NWFSC Ranks Among the Top 10 Safest Colleges in Florida
Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) has ranked among the top 10 safest college campuses in Florida, according to Niche.com. The rankings for campus safety were established after evaluating campus and community crime rates, rates of violent crimes, and student surveys on crime. NWFSC ranked number 10 out of the 48 colleges and universities evaluated in 2022. NWFSC Executive Director of Campus Safety and Security, Chief Aaron Murray, explained that the College’s investment in officer training and development has contributed significantly to its current ranking. “In the last four years, we have developed a robust response capability and built great relationships with other public safety agencies in our region,” Chief Murray said. “We have added several technologies and installed additional cameras that vastly improve our ability to monitor situations and respond. We have also actively worked with multiple departments throughout the College on emergency response training, including bleed control, active shooter responses, firearms safety, self-defense, and rape aggression defense training.”
Among the newly incorporated technologies are the Unmanned Aerial Systems. Last month, the college was recognized as one of 10 colleges in the United States to have implemented security drones to improve campus safety, and it is the first in the region to implement a four-member team that can respond to any campus location and launch an aircraft to assist with emergency responses.
The college has also implemented a FLIR SkyWatch Mobile Surveillance and Deterrence Tower, courtesy of Florida State University, which allows officers to have a bird’s eye view of outdoor events and identify security issues within a crowd; and the Raider Connect app, which turns cell phones into mobile alert devices. Once the Raider Connect app is activated, campus police officers and the emergency communications center are alerted for an immediate response. The app also provides users access to campus maps, emergency response plans, notifications, and safety training links.
For more information on NWFSC’s Police Department, please contact Chief Aaron Murray at murraya8@nwfsc.edu or 850-729-6888.
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and OCSD Partner for Health Academy
The two entities have together launched the Health Academy of Northwest Florida, a program of the Career and Technical Education Department of Okaloosa County School District (OCSD), which provides high school juniors and seniors interested in healthcare careers the opportunity to earn industry certifications. Housed on the campus of HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, the first course offers a two-year Practical Nursing program. Students enrolled will learn the foundational principles of basic nursing and medical skills needed. Students at Choctawhatchee High School, Fort Walton Beach High School and Niceville High School are eligible to participate and will receive hands-on clinical training at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital during their senior year. Upon completion of the two-year program, students will be eligible to earn a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and/or Electrocardiogram Technician (EKG) certification, with skills needed to directly enter the workforce. Juniors who complete the program can apply for dual enrollment in the LPN program at Okaloosa Technical College during their senior year, and get a head start on earning their required course hours toward an LPN license. Students who successfully complete the program will have job placement opportunities throughout HCA Florida Healthcare and, if employed by an HCA Florida Healthcare facility, can receive tuition reimbursement if wishing to continue on their education path. It kicks off this month, utilizing classroom space at Okaloosa Technical College until construction at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is completed.
