announced that students enrolled in the college’s Criminal Justice program took part in an annual National Field Study trip, coinciding this year with National Police Week.
William DeLuca, associate professor of Criminal Justice at C-GCC, said the field study has been part of the Criminal Justice program at the college for more than two decades, serving as a capstone experience for selected students. “The motivation behind the National Field Study is to expose students to career options they may not ordinarily be aware of, and how important it is to continue their studies after graduating from C-GCC,” he said, noting that students spend four-to-five days in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area exploring professional opportunities at locales such as the Arlington County, Va. Police Department, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Capitol Police, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
C-GCC Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Frankie Beaver-Timmons explained that representatives from each agency meet with students to share their agency’s mission, responsibilities, career opportunities, and qualifications for employment. “The personal stories of the presenters are often the most meaningful for the students to hear; where the presenter came from, went to college, and why they chose to seek employment with the agencies located in the Washington, D.C. area.”
The trip is not an automatic perk for C-GCC students – DeLuca explained that, over the course of the academic year, students must demonstrate dedication to their studies and participate in community service and fund-raising activities in order to earn a spot on the field-study roster.
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