Leveraging Community Colleges
for Homeland
Security
In
response to the events of September 11, 2001, the League for
Innovation in the Community College began work on a national
Homeland Security Initiative (e.g., our
That is the Terror and
Courageous Responses
articles noting the role of community colleges in
connection and training). The
League is
exceptionally qualified and positioned to showcase the efforts of community
colleges in Homeland Security training and create strategies
that facilitate sharing of Homeland Security programs best
practices at community colleges.
With 1,100 American community and technical
colleges serving more than 10 million students annually, there
is little doubt that community colleges are making a difference
for individuals and industry. Nearly two-thirds of the nation's
first-year freshmen start at community colleges; 60
percent of low-income freshman begin their undergraduate careers
at community colleges. Community and technical colleges' complex
mission generally includes providing community-based learning
focused on (1) institutional certificates, diplomas, and degrees
that often lead to transfer to other institutions of higher
education; (2) industry-driven certification and local workforce
training; and (3) adult basic education and GED.
Even more
important is the fact that community colleges are
arguably the lynchpin and often unheralded training organization
in Homeland Security related fields. The fields of law
enforcement and public safety; health care; information
technology (including cyber security); biotechnology; hazardous
materials; and community service all leverage community
colleges. From
Monroe
Community College's (NY) public safety training center,
which includes a 747 burn simulation training facility, to
Miami-Dade College's (FL) Cyber Security program to
Kirkwood
Community College's (IA) hazardous materials and mass
fatalities training center, to the
Maricopa
Community Colleges' (AZ) Center for Civic Engagement, the
reach and scope of the American Community College training
capacity is stunning - yet it is untapped in a focused way by
the national initiatives in Homeland Security.
With this
in mind, the League has undertaken a number of activities to
catalyze the role of community colleges in Homeland Security.
Click on the links below to learn more about our work.
Vision/Purpose of Homeland Security Initiative
The Initiative Overview
Additional Resources,
Articles, and Links
