Long Island Business Institute Launches Homeland Security Program

The Homeland Security Associates Degree program at the Long Island Business Institute (LIBI) is accepting applications to fill their first 25-member class and will include training for managing a homeland security team and issue.

According to James Foster, director of enrollment, the course will be taught by retired army Maj. Gen. Richard S. Colt, who created the 61-credit degree program exclusively for LIBI. The first semester began at the Flushing, N.Y. campus in June.

The program costs between $26,000 and $27,000 Foster said. It includes classes related to criminal justice, security management, and customer service management.

Foster said this particular program focuses on the managing aspects – this is not a program for homeland security officers at the airport.

While they have not determined exactly what agencies graduates of this program will work with, Foster said students are assisted with career services at the end of the programs and anticipates that students would go into a law enforcement position or personal security company.

Known for court reporting degrees, this accredited independent college offers day and night classes as part of a continuing education program. Foster said he notes many students with 4-year degrees returning to the programs, particularly with court reporting, because they are looking for a specific skill they did not obtain during their undergraduate education. He said this change has increased since the recession began.

For over 40 years the center in Commack Corners has taught court reporters to "beat 225." That statement refers to the words per minute minimum for certified court reporters. The school will not certify a student unless they can reach that number. Foster said students interested in this program need to anticipate 2 hours per day practicing outside of class as moving through courses include speed requirements.

"Sometimes students jump from court reporting one to court reporting three, but it doesn't always happen. Students need to beat the speed at every level in order to continue," Foster said. If students cannot achieve the necessary speed, they need to take the course again.

The writers, machines created by Stenograph and used nationally, are rented from the school during training. Machines can be purchased online via the website or on eBay. The machines must be computer compatible as a program – called Real Time – is used to allow the stenography, the language of the writers, to be read as real text, on a computer simultaneously.

This investment can range anywhere from over $4,000 to $800-900 on eBay.

The 65-credit Associate's Degree in Court Reporting includes four general education requirements, while the 54-credit certification program does not. These programs also enable a student to become a broadcast captioner for live television programs to give assistance for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers as well as a court reporter, one who takes the minutes of a court proceeding or other legal meeting.

Semesters at the center begin in February, June and October, with registration at least two weeks before the start of classes. Foster said there is an open house Saturday at 10 a.m. and requested that students call to reserve their seats.