Hill College Police Academy to offer spring program at Johnson County Campus

  Jessyca Brown
  Friday, December 4, 2020 8:41 AM
  Academics

Hillsboro, TX

CLEBURNE, TX—The Hill College Police Academy will offer its Basic Peace Officer program for the first time at the Johnson County Campus during the 2021 spring semester and May mini-mester, giving students in the Johnson County area convenient access to the program.

The program prepares students for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement’s (TCOLE) Texas Peace Officer state licensing exam, as well as provides engaging hands-on training to acquaint students with the rigors of police work.

“We are glad we are able to extend our academy offerings to our campus in Cleburne,” said Hill College Police Academy Coordinator Mike Hughes. “Our program is a balance of high-quality classroom instruction and hands-on skills training. We have world-class instructors from federal and local law enforcement agencies who work with us to prepare graduates to excel in the police profession.”

Hill College’s police academy is only one of a few within 30 or 40 miles of Cleburne, and Hill College Vice President of Instruction Dr. Kerry Schindler said it’s a great opportunity for all—the Johnson County community, local law enforcement agencies, and Hill College.

“Any time we can extend public service course offerings to our other locations, especially for those programs experiencing workforce shortages, we will,” said Schindler. “Our Johnson County citizens now have the ability to get the training they need to become a licensed peace officer closer to home and won’t have to drive 40 miles to find a quality program. This contributes to our efforts of developing a pipeline of homegrown police officers for our Hill College service area.”

Registration for the spring 2021 semester is now open for current and new students, and classes begin Jan. 19, 2021. Students interested in serving in law enforcement can learn more about the academy and formally apply at http://www.hillcollege.edu/policeacademy. Hughes said firearms qualifications and defensive tactics will still occur at the Hill County Campus in Hillsboro.

While applying to the police academy program specifically has additional requirements such as a background check, psychological evaluation, fingerprinting, and physical exam, Schindler said applying for admission to Hill College is a relatively quick process for new students.

“Applying for admission at Hill College is simpler than it is at a four-year university,” he said. “A new student can quickly get admitted and enrolled in courses for the spring. Our great folks in our admissions and advising departments can help students figure out what they need to apply even if they aren’t sure where to begin.”

To accommodate students of all lifestyles and backgrounds, and due to various pandemic restrictions and concerns, Hill College is continuing to offer flexible options for students through course delivery methods and schedules.

The spring semester currently includes a listing of 250 online and 112 hybrid (face-to-face and online) courses in addition to traditional face-to-face courses offered at all Hill College locations in both academic and technical programs. Schindler said he hopes the flexible options encourage students to enroll this spring.

“We are all learning how to coexist with this pandemic and trying to move our lives forward,” he said. “If you had plans to attend university or college, Hill College has the options that fit the needs of every student. Our advisors will work with you to create a plan and schedule that works best for you. We understand you must go forward with your life at your own pace and with what’s comfortable for you. When you’re ready to take the next step, we want you to know that you will be safe and well taken care of at Hill College.”

New students interested in registering for the spring semester must submit official transcripts with their admission application, which they can learn more about online at www.hillcollege.edu or by contacting the admissions staff at admissions@hillcollege.edu or 254-659-7600.

Current students who have already met the mandatory advisement requirement for the spring term can add classes online in their MyRebel account and should contact their pathway advisor if they experience errors when trying to register. To contact a pathway advisor, visit https://www.hillcollege.edu/Student/Advising/ and choose a pathway under the “Who is My Pathway Advisor?” section.

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