SECLA Funding Change with Session Eight
Over the past year, the Law Enforcement Innovation Center (LEIC) has searched for new funding sources to support the Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy (SECLA) program. As you may know, the original Bureau of Justice Assistance funding established in 2000 will expire in January 2008 and no additional BJA funding will be forthcoming. As with all federal funding projects, each one has a start date and an end date and the LEIC was able to deliver seven separate sessions of SECLA. The success of the program is evident in the feedback we received from our graduates. A recent survey of the 141 SECLA graduates (and several law enforcement executives) indicated a sincere interest for the training academy to continue.
Last May, the LEIC and the Presidents of TACP, at that time John Lowry and now Kim Wallace, approached Ms. Pat Dishman and the Office of Criminal Justice Programs for the State of Tennessee. We initiated discussions on SECLA and the possibility of utilizing state funding to continue the program, and we recently received good news from Ms. Dishman’s office. The State has agreed to partially fund SECLA during the next session that begins in July 2008. The University of Tennessee will provide a 25% cash match that will supplement the state funding. Tuition will make up the reminder of the funds necessary to continue.
You will notice an increase in both in-state and out-of-state tuition as well as an increase in the commuter rate. These increases mark the first time tuition has been raised since SECLA began six years ago.
I sincerely hope that you will continue to support this vital law enforcement executive training program. The University of Tennessee LEIC as well as our SECLA partner, the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, is committed to providing law enforcement with the very best training programs and innovative solutions that meet your needs.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact the SECLA Program Manager, Mike Hill, email: mike.hill@tennessee.edu or telephone (865) 946-3222.
Sincerely,
Daniel L. Baker, Executive Director
Law Enforcement Innovation Center