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Bossier Parish Community College Memorandum of Understanding
February 08, 2007
In order to promote cooperation between the Caddo Bossier Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness (CBOHSEP) and Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC), a memorandum of understanding was completed on January 29, 2007. The signing of the memorandum completes months of detailed coordination in establishing a BPCC practicum program at the CBOHSEP. This practicum opportunity will enhance emergency preparedness scholarship, criminal justice and governmental (political science) studies, and research. Students completing this practicum will have experience with hands-on training in a two parish emergency management agency, providing them valuable work development skills for those seeking future careers in any of the various first responder occupations (law enforcement, firefighting, EMS and/or emergency management). LTC Gene Barattini (Ret), the coordinator for the CBOHSEP and community college initiative, states, "With the signing of this memorandum of understanding, we now have a program in the community that gives formal college experience for those in the NW LA population seeking potential employment as future first responders, while at the same time completing their core requirements in their selected degree programs.” This new BPCC college education opportunity with the local homeland security office is scheduled to be offered in the fall 2007 semester. The BPCC practicum opportunity completes an even larger picture for Homeland Security educational opportunities in our region as it fits perfectly with a bachelors/masters level certificate program which will also begin in the fall semester of 2007 at LSU-S. With BPCC's strong ties in the community as well as giving undergraduates unique career and training opportunity, it seemed only logical to ask the community college to be a state and regional pilot host for a homeland security practicum program.
POC for this news release is Sandy Davis or Gene Barattini at 425-5351.