June 13, 2024

Forsyth Tech’s Northwest campus offers degree programs and broad learning in many areas, from firefighter training to forensics. Law enforcement professionals and firefighters are in particularly high demand, and training in these programs can be completed in intense but short-term spans, often leading to job placement immediately on training completion.  

Dean of Public Safety Konrad Walsh says that due to the personnel needs of emergency agencies, the programs are more important than ever. “We are seeing a great need in many fields, particularly firefighting professionals, and we are doing everything that we can to assist our local agencies to meet their hiring needs, whether that’s training people looking to get started in their career, to high-school students interested in pursuing a track that will ensure they find employment in an excellent field with benefits and security.”  

Fire Academy 

Firefighters are in demand nationwide, and that need also applies to the Triad. The campus is unique in that it houses the academy, which is open 365 days a year, and is the primary training and learning center for the Winston-Salem firefighters, as well as those of Stokes and Forsyth counties. All training for these entities happens at the Northwest campus, from new recruits to continuing education. Trainees receive a combination of learning, from emergency medical training, firefighter training, and rescue certification.  

Due to the incredible need for fire personnel, Forsyth Tech has stood up a first of its kind in North Carolina program for high schoolers in Stokes County, with the first class of graduates finishing the program this month. Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools have followed suit and will be introducing a program at Winston-Salem Prep this summer.  

Expected starting salary upon entering the workforce: $45,000.  

Law enforcement training

Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) at the Northwest campus is now number one in the state for testing. Bryan Brown, BLET school director, has been instrumental in preparing recruits for tests, and the majority pass their exam on the first try. A few years ago, Forsyth Tech ranked 17th, so this growth has been exceptional for ensuring that trainees are highly prepared prior to entering the workforce, which has a deep need locally and nationwide for trained law enforcement professionals.  

Expected starting salary: $50,000. 

Criminal justice: Unrivaled forensics training 

Criminal justice training at the campus consists of the largest program curriculum in the state of North Carolina, and one of the largest in the community college system. In partnership with the North Carolina Justice Academy, this premiere program sends graduates on to the state bureau of investigation as well as the FBI.  

Walsh says Associate Dean Jennifer Bryant has been the prime catalyst for the growth and prestige of the program. “Truly, this program would not be what it is without Jennifer’s vision. She has been instrumental in forging a program that launches trainees to impressive places, and we look forward to the continued growth and success of the learning here,” Walsh said.  

The forensics program continues to add additional resources and equipment to thoroughly train students in both theory and hands-on analysis of crime scene investigation.  

Expected starting salary: $40,000.

Emergency medical programs 

Training for emergency medical personnel goes beyond what we may assume and can set trainees up for jobs in clinical and hospital settings, as well as traditional settings in the field. There is a dire shortage of EMTs and Paramedics, so Forsyth Tech’s programs are essential to the continuum of care.  

The school has an exciting simulation lab coming, thanks to a Golden LEAF grant, which will include an ambulance installation with working hydraulics and state-of-the-art mannequins. Trainees can practice with the mannequins on functions including IV placement, allowing them to get needed experience before applying their skills in real-world situations. Virtual reality training will also be coming, with students training in a virtual setting with changing factors and situations.  

Expected starting salary: $45,000.  

Transportation needs 

Forsyth Tech’s Northwest campus offers vast opportunities to train for skilled, high-paying jobs in many fields, but an issue that has arisen in recent years is a lack of transportation for those interested in pursuing this learning, which generally requires hands-on, on-site training.  

Students interested in these fields are often unable to take part in the programs, and due to the nature of this training, it is imperative that classes are in-person, with hands-on instruction. “We’ve heard from many students and parents that they would love to be a part of these programs, but they do not have the transportation needed to get to our campus,” Walsh shared. “The NWFC does not reside on any public transportation route, so finding a way to get students from where they are to the campus is a major hurdle that needs solving.” 

Learn more and how you can help 

If you are interested in helping address needs at the school, such as transportation, contact the Forsyth Tech Foundation at (336) 734-7618, or via email at ForsythTechFoundation@forsythtech.edu. For more information about course offerings, contact the Northwest campus at (336) 734-7023.