Homeland security school being planned at UNLV

Jennifer Knight

Tuesday, April 15, 2003 | 10:17 a.m.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, will be home to a homeland security institute designed to train academics and the nation's first responders to fight terrorism.

"Nationally, this is really a bold step forward," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., the institute's key backer, said during a news conference Monday at UNLV. "We have here not only an academic community but people who are trained to work in these types of areas."

Under the plan, UNLV will team with Bechtel Nevada, which runs the National Counterterrorism Range Complex at the Nevada Test Site, to create the Institute for Security Studies.

The initial part of the program is expected to be in place by the fall.

The institute will create a "train the trainers" program to teach first responders -- mostly police and firefighters -- how to train their peers to deal with terrorist attacks.

It will also create a graduate program in emergency management that will offer specialities in academics, applied technology, cyber security, community outreach, human consequences and domestic preparedness.

"We are the kind of young university that can move with these kinds of opportunities," UNLV President Carol Harter said.

The program will cover training in scenarios such as biological and chemical weapons attacks, and participants would earn college credit.

University officials hope to train 8,000 first responders initially. Those people will return to their communities and train an estimated 9 million other firefighters, rescue workers and health care workers.

UNLV will also offer a master's degree in crisis and emergency management and a minor in emergency management for undergraduates majoring in public administration.

Reid has already secured $20 million for the Test Site, which will help with UNLV's program, officials said.

UNLV expects to put together a $25 million request for federal funding next year to pay for the institute's launch. It will not rely on state money, Harter said.