Homeland security certificate
catches public's attention

by Joe King

The creation of a new certificate program on campus often can pass with little notice from the outside world.

Such was not the case last month when NIU announced it is developing certificate programs in homeland security and was selected to create a foundations course for other such programs at colleges and universities across the state.

Media in Rockford and DeKalb County quickly seized upon the story, and the response was swift and significant.

“It's been crazy,” said Dennis Cesarotti, a professor in the Department of Technology who is crafting the foundation course and who sits on the campus-wide committee working on creation of the certificates. “I have been chained to my desk just returning phone calls and e-mails from people interested in getting more information. I spent four hours doing that Monday and another hour-and-a-half Tuesday, and I still have more messages to return.”

By midweek, Cesarotti estimated that he had done interviews with 10 media outlets (including all three Rockford television stations) and had spoken to more than 30 individuals interested in getting more information about the program.

Callers have included fire department officials from Chicago and DeKalb, experienced disaster management professionals looking to sharpen their skills and build their credentials, human resource directors who double as safety officers and even a church secretary.

That interest from so many different quarters was in keeping with what Cesarotti has said about the program from the start.

“People from all walks of life can benefit from the skills that will be taught in the class,” he said. “The skills and knowledge gain in this class can make any one a much more valuable employee and give them a competitive edge while seeking employment.”

Not surprisingly, the biggest group of inquiries came from NIU students.

“Students are excited about the program and the field of homeland security,” Cesarotti said. “Many of them are very altruistic. I think events like 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina touched them and they view this as something they can do to help their country and humanity. Others recognize that having the skills this program will provide will be a leg up in a competitive job market.”

To meet the needs of people from so many different backgrounds and with such diverse interests, the university will soon offer a broader array of homeland security certificates, said Mary Pritchard, associate dean of Health and Human Sciences, who has helped guide the interdisciplinary committee that is developing the certificates.

In addition to the already approved track in manufacturing and industrial technology, other tracks are being created in the areas of biochemical sciences, environmental and hazards risk assessment and health sciences. The goal is to have those certificates approved by May, and graduate-level versions are in the works.

“Unfortunately, this is a hot topic,” Pritchard said. “Students see it as a growth industry, and people already in the industry need this kind of information and, until now, it has been difficult for them to find. People we are hearing from are delighted to see NIU taking the lead in meeting this need.”

2-6-06