MACON, Ga. — Mercer University’s College of Professional Advancement and the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) have formalized a partnership to expand collaboration, training, and educational opportunities by providing tuition benefits to eligible public safety personnel and first responders across Georgia.
According to the agreement, signed Feb. 10, a 25% tuition benefit is available to current, active first responders, including:
- law enforcement personnel (police officers, sheriffs, deputies, federal and state law enforcement agents)
- fire protection personnel (career and volunteer firefighters)
- emergency medical services personnel (paramedics, EMTs, licensed pre-hospital emergency care providers)
- and public safety dispatchers and 911 operators
“The signing represents our commitment to partnering with the Georgia Public Safety Training Center to sustain existing and grow new educational opportunities for the state’s public safety first responders,” said Dr. Priscilla R. Danheiser, dean of the College of Professional Advancement. “I am excited about increasing accessibility and awareness of Mercer’s academic programs among the public safety workforce. We are proud to connect with this leading training facility that is so critical to our state and the welfare of its citizens.”
GPSTC is the state’s premier training facility for all state and local public safety-related units of government, including police officers, firefighters, communications officers, coroners, emergency management officers, rescue officers, jail officers and other emergency service personnel.
“The partnership between the Georgia Public Safety Training Center and Mercer University combines premier competency-based public safety training with academic excellence to expand leadership development, innovation and workforce advancement opportunities for Georgia’s public safety professionals,” said GPSTC Deputy Director Cheryl Greathouse.
Established in 1980, GPSTC has been training the public safety community longer than any other institution in Georgia, and the training center’s reach goes beyond the state to the nation and internationally.
Feature image: (front row) GPSTC Bureau Training Director Ike McConnell, GPSTC Deputy Director Cheryl Greathouse, Mercer University President Dr. Penny L. Elkins, Mercer University Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Lisa Murphey Lundquist, Mercer College of Professional Advancement Dean Dr. Priscilla R. Danheiser, (back row) Mercer College of Professional Advancement Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Healthcare Leadership Dr. Kevin Williams, Mercer Police Deputy Chief Jeremy Robinson, Mercer College of Professional Advancement Associate Dean Dr. Gail Johnson, Mercer University Presidential Fellow Chloe Paulk, Mercer College of Professional Advancement Leadership Studies Chair Dr. Lynn Clemons, Mercer University Presidential Fellow Harris Wallace, Mercer College of Professional Advancement Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives Dr. Loleta Sartin; Mercer Police Chief Haley Beckham; Mercer College of Professional Advancement Professor Dr. Lynn Tankersley; Mercer Athletic Director Jim Cole; and Mercer Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management Theo Anderson. Photo by Jessica Gratigny
