Lebanon Valley College and Northeast Counterdrug Training Center Partner

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L-R: Sharon Arnold, Kraig Kiehl, Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education Hope Witmer, Michael Green, SFC JoAnn Tresco, Carolyn Hanes

ANNVILLE, PA (09/17/2010)(readMedia)-- Lebanon Valley College and the Pennsylvania National Guard's Northeast Counterdrug Training Center (NCTC) have entered into a two-year partnership to offer educational benefits to students at both institutions. NCTC students will be eligible to receive undergraduate credit from LVC for select courses completed at NCTC. In turn, NCTC will accept interns from LVC's criminal justice program.

"We are pleased to welcome NCTC students to our campus and that NCTC has agreed to accept LVC student interns," said Michael Green, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty. "LVC has a history of supporting students with military and law enforcement backgrounds, and we are proud to continue that tradition."

NCTC, based at Fort Indiantown Gap, provides local, state, and federal law enforcement officials and community prevention specialists with free counterdrug and counterterrorism training. Classes are taught by subject matter experts with extensive education, training and experience with proven success in a specific area of expertise. NCTC is federally funded and is the only military-operated public safety training academy in the nation accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

"Because NCTC falls under the operational control of the Pennsylvania Guard, it is not a college and does not have the ability to award academic credit," said Captain Kraig Kiehl, NCTC's Officer in Charge. "Yet our courses are written and our practices are identical to those that you would find at a college. So, we are honored that a Middle States accredited college like LVC has partnered with us and successfully vetted our courses. That enables our students to put their NCTC training onto their college transcripts and work with faculty at LVC to share current real-world experiences."

Students at NCTC may apply for LVC undergraduate credit for completed courses, including "Interview and Interrogation," "Identifying Deceptive Behavior," "Terrorism Intelligence Gathering," "Criminal Street Gang Identification," "Domestic Terrorism," and "Undercover Risk Analysis." In addition to completing the course, NCTC students must submit a paper for LVC faculty review and grading. Credit is awarded through the College's Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice.

"These courses are state of the field," said Sharon Arnold, department chair. "The information is grounded in current theory and supported by research. The instruction in every one of them is of highest quality."

Arnold spent more than 100 hours observing and participating in NCTC classes as part of the evaluation to consider eligibility for credit. Additional courses may be eligible for credit after a vetting process.

LVC criminal justice students may request internships at NCTC, where they can participate in courses and assist in program execution. The criminal justice major, with 47 enrolled students, combines required courses in sociology and political science to give a well-rounded understanding of the social, psychological, political and legal issues relevant to the problem of crime. The internship with NCTC will provide a hands-on, experiential learning component prior to graduation.

"This is going to be a unique and exciting high impact learning experience for our students," said Carolyn Hanes, professor of criminal justice and internship director.

NCTC was founded in 1999 and remains dedicated to protecting society from the devastating effects of substance abuse. A satellite campus is in Volk Field, Wis. Both facilities are capable of housing, feeding, and training law enforcement and demand reduction professionals at no-cost to their parent agencies. The sites provide a modern and professional environment for training, conferences, and planning sessions.

Nestled on 340 acres in Annville, Pa., LVC offers 34 undergraduate majors, four minors, and five pre-professional programs. Founded in 1866, today the College has 1,600 full-time undergraduate students. LVC ranks 2nd in "Great Schools, Great Prices" among best baccalaureate colleges, according to U.S. News & World Report.

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Photo credit SSgt Mariko Bender