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Frequently Asked
Questions -- Printable PDF Version
Questions
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My agency is interested in hosting an SPSC class.
What do we have to do to get the process started?
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Is there a contract between the Host Agency and
the Center for Public Safety (CPS)?
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If my agency hosts an SPSC program, what is the
total dollar amount that my agency will owe the Center for Public Safety?
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When is payment due to the Center for Public
Safety?
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In addition to the cost based on tuition, what
other costs will the Host Agency incur?
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How does the Host Agency recover the cost of
advertising, providing space for the training, and administrative support for
the course?
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Is a tuition refund given if a student withdraws
from the course?
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How soon should the Host Agency begin advertising?
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What are the most effective ways to advertise the course?
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How
can CPS help with the advertising?
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What if the Host Agency does not receive enough applications?
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Who
can attend the SPSC?
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What is the ideal class composition?
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What kinds of agencies send students to the SPSC?
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What is the maximum class size?
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What is the minimum class size?
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What is a suitable classroom for the SPSC?
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What does the Contact Person do during the course?
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Can
the Contact Person be a member of the class?
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How
can I get additional information about the SPSC?
Questions and Answers
1. My agency is interested in hosting an
SPSC class. What do we have to do to get the process started?
The first step is to contact the Center for
Public Safety to discuss the following issues:
- Course format
- Course dates
- Cost
The person to contact is Shelly Camden,
Director of the Management Training Division. Shelly can be reached
toll-free at (800) 323-4011, directly at (847) 467-0893, or via e-mail at
s-camden@northwestern.edu
The address for Northwestern University
Center for Public Safety is:
1801 Maple Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60208
Off-campus SPSC courses use a variety of
formats (e.g., 10-weeks straight; 5 weeks on, one or two weeks off, 5
weeks on; or two weeks a month for five months). Although some programs
have used a format of one week a month for ten months, this is not
recommended.
Costs are based on the tuition rate in
effect at the time a proposal is sent to the Host Agency. This locks in
a fixed price even if there is a tuition increase before the beginning
of the course.
The next step is to canvas law enforcement agencies in the
region to assess their interest in sending students to the course. If there
is sufficient interest, the Host Agency should contact the Center for Public
Safety and ask for a proposed Agreement to be sent.
2. Is there a contract between the Host
Agency and the Center for Public Safety?
The Host Agency will receive an agreement
between the Host Agency and the Center for Public Safety. The agreement
describes the responsibilities of each party and the cost of the program. If
this agreement is acceptable to the Host Agency, two copies should be signed
and returned to the Center for Public Safety. The Center will return a fully
executed copy for the Host Agency's records.
On occasion, Host Agencies have drawn up their own
agreements. Such alternatives are acceptable to the Center for Public Safety
if approved by the legal office of the University.
3. If my agency hosts an SPSC program,
what is the total dollar amount that my agency will owe the Center for Public
Safety?
The total cost to the Host Agency is determined by
multiplying the per student tuition by the number of paying students. For
example, if the tuition is $3,700 per student and there are 35 paying
students in the class, the Center for Public Safety expects a payment of
$129,500 from the Host Agency. This payment constitutes the total financial
obligation of the Host Agency and includes the cost of materials, books,
instructor fees, graduation expenses, and all expenses for faculty travel
and lodging. The total number of paying students is based on the number of
students enrolled at the beginning of the second week of the course.
4. When is payment due to the Center for
Public Safety?
One invoice is sent to the Host Agency by the Center for
Public Safety at the completion of the program. Alternative payment
schedules can be arranged in consultation with the Center for Public Safety.
5. In addition to the cost based on
tuition, what other costs will the Host Agency incur?
Other than the cost-based on tuition, the
Host Agency is not responsible to the Center for Public Safety for any other
costs. However, the Host Agency is expected to provide the following
administrative support both before and during the course:
- Advertise the SPSC course in the region to make law
enforcement agencies aware of the location, dates, cost, and student
qualifications to attend the course
- Register students and provide written information
about the course dates, location, and accommodations
- Provide a suitable classroom at no additional cost to
the Center for Public Safety
- Assign a Contact Person at the training site to
assist instructors during the course
- Collect the tuition from each agency represented in
the class for payment to the Center for Public Safety
- Assist in registering guests at the graduation
luncheon
6. How does the Host Agency recover the
cost of advertising, providing space for the training, and administrative
support for the course?
The Host Agency can receive up to four free seats
depending on the number of paying students in the class. The free seats can
be used for Host Agency personnel or can be sold to other agencies. In
addition, the Host Agency may add an administrative fee to the student
tuition so long as the administrative fee and student tuition are clearly
identified in materials distributed by the Host Agency to advertise the
course.
7. Is a tuition refund given if a student
withdraws from the course?
Yes, a tuition refund is given based on how many weeks the student has
completed.
|
Student |
Refund |
| Withdraws During
Week |
Percent Tuition |
| 1 |
100 |
| 2 |
80 |
| 3 |
40 |
| 4-10 |
0 |
Students who withdraw
during the first week of the course are required to return all course materials.
8. How soon should the Host Agency begin
advertising?
The Host Agency should begin advertising for the course at
least nine months before the scheduled beginning of the SPSC course,
preferably one year in advance. The long lead-time is needed for departments
to include funding for the course in their budgets.
9. What are the most effective ways to
advertise the course?
