In the wake of recent national tragedies, such as the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005 and the terror attacks of 9/11 back in 2001, and local tragedies, such as the fires that Berlin has been plagued by in recent months, our national and local law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians have been more important than ever in protecting our communities. For years, community colleges have played a critical role in providing training for these first responders to emergency situations.
After the attacks on September 11, 2001, the protection of our nation became a necessity, almost an obsession. Community colleges have responded to this need by reaching out to the communities they serve and by either enhancing existing programs or creating new ones to train those special people who want to serve and protect us.
Two surveys were conducted in 2004 by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to gain a more accurate picture of the involvement of community colleges in homeland security efforts. These two surveys asked community college administrations which programs were most in demand for their students. Accurately reflecting the tremendous need for more skilled professionals in these areas, the top "hot" programs reported included nursing, law enforcement/criminal justice, and allied health occupations.
The mission of the New Hampshire Community College-Berlin, similar to the missions of community colleges across the country, is to "provide high quality academic, technical, and professional higher education services, preparing students to be educationally and professionally positioned to meet personal goals and the needs of business, industry, and the community." The word community in the mission and the name of the college suggests that the college and its graduates are an integral part of the surrounding communities and their workforce development.
Graduates from programs such as Criminal Justice and allied health programs such as Nursing and Medical Assistant, are the very professionals that serve our communities directly in times of crisis. Close to 80% of the nation's firefighters, police, and emergency medical technicians are graduates of community colleges. NHCC-Berlin's graduates in these fields have found local employment with Androscoggin Valley Hospital, Coös County Family Health Services, the local police departments, fire departments, and the Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility.
Although community colleges were educating and training our nation's first responders/emergency professionals long before the 9/11 attacks, the hurricanes of 2005 and, closer to home, Berlin's recent fires, the need for current and ongoing training and education remains a priority. The more training that is offered and updated helps to ensure our communities that trained professionals will be taking care of them in times of disaster. NHCC-Berlin has adapted to the changes and needs of its surrounding communities, and it plans on continuing to do so.
For more information on NHCC-Berlin's programs, visit www.berlin.ccsnh.edu/academics/. For more information on the American Association of Community Colleges and their studies, visit www.aacc.nche.edu.
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