INTRODUCTION

The Public Safety Telecommunication program is a 232-hour online and face-to-face program. Content includes ethics;

role of the telecommunicator; standard operating procedures; relationship to field personnel; command levels; message

center layouts; performance aids; overview of emergency agencies; functions and terminology; use of correct words and

grammar; types of communications equipment, functions and terminology; malfunctions and maintenance agreements;

proper, correct telephone and dispatching procedures and techniques; cooperation and reciprocal agreements with other

Upon successful completion of the program requirements, the student is eligible to take the state certification examination

at a state recognized testing center. This may be accomplished via on site testing (future) or off site locations.

Effective October 1, 2012, any person employed as a public safety telecommunicator at a public safety answering point,

as defined s. 401.465(1)(a), F.S. must be certified by the Department of Health.

PROGRAM MISSION

The mission of the Public Safety Telecommunication program is to prepare students for employment as dispatcher for

1. High school diploma or its equivalent or be an eligible career dual-enrolled high school student;

2. Be a citizen of the United States;

3. Be of good moral character;

4. Have not been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to any felony or any misdemeanor involving perjury, false

statement or domestic violence;

5. Have not received a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States;

6. Possess a valid Florida Driver License; and

7. Complete an LTC online application.

Tuition and fees, in the form of cash, check, or money order may be paid on the main campus of LTC or at the Institute of

Public Safety Admissions Office.

ESSENTIAL TRAINING TASKS

Essential skills identified by the Division of Career and Adult Education have been integrated into the standards and

benchmarks of this program. These skills represent the general knowledge and skills considered by industry to be

essential for success in careers across all career clusters. Students preparing for a career served by this program at any

ensure equal access. Postsecondary students with disabilities must self-identify, present documentation, request

accommodations if needed, and develop a plan with their postsecondary provider.

Students desiring accommodations or updates to their accommodations are encouraged to self-identify as early in the

program as possible. In order to receive disability accommodations, students must self-disclose the disability to the

Special Populations Coordinator and provide documentation that clearly shows evidence of a disability and applicable

accommodations. The Special Populations Coordinator will schedule a meeting with the student and faculty to discuss

the documented disability and applicable accommodations.

Accommodations received in postsecondary education may differ from those received in secondary education.

arrange appropriate accommodations. Students are required to give reasonable notice (typically 5 working days) prior to

requesting an accommodation.

TUITION

Tuition is charged to adult students at a rate established by the State legislature. Current fee information is available in the

Admissions Office. Tuition is waived for eligible high school, career dual enrolled students. Tuition is due prior to the first

day of each payment period based on the Lake Technical College payment calendar. Failure to pay fees at the time class

begins will result in not being able to attend class and/or clinical.

Health programs with clinical experiences require liability insurance in conjunction with requirements by the healthcare

facilities. The liability insurance fee is charged to students at the time of enrollment.

The Public Safety Telecommunication program is primarily an online program with face-to-face attendance during the

job/career shadowing activities. Up to 232 hours of online coursework, via the LTC online portal, and up to 48 hours of

job/career shadowing activities in the Law Enforcement, Fire-Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services partner agencies.

Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification must be shown or attained before course completion.

Attendance is tracked through Canvas, virtual meetings, and some face-to-face sessions. Staff enter attendance when

confirmed by the instructor. This allows the school to keep accurate attendance records for the actual number of hours

and minutes attended. Faculty are not expected to manually enter student attendance.

Due to the nature of the program, attendance is critical. Students missing more than 1 day (8 hrs) will be subject to

Students are required to attend all online/class sessions. Should an emergency arise requiring the student’s absence

from any session, the student must inform the instructor prior to the absence or as soon as possible. All missed

A student who finds it necessary to be absent from a job shadow activity MUST notify the instructor 12 hours in advance

of the scheduled activities, except in emergency situations. Any activity missed without proper notification may result in

dismissal.

Tardiness

As in the workplace, students are expected to be on time to scheduled live calls and to job/career shadow assignments.

Policies and guidelines for the administration of all financial aid are established according to federal and state law.

good repair, appropriately sized, and be neither distracting nor offensive. Students are expected to display their valid

student ID, or have on their person when unable to display due to safety in the program, at all times.

The Executive Director or designee has the final authority for determining whether or not a student’s apparel conforms to

the dress code. If it is determined that it does not, students will be required to change into clothing which will conform to

Program Uniform Shirt, and will be required to wear the uniform during the 48 hour job/career shadowing activity portion

shaven. Mustaches are permitted if neatly kept. No growth of facial hair is permitted during clinical and internship

Lake Technical College makes every effort to provide a safe environment for all students, visitors, faculty and staff. Basic

safety standards, which will include fire drills, weather drills, equipment usage, and traffic regulations, will be covered in

the program orientation. These basic safety standards will be reinforced throughout the program enrollment. See the

current school catalog for additional campus safety information.

training time, and ensure that each student thoroughly understands what is required of him/her.

Curriculum: This curriculum meets or exceeds all the requirements for the certification training of 9-1-1

program has no statewide articulation agreement approved by the Florida State Board of Education.

95-100 A

<80 Failing

Lake Technical College is a postsecondary institution designed to provide trained individuals to industry. The grading

scale for this program reflects industry standards. The approved postsecondary program grading requirements must be

met if the student is to receive a certificate.

Students enrolled in the Public Safety Telecommunication Program will safeguard and protect his/her login user ID and

password. Students will not loan, pass out, or divulge his/her issued login credentials to any other individual except a

faculty or the Public Safety Telecommunication Program Coordinator. Violations will be grounds for dismissal from the

2. Grades cannot exceed 100%.

3. “Throwing out” questions:

a. If 35% of the students answer a question incorrectly, the question needs to be reviewed.

b. If after review it is determined that a question needs to be eliminated, then all student grades will be

calculated on the new total number of questions. For example: The test is 50 questions. 3 questions are

determined to be invalid and are eliminated. The new 100% = 47 and the grades will be calculated on 47

 If a test is not taken at the regularly scheduled time, students will lose 10 points off their grade on that test.

