STCC to offer private security training certificate to meet demands of employers
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College in September will offer what may be the first of its kind in the region: a professional development course that leads to a private security training certificate.
The noncredit course will provide students with a solid introduction and overview of the security industry. The course can serve as a gateway into employment or help advance the careers of people currently working in the security field.
The curriculum was designed with the help of local employers who deal with security issues and who were consulted to determine exactly what employers wanted employees to know, said Paul Sheehan, Director of Workforce Development at STCC.
"As we've done with other noncredit training classes at STCC, we are teaching classes and specific subject matter that employers want employees to know," Sheehan said. "The goal is to get students hired, or incumbent employees more skills."
The course topics include: the role of private security and the industry; the difference between law enforcement and security; asset protection, de-escalation, self-defense; customer service, professionalism and report writing.
The 36-hour course starts Sept 18. Classes are held Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Sheehan said he is unaware of any other course offered in the region.
“With the size and scope of the subject matter, STCC felt it needed to have two instructors,” he said. “Both will be on hand for the first night, alternately teaching certain subjects through the program, and then together again on the final night for a table-top security scenario they have designed.”
Students must be 18 years or older, U.S. citizens or registered aliens and must possess valid driver’s license. They also must be in good physical condition and have good verbal and written communication skills.
Students do not need a high school diploma or equivalency, nor do they need to take a drug test or undergo background screening to enroll. However, such requirements are likely required for employment in the industry, and getting students hired is the goal of the program.
Workforce Development staff member Clarensa McCreary, who proposed the idea for the course, said, "There is no promise of a job, but some local employers have assured us that if someone takes the time and effort to pass this class and then applies to them for employment, it shows them something. Their application will move to the top of the pile, which is what we want for all STCC workforce classes."
McCreary said training in the security field varies greatly, which is why a comprehensive course like the new one offered at STCC could help employers.
“I thought that STCC could offer a more concentrated training – something that would be recognized and accepted throughout the region," she said.
Sheehan and McCreary said the core subjects for the course evolved out of their meetings with local companies dealing with security issues. Class content ideas came from the STCC Police Department and STCC Criminal Justice Program.
For more information or to enroll online, go to www.stcc.edu/wt
About Springfield Technical Community College
Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC, an Achieving the Dream Leader College, offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, engineering, liberal arts, science and technology continue to provide the most economical options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of more than 8,500 day, evening, weekend and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.
For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@S_T_C_C).
Media Contact:
Jim Danko, Coordinator of Media Relations, jdanko@stcc.edu, (413) 755-4812