MEMORANDUM

TO: &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Prospective Police Academy Applicant

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Summer 2007

FROM: = ; Larry D. Nichols, Academy Training Coordinator

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; South Plains College

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; 1401 College Ave. – Box 1= 4 &= nbsp; (806) 894-9611 Ext. 2291 or 2342

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Levelland, Texas 79336 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; lnichols@spc.cc.tx.us

DATE: = ; September 11, 2006

SUBJECT: &n= bsp; Basic Police Academy—Summe= r Day 2007

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Information Notice

Thank you for your inquiry and interest in the South<= b> Plains College Basic Police Academy. I am proud to report that graduate= s from our academy have great success both on passing the examination to become a Texas Police Officer and obtaining employment following graduation... This required hard work and dilige= nce to achieve this high level of success. The next SPC Summer Police Academy is schedule= d to begin May 2, 2007 and will complete the course of study on August 17, 2007.= PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS MAY MAKE APPLICATION TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE NEXT ACADEMY ON OR AFTER JANUARY 22, 2007; BUT NOT LATER THAN APRIL 19, 2007.

This letter is to provide you with information concern= ing proper procedures to make application for next summer’s police academy. The summer academy is demanding on both time and effort. The academy meets from 7:00 AM in the morning until 6:00 PM in the evening five days a week. Students will also be required to attend some Saturday meetings during the summer to complete course competencies. Because of the demanding schedule = and time commitment, outside work is discouraged while attending the SPC Academy. Following the sixteen-week p= olice academy, students will be scheduled to take the state license examination t= hat is an employment requirement for law enforcement agencies. Please note that academy graduates= are not law enforcement officers until employed by a law enforcement agency.

Pre-Registrat= ion is required prior to April 19, 2007. Please begin the enrollment process as soon as possible. The total process will take several weeks (possibly a month) to complete; therefore time is of the essence.

You will first need to make an appointme= nt to take the Academy Entrance Test. To make an appointment, contact Ms. Patsy Garner, Department Secretary, Room 102, Law Enforcement Building, Levelland campus (806-894-9611, Ext. 2291) or E-mail at: pgarner@southplainscollege.edu. The test will take abo= ut one hour to complete. A passing score of 72% or better is required to continue = the application process. The examination covers reading and related comprehension skills as well as a sh= ort biographical essay.

You will meet with the academy coordinator to determin= e your eligibility requirements. If = you are successful at this level and are initially approved by the coordinator,= we require a non-refundable $50 application fee at this time. You will complete a request = for verification of eligibility in our office that will be processed through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement who will complete a state and federal background check. A favorable return on this verification check is mandatory before you may be admitted to the academy.

Upon verification of your TCIC/NCIC background check, = you will receive an Academy Application. You must also make an application to be admitted to South Plains College through the Admissions Office (admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the academy). &nbs= p; Included in the academy application are requirements to furnish the academy: a copy of your birth certificate or birth record; a copy of you DD Form 214 if you have had prior military; a copy of your Drivers License, and all official transcripts from prior educational institutions.

In addition, the following criteria apply to academy admission as mandated by TCLEOSE Rules 215.15 and 217.1, which includes:

You have a Class B misdemeanor conviction in the last ten years or community-supervision or parole in the last ten years for such an offense; or
You have a Class A or Felony conviction or have ever been on community-ba= sed supervision or parole even if an offense was held as “deferred adjudication.”

(Note: Developmental courses do not = count toward the 12-hours of college level required courses.)

Additional college application information is availabl= e on the South Plains College Web page at:

&nbs= p; http://www.sou= thplainscollege.edu/website/home.php3

Once TCLEOSE verification of eligibility has been comp= leted, Ms. Patsy Garner, Departmental Secretary, will contact you regarding any additional data needed and/or to schedule a follow-up appointment with the Academy Coordinator if required.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> After I review your application for admission and assure that all items have been completed, I will assess eligibility to enter the Academy and inform you of the results in a timely manner. Please understand tha= t the total process may take several weeks to complete all requirements and docum= ent your eligibility assessment.

If you are eligible for financial aid, you must make application through our Financial Aid Office on the Levelland Campus; t= his office is located in the = Student Assistance Center near the Registrar’s Office. You should begin this process as soon as possible; delay in applying= may result in awards being delay or denied.&nb= sp; Applications must be made prior to March 1, 2007 for the summer semester!! While you = may contact a college representative at college Ext. 2410 for information, experience has shown that interested persons have greater success by contac= ting this office IN PERSON (if possible) as soon as possible. SPECIAL NOTE: The U.S. Department of Education requires that all first-time borrowers must wait thirty (30) days before the first loan disbursement. Therefore, you may need to plan for a delay before your receive any financial assistance!

Students that successfully complete the academy will r= eceive 24-hours of college credit on their transcript (20-hours academy and 4-hour= s PE credit). The tuition and fee schedule for in-district students is $1550; out-of-distric= t students is $2078; and out-of state tuition is $246= 2. Books and supplies are approximate= ly $150. (Note: These approximate costs are subject to change should the Board of Regents change the fee schedule.) There are no insta= llment payments and all tuition and fees are payable on or before the first day of instruction. A formal stateme= nt will be provided to you or you may check your account status on “Camp= us Connect,” which is a link on the SPC Website.

Individuals who need room accommodations during the su= mmer months may contact the SPC Student Housing Office to make inquiries and application. The phone number= is (806) 894-9611, Ext. 2379. Ba= sed on summer 2006, the approximate cost of a Smallwood Apartment space is $600; t= here is also a refundable $100 security deposit. Special Note: Because the acade= my will begin before the end of the spring 2007 semester, students seeking col= lege housing may need to make alternate arrangements for about two weeks until housing becomes available; in addition, there may be a need to arrange for housing accommodations during the last week of the academy because the coll= ege needs to begin arranging for the fall college semester.

The Academy is a 16-week course of study involving 618= hours of academy work and approximately 192 hours of physical fitness activities. Academy students = will have the opportunity to utilize the college Physical Fitness Center on the colle= ge campus. In addition to academ= ic studies, academy students will receive instruction in handgun qualification, behind-the-wheel driving training, mechanics of arrest and other hands-on activities. Students ar= e NOT required to have a handgun nor a vehicle for these courses of instruction.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Equipment and ammunition for qualification are provided in the fees paid for the course of study.

Again, thank you for your inquiry. I hope this information will assis= t you in making good decisions and plans for next summer’s Police Academy. Should you need additional assista= nce and/or information, please contact me; my E-Mail address is: lnichols@spc.cc.tx.us or call me at (806) 894-9611, Ext. 2291 or 2342.

Sincerely Yours:

LARRY D. NICHOLS