Regularly scheduled means the original time and date that a test is scheduled. Students who enter the classroom

after any of the testing students leave the classroom will be considered as missing the regularly scheduled time

and be subject to the 10 point penalty. Students who arrive late for a test must take the test the same day. The

student may be required to take a revised exam.

 Final Exam grades are final. Students may not re-take the final end of course exam.

 Mid Term, and Final Examinations will be taken in person, at the LTC computer lab, or in person with the Lead

Faculty or Public Safety Telecommunication Program Coordinator. The LTC Student ID card will be displayed to

the test proctor to be able to sit for the course exams.

REASONS FOR DISMISSAL FROM PROGRAM

1. Unsatisfactory academic, lab or practical work.

2. Being found in any restricted or unauthorized area.

4. Cheating in any manner.

5. Withdrawal from participating agency as the result of due process proceedings based upon a written request from the

agency that the student be withdrawn.

6. Violations of the attendance policy.

7. Failure to satisfy identified probationary requirements within the stated time.

8. Failure to comply with requirements as stated in the Master Plan of Instruction.

PLAN OF INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES

Teaching Methods

Technology is an integral part of our daily lives. From smart phones to electronic tablets, these devices are becoming

items that many cannot function without. In addition, the Internet is changing the way education is delivered. Lake

Technical College strives to ensure that our students are able to compete in this technology driven world. With this in

mind, it is required that students have an online presence and access to the internet. If you do not, please notify your

faculty regarding use of LTC computer labs.

It is also required that students have an email address that they check on a regular basis. Course information is

distributed to you through your email, so it is important that you check it regularly. If you do not have an email address,

there are numerous services that provide FREE email addresses. Please make sure your faculty has a current, working

email address for you. See your faculty for more information.

cyber-bullying, cyber-cheating (posting of exam, or other course material), and a host of other nebulous challenges that

users may face. Another reality associated with social media is its far-reaching consequences for those who share posts

Potential employers, current employers, civic, or educational organizations you may be associated with, and many others

are looking at social media sites for information that may tell them things about an individual. Students should also be

cautioned on how private their social media content really is – despite the settings on an account. All social media sites

are potentially vulnerable. A simple search of how to view pages that are set as “private” for a popular social media

website yielded numerous responses for ways to view the content. Everything from blogs to online videos offer to explain

how to accomplish this task.

Students in all programs need to be cognizant of the fact that most professions rely on great moral character. It is

recommended that when using social media, assume that all posts will be seen/read by everyone with access to the

internet.

Classroom Rules and Campus Etiquette

Student Conduct

 Students shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner becoming a public safety professional and will not at

any time engage in conduct to bring discredit to the profession or to this training center.

 All sworn personnel and civilian faculty shall be addressed by their formal title (i.e., Captain Smith, Officer Jones,

Mr. Black, etc.).

 Obey all rules, signs and instructions.

 Clean up any spills, and pick up any tripping or stumbling hazards immediately.

 Do not sit on any tables, desks or countertops.

 Do not walk on grass. Use sidewalks only.

 When in uniform, be dressed according to the dress code.

 When not in uniform, wear standard business attire for class or other occasions.

 Refrain from wearing shorts, midriff tops, etc.; these are not appropriate at any time.

2. Demonstrate punctuality.

 Notify the Public Safety Telecommunication Program Coordinator or a faculty prior to expected time regarding

tardiness or absences.

 Seek permission and follow procedure to leave early when necessary.

 Return from breaks and meal times at the specified time.

 Think before speaking to avoid misunderstanding.

 Do not talk while others are talking.

4. Demonstrate good interpersonal relationships with peers and faculty.

 Exhibit a congenial and cooperative attitude with others.

 Show respect for faculty and peers.

 Accept others for themselves.

 Acknowledge every individual you pass with a positive and kind greeting (e.g. good morning, hello, how are you,

etc.). It is not necessary to repeat greetings if passing the same individual more than once during the day.

6. Make good use of classroom/laboratory time.

 Do reading or assignments when no lecture or formal class is in progress.

 Practice procedures and be prepared for requested sign-off on procedures.

7. Take responsibility for own learning.

 Come to class prepared by bringing pen, pencil, paper, and books.

 Make up work missed during absence in a timely manner without prompting.

 Complete reading assignments and participate in class discussions.

 Be responsible for all assigned books and equipment.

9. Respect school and clinical facility properties.

 Do not eat, drink, or smoke except in designated areas.

 Do not deface property of others.

 No sitting or lying down on the desk, leaning against the wall, or putting shoes on walls.

 Be proud of your school and remember to be an ambassador to the public.

Conflicts

At any time that conflict arises, for any reason, the student is to avoid a serious confrontation at all costs. Right or wrong,

the student should avoid being part of a bad scenario that would have an impact on the program. The student should

report to the faculty immediately and allow this individual to disarm the situation.

GENERAL INFORMATION

and want to celebrate your successes so be sure to communicate with your faculty any employment, military, or further

education you enter. Students are required to participate in an Exit Interview prior to their last day in their program.

Food and Drink

To protect equipment and furnishings in the classroom and laboratory areas, only water, in closed, covered containers, is

permitted. No other food or drinks are allowed, unless specific permission is granted by the faculty. However, under no

circumstance may food or drinks be in the laboratory areas.

Smoking

Lake Tech is a tobacco free institution. The use of tobacco products of any kind, including e-cigarettes, is not permitted at