十大娱乐彩票平台-Blue River celebrates opening of renovated, expanded Public Safety Institute
Metropolitan 社区 College-Blue River will host an open house from 2-4 p.m. 周四, April 4, to celebrate completion of an extensive renovation of the campus’ Public Safety Institute. 十大娱乐彩票平台-Blue River is at 20301 E. 78 Highway in Independence.
The event will mark completion of a $4.7 million overhaul and expansion of the 40,500-square-foot facility, which is now home to 十大娱乐彩票平台’s EMS/paramedic program (formerly at 十大娱乐彩票平台-Penn Valley) in addition to the 警察 and 火 academies already located at Blue River.
十大娱乐彩票平台 Chancellor Kimberly Beatty expressed excitement about the opening of the modernized facility and the positive impact it will have for students and the community.
“With the cutting-edge teaching and learning environments we’ve created at this facility,” Chancellor Beatty said, “十大娱乐彩票平台 is better equipped than ever to provide exceptional training and real-world experience that ensure our 警察, 火 and EMS graduates are job-ready the moment they are hired.”
Improvements to the space include:
- A 5,000-square-foot addition to accommodate the EMS/paramedic program
- A larger gym designed to support all the activities required for completing 火fighters’ CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) certification testing
- Larger class房间s to support demand and growth of the 警察 and 火 academies
- Newly renovated locker 房间s
- Modernized situational 房间s that include a closed-circuit TV system and a debriefing 房间
- Large, program-specific closets for storage of instructional supplies and equipment
- A key-card-secured 火arms cleaning area
十大娱乐彩票平台 Fire Academy Coordinator Dave Johnson said moving the EMS programs into the Public Safety Institute is a positive change that allows for increased collaboration.
“Fire and EMS work very closely together in the real world,” Johnson said, “and having both programs under the same roof makes it easier for faculty, staff and administration 管理.”
Johnson added that the increased size of class房间s, expanded gym and additional showers and private spaces in the locker 房间s are welcome upgrades.
十大娱乐彩票平台 Police Academy Coordinator James Beale said the new situational 房间s closely mirror those found in modern 警察 facilities and that the debriefing 房间 “makes for a great learning and teaching experience.”
EMS Program Coordinator Lisa McGuire said working in the new space has made public safety faculty feel more connected to each other and the community. She said the paramedic program has enjoyed increased enrollment since relocating to Blue River, partially as a result of changes with class scheduling.
十大娱乐彩票平台 offers numerous degree and certificate options for students interested in pursuing 职业生涯中 警察, 火 or EMS. All options prepare students to pass required licensing exams and begin working in their chosen field in two years or less.
BNIM designed the 十大娱乐彩票平台-Blue River Public Safety Institute renovation, and Royal Construction was the general contractor.