By Joey Mongno
The Somerset Police Academy, a division of the Regional Public Safety Institute, is offering a 15-credit certificate program this spring at Raritan Valley Community College.
A new program, “Emergency Management and Preparedness Studies,” is suggested for students wanting to improve their knowledge of emergency management. The program consists of seven classes, each three credits. Five of those classes are mandatory to obtain the certificate. The classes may also be taken as electives toward the criminal justice associate degree. Most of the courses will prepare and arrange students to take final examinations for absolute emergency preparedness from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
This program is designed for those who want to further careers in emergencies and public health services, private businesses and industries and the local government. Students will learn the importance of leadership influence, crisis situations and consequences, and critical states of terrorism. Communication is stressed in each class.
The courses teach the ability to speak to others in emergency situations while having to make crucial decisions of their own. Students will learn how to convey the right information to the media, the public and the actual disaster victims.
Case studies will be reviewed, and scenarios will test the scholars on applying what they have learned for future use. Directors of each course will specifically emphasize on the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
The following classes are scheduled for the spring of 2006: Introduction to Emergency Management, the Incident Command System, and Leadership, Influence and Decision Making for Emergency Operations. For information, visit www.raritanval.edu/Police/index.htm or call (908) 526-1200 ext. 8480.
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