The Lone Star College East Aldine Center campus is close to becoming the home of a new law enforcement training academy.
Stephen C. Head, chancellor of the Lone Star College System, said the new campus’ location in the East Aldine Town Center, across the street from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office 911 Call Center, makes it “a strong contender” to host an academy.
An advisory committee recently toured the Center and was “very impressed” with the facility, Head said.
The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, created by the Texas Legislature in 1965, is responsible for approving and regulating the training and licensing of law enforcement officers in the state.
“They were very pleased with what they saw. We think we’re going to be approved,” Head said. “It’s not official yet, but we think we are going to be approved.”
Academy training puts graduates on the path to become peace officers, or fill related roles, at law enforcement agencies such as the Sheriff’s Office, constables’ office and city police departments.
Head has been working “for years” with the East Aldine Management District and the Sheriff’s Office to add law enforcement training classes to the LSC system, which serves 93,000 students at campuses in the northern Houston region.
As for picking East Aldine as the anchor for the academy, Head said, “We’re really talking about building even more strength into the East Aldine community.”
At least for the next few years, Lone Star College System students may find it easier to find funds to pay for their education no matter what the course subjects.
Close to $90 million from federal stimulus funds from the COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts will be available to qualified LSC students through the 2023 academic year, Head said.
More than 4,000 students have already received such funds to pay back about $2.5 million in debts to the LSC system.
But, Head stressed that students should first apply for Pell grants to maximize the amount of federal aid they can get to pay for college and training classes.
Under federal guidelines for the stimulus funds, Head said students must “explain to us what they’re needing the money for. You have to have a need, but explain it to us in writing,” Head said.
Students who lost work during the pandemic, or who had children at home due to school closures are good examples, he explained.
“We really want to get this money out to our students, or we lose it,” Head explained.
Students should contact the financial aid office at their home campus or apply for Pell grants online at LoneStar.edu/Financial Aid.
Registration for Lone Star’s spring semester started Oct. 11. Classes for the spring semester begin Jan. 18. Students enrolling at LSC for the first time should visit LoneStar.edu/admissions.
LSC consists of seven colleges, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC Online.
— by Anne Marie Kilday
