In brief: NIC, fire department partner for training

Through a unique partnership between the two organizations, North Idaho College will now expand its First Aid and CPR classes through the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department.

The fire department has been delivering First Aid and CPR training for decades. However, recertification requirements and corporate interest in certifying employees has increased demand over the years.

“It has been the goal of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department to have 10 percent of our citizens trained in CPR and First Aid,” said Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Chief Kenny Gabriel. “This training is a vital link in our ability to provide fast, efficient emergency medical care. This partnership gets the training to our citizens in a faster, more efficient manner. It is also a goal of the Coeur d’Alene City Council to partner with our educational institutions and we see this as a great fit.”

Though Coeur d’Alene Fire Department personnel will continue to deliver the training, the process will now be routed through the NIC Workforce Training Center’s Customized Training and Workforce Development departments, which also have offered first aid and CPR training in the past. Those seeking first aid or CPR training from either organization will now be referred to the NIC Workforce Training Center for individual enrollment or group training requests.

This opportunity for collaboration was identified by Barbara Hanson while serving as the NIC vice president for instruction.

Open enrollment classes, including the three-hour CPR class or the eight-hour First Aid/CPR combination class, are scheduled throughout the year. Schedules are published in the NIC Workforce Training Center catalog, which is distributed three times a year and is online at www.workforce training.nic.edu. Individuals can sign up for a class online or by calling 769-3333. Community groups, associations and employers seeking group training can schedule classes through the NIC Customized Training Department at 769-7732.

Reception Tuesday will welcome new NIC president

Community members are invited to welcome Priscilla Bell, Ph.D., to her new post as president of North Idaho College with a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Coeur d’Alene Inn, 506 W. Appleway Ave.

Bell was named NIC president by the NIC Board of Trustees July 2, capping a six-month national search. Bell has served as the interim president at NIC since February after former president Michael Burke accepted a position as president of San Jose City College in California.

She most recently served as president of Highline Community College in Des Moines, Wash., from 2000 to 2006.

The reception will include refreshments. It is free and open to the community.