Berkeley College Students Complete Course with NJ Police Community Affairs Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 5, 2022
Contact: Kelly Depsee
Senior Director, Communications and External Relations
973-200-1099
KME@BerkeleyCollege.edu
BERKELEY COLLEGE STUDENTS COMPLETE COURSE
WITH NJ POLICE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ASSOCIATION
AS THEY PREPARE FOR SUCCESSFUL
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LEGAL CAREERS

Berkeley Law 


Share the News:
@BerkeleyCollege @ECPONJ1 #NewsBerkeley    

Berkeley College students pursuing careers in law enforcement and legal fields recently completed a Law Enforcement Career Development Course with the NJ Police Community Affairs Officers Association. The five-week course, held in collaboration with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office at the Essex County Government Complex in Newark, NJ, seeks to prepare students as they transition to law enforcement careers. More than 60 New Jersey college students participated in the program in October and November 2022. 

“The program gives students the skills to overcome frequently encountered pitfalls in gaining law enforcement employment,” said William Schievella, Program Director, NJ Police Community Affairs Officers Association. “Some of the areas covered in the course are preparing physically for the police academy, the importance of financial independence, successful passing a pre-employment background investigation, and an overview of nontraditional law enforcement opportunities.” 

Schievella said graduates of the course have gone on to work with the New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, police departments, and many other agencies. 

“Berkeley College students took the opportunity seriously and were amazing participants in the program,” Schievella added. 

Katherine Seferin, a Berkeley College student from Paterson, NJ, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies – Criminal Justice and hopes to be a criminal investigator. 

“This program helped me build confidence and prepared me for a real job interview,” Seferin said. “The program helped me progress toward my career goals, knowing there are so many positions in the justice field where I can apply in the future.” 

“I am very appreciative of the partnership with Berkeley College to further provide students with real-life information on diverse careers in law enforcement,” said Nicole Graves-Watson, Community Relations Specialist, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.  

Ihor Andruch, Assistant Director, Career Services, Berkeley College, said the program provided a critical opportunity for networking and mentorship. 

“Students had the opportunity to network with professionals from various local and state agencies, which serves as a springboard to help them launch and advance in their careers,” Andruch said. “This was a great program that students can now add to their resume as professional development.”

Berkeley College student Manuela Hernandez of Cedar Grove, NJ, will graduate in fall 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies – Criminal Justice. 

“The program helped me narrow down my career goals and provided me with very valuable information,” said Hernandez, who hopes to work in forensic science as a crime scene investigator.

Berkeley Law 

Photo Captions: (Above) William Schievella, Program Director, NJ Police Community Affairs Officers Association, speaks with New Jersey college students during a Law Enforcement Career Development Course at the Essex County Government Complex in Newark, NJ. (Top) Graduates of the course with their certificates of completion. 

About Berkeley College

Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials.

Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 3,600 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, for nine consecutive years. U.S. News & World Report named Berkeley College (NJ) one of the Best Regional Colleges in the North in its 2023 edition of the Best Colleges Survey. Berkeley College (NJ) was recognized among the Best Colleges in the region for social mobility for three consecutive years. The website address is http://www.BerkeleyCollege.edu.

-end-