Notre Dame College President J. Michael Pressimone, and Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) President Dr. Alex Johnson, met at the Tri-C Western Campus in Parma to officially sign a new partnership between the schools.
They were joined by Clayton Harris, Chief of Police and Vice President and Dean of Tri-C’s Public Safety Center of Excellence; Jamie Tavano, Public Safety Director for Law Enforcement at Tri-C; and Florentine Hoelker, Dean of Online and Graduate Programs at Notre Dame College.
The partnership will provide students the most comprehensive education offered by a single program in Ohio to become an Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC)-certified police officer.
Notre Dame College has an established, four-year criminal justice degree that prepares undergraduates for careers in law enforcement, corrections, and homeland security, as well as victim advocacy and court positions. The Tri-C Peace Officer Basic Training (POBT) Academy offers rigorous, practical hands-on training, as well as familiarity with de-escalation techniques and procedural justice.
“It’s historic for many reasons,” says Chief Harris, “but one thing that is really important, and that everybody understands, is that a better-educated officer will be more advantageous for our communities. This work allows that to happen.”
The combined program marks a huge step forward in collaboration between the colleges. Notre Dame students will benefit from Tri-C’s brand new state-of-the-art training facility. The only one of its kind in Ohio, it features an on-campus gun range and Simulated Scenario Village.
“For me, this is an important part of our institution’s investment in the community. Tri-C and Notre Dame College are important partners in creating a better life in Greater Cleveland and beyond,” President Pressimone commented, after the ceremonial signing and a tour of the Keybank Public Safety Center.
“This is a tremendous partnership for both colleges, but even more so, a tremendous partnership for the people of Northeast Ohio,” President Johnson commented. “Tri-C and Notre Dame are now working together to more intentionally ensure a high level of safety and public service, graduating trained and community-minded officers.”
This initiative will help incoming students the most, not only preparing them for day-to-day duty but also providing a comprehensive understanding of policing issues in the 21st century. Chief Harris points out that graduates will be preferred candidates for the jobs they are seeking and eligible for higher-paying positions. To learn more about the program or facilities, contact admissions@ndc.edu or nancy.nekoranec@tri-c.edu.
May 2021
About Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College is a private, Catholic, liberal arts college in South Euclid, Ohio committed to teaching students how to make a good living and live a good life. Founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1922, the College offers bachelor’s degrees in 30 disciplines plus a variety of master’s degrees, certification programs, and continuing and professional development programs for adult learners on campus and online. For more information, visit NotreDameCollege.edu.
About Cuyahoga Community College
Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) opened in 1963 as Ohio’s first community college. It remains Ohio’s largest public community college with the lowest tuition in the state. Over the past half-century, Tri-C has provided high-quality, affordable education and programs to more than 1 million community members, fueling economic growth and meeting workforce needs in Northeast Ohio. The College is among the top institutions in the nation in conferring associate degrees. Visit tri-c.edu to see why Tri-C is where futures begin.