Grand rapids community college (GRCC) will purchase public safety training equipment for the purpose of providing students with experiential learning opportunities that prepare them with the tacit…

This $1,000,000 Project Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Congressionally Recommended Awards program (CFDA 16.753) will enable Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) to purchase public safety training equipment. The primary objectives are to provide GRCC's criminal justice and police/corrections academy students with experiential learning opportunities that develop the tacit knowledge and skills required for high-performance in public safety occupations. By integrating the training equipment into existing curricula, GRCC aims to enhance student preparation and produce graduates who are fully equipped to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system upon entering the workforce. The 3-year project (July 2024 - June 2027) will primarily serve students in Kent County, Michigan and surrounding areas, as well as the communities they will serve after graduation.

Grand rapids community college (GRCC) will purchase public safety training equipment for the purpose of providing students with experiential learning opportunities that prepare them with the tacit knowledge and skills to perform at a high level in public safety occupations and ensure graduates have the skills to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system. The projects primary activities will include purchasing equipment and integrating its use into existing curricula to facilitate experiences for the most critical aspects of public safety training. The equipment, when integrated as a part of training experiences, will help students to learn and practice specific skills with a sense of realism and to build confidence in performing the job duties. In addition to integrating the equipment into existing curricula, the expected outcome will be training programs that produce students who are fully prepared to enter public safety professions upon graduation. The primary service area is kent county, michigan and surrounding urban and rural areas in ottawa, allegan, barry, ionia, muskegon, and montcalm counties. The intended beneficiaries of the project are community college students enrolled in grccs criminal justice majors and the GRCC police and corrections academy, as well as the communities they will serve upon graduation and entry to the workforce.