the Marine Corps
NIU Representative or Admissions Office point of contact (POC) with
specific questions regarding admissions. The Marine Corps does not
require applicants to obtain service approval for enrollment in
part-time study programs. Part-time applicants must adhere to the
Marine Corps education rules and qualifications regarding
educational attendance. Prospective students may only apply to one
academic program at a time.
3. Part Time Program Opportunities.
3.a. Master’s Degree. Part-time master’s students are expected to
complete all degree requirements within 36 months. Part-time
students who do not complete the requirements in four years will be
contacted by the Office of Enrollment Management to discuss
completion planning.
3.b. Certificate of Intelligence Studies Program.
3.b.1. Certificate students should complete their programs within
two years and typically take one graduate level course over four
quarters.
3.b.2. NIU offers the Certificate in Intelligence Studies in several
topical areas within the Technology Intelligence, and Strategic
Intelligence fields.
3.c. Continuing Education.
3.c.1. Non-degree-seeking students who wish to take courses for
professional development may apply as a Continuing Education (CE)
student. CE-only students should renew their applications annually
to broadcast their intention to participate in enrollment activities
at least one term a year. Students who subsequently convert to
degree-seeking or certificate-seeking status may apply to no more
than two CE courses toward a degree or certificate. Enrollment is
based on eligibility criteria and availability of space in courses.
3.c.2. A student cannot graduate or receive a degree while in a non-
degree-seeking status. Non-degree-seeking students must meet the
same academic standards as degree-seeking students.
4. NIU Global Campus.
4.a. To meet its mandate to provide relevant, accessible, and
continuous intelligence education to globally dispersed students
beyond the NCR, NIU has established a global campus structured
around regional academic centers. Each academic center is managed by
an onsite NIU center director and offers courses taught by full-time
and adjunct NIU faculty. To maximize accessibility, the academic
centers work with approved instructional sites where students can
participate via secure videoconference (VTC). Students physically
located outside an academic center or instructional site can
participate remotely but are solely responsible for ensuring they
have access to a secure VTC. Not all courses can be taught through
secure VTC; many require in-person enrollment via an academic center
or instructional site. Students are encouraged to coordinate with
the enrollment staff to verify degree, certificate, and course
requirements.
4.b. The National Security Agency (NSA) Academic Center is located
at NSA headquarters on Ft. Meade, Maryland, and includes an
instructional site at NSA Georgia on Fort Gordon, Georgia.
4.c. The European Academic Center (EAC), located at RAF Molesworth,
UK, serves students assigned overseas to U.S. European Command and
U.S. Africa Command. With additional instructional sites in
Stuttgart and Ramstein, Germany, EAC supports students throughout
Europe and Africa able to attend course sessions via secure VTC.
4.d. The Southern Academic Center, located at U.S. Central Command
in Tampa, Florida, primarily serves students who live and work in
the vicinity of MacDill Air Force Base, but also supports students
from six instructional sites: U.S. Southern Command, Hurlburt Field
and Joint Interagency Task Force–South in Florida, National Air and
Space Intelligence Center in Ohio, Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, and
Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
4.e. The Quantico Academic Center (QAC), located at the Federal
Bureau of Investigations Academy Intelligence and Investigative
Training Center, primarily serves students who live and work in the
vicinity of Marine Corps Base Quantico but also support students at
Rivanna Station Charlottesville, VA. NIU is looking to expand to
additional U.S. Marine bases across the Continental United States.
4.e.1. The QAC provides part-time, evening graduate study to
qualified military and Federal civil service personnel who hold
active TS/SCI clearances and who are looking to earn a Master of
Science of Strategic Intelligence (MSSI), Master of Science and
Technology Intelligence (MSTI), or a Certificate in Intelligence
Studies in Counterintelligence. Classes are held in-person in
Quantico and via secure VTC to NIU Main Campus. Classes operate
Monday through Thursday from 1800 to 2040 during the ten-week fall,
winter, spring, and summer quarters. Instruction is provided in-
person by QAC faculty and augmented by Quantico’s adjunct faculty or
via VTC by NIU Main Campus faculty.
5. Service Obligation. There is no service obligation to attend NIU
under any of the part-time opportunities listed in paragraph 3.
6. Application requirements and procedures for all programs.
6.a. Each applicant must submit an online NIU application but their
first enrollment will not happen until fall or spring quarter. The
NIU academic calendar is located at
https:(slash)(slash)ni-u.edu/academic-calendar/ for reference to AY
quarter start dates. The most up-to-date information on how to apply
is located at
https:(slash)(slash)www.ni-u.edu/apply-now-for-all-academic-programs/.
6.a.1. Applicants submit one application at a time for the
requested program of study.
6.a.2. Acceptance of the application does not guarantee enrollment
into the desired program of study. Enrollment is based on academic
eligibility and space available.
6.b. MSSI and MSTI applicants are carefully evaluated regarding
previous education, academic preparation, and proven ability to
excel in graduate work. Graduate degree applicants must submit an
application form, official transcripts for all completed degrees,
two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose and resumé by
the published deadline. Graduate Record Examination scores are
optional and not required. Please refer to NIU’s Admissions website
for specific information on these requirements.
6.c. Applicants enrolling in any of NIU’s part-time programs must
possess a baccalaureate degree from a US college or university that
is accredited by an institution recognized by the CHEA. Foreign
transcripts must be submitted with an official transcript
evaluation from an approved foreign credential evaluation service.
Please refer to NIU’s Admissions website NIU catalog for specific
information on these requirements at
https:(slash)(slash)ni-u.edu/Admissions.
6.d. Applicants are responsible for requesting their official
transcripts and test scores be sent directly to NIU from the
issuing entity. Unofficial transcripts or test scores are not
accepted. Official transcripts must be delivered by mail in a
sealed, stamped envelope with the seal or other security feature
intact or sent electronically from a secure site formally linked to
the sending institution.
6.e. NIU Admissions will not process any application without a
signed participation agreement, all official transcripts, and
completion of the online applications step. If additional paperwork
is required, NIU Admissions Office will contact the applicant
directly.
7. All students must have a current/active TS/SCI clearance
maintained by the Marine Corps. The NIU Office of Security can be
reached at 301-243-2097 and niu_security@niu.odni.gov with any
questions. Clearances need to be current and maintained for the
duration of enrollment at NIU.
8. All degree requirements must be completed within seven years.
Time-to-degree begins with the earliest course to be applied toward
the degree, to include credits transferred from other institutions.
Work undertaken more than seven years earlier may not be applied
toward degree requirements without NIU Dean-level approval.
9. The Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and
Security (OUSD(I&S)) based on OUSD(I&S) memorandum 25 Aug 23, highly
encourages intelligence leaders to enable, to the extent authorized
by applicable personnel laws and regulations, up to 8 hours of duty
time during the regularly scheduled work week for civilian employees
enrolled in the NIU part-time programs to attend classes during duty
hours. Such accommodations may be considered for both full- and
part-time employees, being mindful of our hours-of-work and premium
pay policies. Similar consideration should be afforded to active-
duty Marines, to the extent consistent with mission requirements and
service-specific regulations but must be approved by the first O-5
in the applicant’s change of command.
10. This Marine administrative message is applicable to Active and
Reserve Marines & Marine Corps Civilians that meet the stated
program requirements.
11. Release authorized by Lieutenant General M. G. Carter, Deputy
Commandant For Information.//