A simpler way to advance

ALL IN THE DETAILS: New England Institute of Technology students, from left, Ray Angell, Shaun Mactavious, Courtney Beauchamp and Mikayla Guarino, learn how to process a crime scene as part of the school's criminal justice degree program. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY
ALL IN THE DETAILS: New England Institute of Technology students, from left, Ray Angell, Shaun Mactavious, Courtney Beauchamp and Mikayla Guarino, learn how to process a crime scene as part of the school's criminal justice degree program. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

EDUCATION

Many full-time employees find it tricky to pursue their education while also balancing the demands of work, family and other obligations. The New England Institute of Technology aims to make it easier for Rhode Island’s public-safety professionals.

New England Tech launched the Criminal Justice for Working Professionals program in 2015 with the goal of providing public safety, security, military, corrections and law enforcement workers with a pathway to earn bachelor’s degrees. The program offers classes both online and in the classroom, and allows students to use professional or life experiences to fulfill some curriculum requirements.

The convenience aspect is all by design.

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“The program was structured to provide a more flexible balance between work responsibilities and school while handling the demands of other personal obligations,” said Douglas Sherman, senior vice president and provost of New England Tech.

The program features 10-week courses and four academic terms per year. The first cohort of the Criminal Justice for Working Professionals Program will graduate in 2017, and since the program launched in 2015, it has nearly doubled in size, Sherman said.

Students enrolled in the program come from a variety of Rhode Island’s public-safety organizations, from local police departments, Brown University’s Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Department of Treasury and the U.S. Army.

The education often equals advancement.

“I am in my 25th year at the Woonsocket Police Department, and have advanced in my career as far as I can without furthering my education,” said Capt. Todd Boisvert, the department’s operations commander, in a testimonial. “Until now, I never truly found going back to school to be a good fit when trying to juggle work, family and the everyday things that life throws at someone.”

Boisvert is one of 24 Woonsocket police officers currently enrolled in the program.

CollegeChoice ranked New England Tech’s online criminal justice program as No. 7 in the Top 50 in the nation in 2016. •

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