The two most effective advertising strategies are to mail
information to chiefs and training directors, and to speak about the program
at chiefs meetings in the region. To be effective, however, both strategies
must be implemented at least 9-12 months before the start of the course.
10. How can CPS help with the advertising?
The Center for Public Safety can provide brochures and
examples of course announcements. Upon request, the Center for Public Safety
may send individuals to speak about the SPSC at chiefs meetings in the area.
Additionally, at the point where a contract is agreed to, the Center can
list the course on our Web site which provides a broader exposure to the
course offering. The hosting agency can also use their Web site to make
announcements or even e-mail to send announcements to a variety of agencies
in the local and surrounding areas.
11. What if the Host Agency does not receive enough
applications?
Approximately 60 days before the scheduled start of the
course, the Center for Public Safety and the Host Agency will review the
enrollment and determine whether there will be a sufficient number of paying
students. The Host Agency can decide at that time to cancel the course with
no financial obligation to the Center for Public Safety.
12. Who can attend the SPSC?
The SPSC is a university-based education program
intended for mid- and upper-level management personnel. The SPSC is not
appropriate for entry-level officers, deputies, or troopers. It is expected that
SPSC students will:
- Have at least two years of
supervisory experience
- Be prepared to complete upper-division (i.e., junior
and senior-level) university course work
Upper-division university course work
presumes that a student has the following skills:
- Can write one to two 5-8 page staff studies/research
papers
- Can perform arithmetic operations and understand
elementary algebraic notation
- Can read, comprehend, and retain assigned materials
in textbooks, professional journals, trade magazines, and other sources
- Can schedule time to complete out-of-class reading
and writing assignments
13. What is the ideal class composition?
A valuable part of the SPSC experience is the interaction
students have with officers from other agencies. To maximize that benefit,
the Center for Public Safety recommends that no more than half of the
students in the class be from the same agency.
14. What
kinds of agencies send students to the SPSC?
SPSC classes have had students from the
following kinds of agencies:
- Airport police
- Bureau of Indian Affairs agents
- Federal Protective Service officers
- Field and wildlife police
- Fire departments
- Fish and game police
- Hospital security police
- Housing security police
- Inspector General's office agents
- Park police
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- Military police
- Municipal police departments
- Sheriffs departments
- State highway patrol departments
- State patrol departments
- State police agencies
- State protective service agencies
- Tribal police
- University police
- Water conservation agents
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15. What is the maximum class size?
The maximum class size is 45 students including both
tuition students and free seats for the Host Agency.
16. What is the minimum class size?
There is no minimum class size but there is a minimum
program cost based on 34 paying students. If there are 34 paying student
enrolled in the class, the Host Agency receives one free seat. Additional
free seats are available for the Host Agency as the total number of paying
students increases.
17. What is
a suitable classroom for the SPSC?
Although it is not possible to define precise
standards, there is agreement among educators about the elements of the
physical environment needed for effective learning. The most important
elements include the following:
- General spaciousness and shape of the room
.
Is there adequate space for each student (i.e., enough desk space and
enough room between students to leave the room without disrupting
others)? Is there enough room in the front of the room for the
instructor to teach effectively? Can every student easily see and hear
the instructor? (A room that is sufficient for a one or two-day seminar
may not be adequate for a ten-week program).
- Internet accessibility in the classroom for all
students.
- Adequate electrical sources for all students to plug
in laptop computers.
- Adequate and adjustable lighting in the room
.
Is the room bright enough when needed and can the lights be dimmed for
film and video presentations?
- General noise level
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Can every student easily hear the instructor? Is it possible to minimize
outside noise by closing windows and doors?
- Adjustable heating/cooling
. Can the heating and
cooling be adjusted as needed?
In addition, the room should have a table in the front for
use by the instructor, an overhead projector, a projection device suitable
for PowerPoint presentations, and a screen large enough to be seen from the
back of the room, a VCR and one or more monitors that can be seen by every
student, a personal computer or laptop, sufficient board space with a supply
of chalk or markers, and an easel with newsprint and markers.
18. What
does the Contact Person do during the course?
During the course, the Contact Person is
expected to provide, as needed, the following support:
- Assist the Center for Public Safety staff with
classroom setup on the day before the first day of class
- Arrange to have extra course materials returned to
the Center for Public Safety after the first week of class at no
additional cost to the Host Agency
- Distribute grade sheets to the students
- Receive and hold other materials for instructors
- Inform the Course Director of student requests
- Assist instructors with small copying requests
- Mail student reports, exams, and other material to
the Center for Public Safety (prepaid mailing materials are provided)
- Monitor exams when a Center for Public Safety
instructor is not available (this only occurs if an instructor,
scheduled to monitor an exam, is delayed in arriving at the training
site)
- Monitor exams for students who have missed a
regularly scheduled examination
19. Can the
Contact Person be a member of the class?
Since the Contact Person is asked to handle exams used in
the course, the Contact Person cannot be a member of the class.
20. How can I get additional information about the SPSC?
For additional information, contact:
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Shelly Camden (847) 467-0893
Director (800) 323-4011
Management Training Division
s-camden@northwestern.edu
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Or
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Cameron "Ron" Fisher (847) 491-2650
Deputy Director (800) 323-4011
Center for Public Safety
c-fisher@northwestern.edu
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Or, visit the Center for Public Safety Web site:
nucps.northwestern.edu
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