Education is an ongoing process that doesn’t stop when we complete our “formal” years of high school or college – that’s really when much of our professional education just begins. Our society values the skilled, the knowledgeable, the expert. For this reason, education is the key to many opportunities, both personally and professionally.

During the past several years, the Door and Hardware Institute has been working continuously to achieve an ongoing goal: developing within the construction industry a greater value for the knowledge and expertise of DHI members. The professionals with whom we deal on a daily basis, such as architects, value continuing education. Accordingly, DHI has introduced a voluntary program for the consultant members of our industry to be recognized more readily and to attest to the effort it takes to acquire and maintain AHC or CDC certification – the Seal Program. An easily identifiable seal will be licensed by DHI for use by its consultants. This seal will become a symbol of the consultant’s high aptitude and experience and will inform the building industry of the value of a consultant.

A key component of the Seal Program is the requirement of the AHC or CDC to maintain his or her knowledge through education and adhere to continuing education requirements and business practices. These educational requirements exist to assure the construction industry that those using the seal/stamp are keeping up-to-date on technical and code developments.

As part of DHI’s advocacy efforts, DHI will continue to promote all consultants, whether they participate in the Seal Program or not, since this is a voluntary program. However, many of our consultant members are already visualizing the marketing capabilities of this new program, and more than 400 consultants have signed up in the first 90 days since its introduction to the industry.

This issue of the magazine is dedicated to the topic of codes, an area that requires a great deal of continuing education. As a matter of fact, each of the four continuing professional development events (sponsored by the DHI Education Foundation) which are taking place this Summer and Fall dedicate one afternoon to codes. It’s a topic that requires an ongoing educational attitude to be successful. Those who embrace the area of codes are considered the experts in our industry.

I recently learned how valuable our education efforts on the topic of codes and life safety have been when I had the pleasure of taking part in a security industry coalition. The coalition was comprised of associations such as DHI, all involved in the access control marketplace. Representatives from the participating organizations (including myself and DHI President Daniel J. Heinz, AHC) recently met at the ISC West meeting in Las Vegas. At the beginning of the meeting, we were asked to provide information on our industry, its members and their skills. As the last organization to comment, it became apparent to us that the main difference between DHI and the other organizations relating to the security industry is our expertise in the fire safety, life safety and fire code areas. The members of the other organizations are skilled in the security area but are not as familiar with life safety as members of the door and hardware industry. Individuals from other organizations acknowledge that life safety is an important component of the construction process and that DHI experts are in great need.

I hope you will continue to educate yourselves about various codes, life safety, security issues, the door and hardware industry in general, and other facets of your professional and personal life that interest you. Enjoy this issue of the magazine – as you read, you will realize its potential to help you become an expert in the door and hardware industry.

With the economy being in the position that it’s in and the whole world suffering from recession, there is a desperate need for manpower in this field. However, the people who are already practicing (or those who have not yet begun study) are having a hard time finding the time or money to further their education and skill levels. There is a solution to this though…

Criminal justice education programs online are allowing many people in all different fields the chance to get a criminal justice degree on the internet, from their own computer at their own pace. The price is lower, there are no classrooms or parking lots to deal with and it takes up much less of your time!

Of course, the different career choices that are available to people vary depending on their experience, training and education. The highest paying field of criminal justice is criminology, which also happens to be the hardest to learn and most costly). There’s also correctional services and probation as well that are in the top earning positions.

There are also the departments of crime, justice and punishment; community crime prevention, gangs and crime, victimology, drugs and regular everyday crime.

If you want to start your criminal justice education endeavors, I strongly suggest you start with an online program. There are so many to choose from and there are also many honest reviews from individuals who have taken courses online and you can certainly make an educated decision after a little bit of research.

The most important thing is that you take action. If you don’t start somewhere, you will never have a career in any field so it starts with finding an online school and then it’s all history from there!

If you are moving to the Greater Raleigh area and want to know about specific WCPSS programming, read on:

K-12: The Formative Years

Committed to excellence, The Board of Education has adopted an ambitious goal. They aim to have 95 percent of WCPSS students in grades three through 12, at or above grade level by the end of this year! Such ambitious goals are indicative of a forward thinking and committed board, who are dedicated to providing the best education and ensuring that positive growth continues.

Parents in this area have a wide variety of educational options. There are many traditional public schools and also numerous private and special-needs schools. WCPSS offers over 20 programs in the district with 51 magnet schools. The award winning magnet school program provides creative approaches for teachers to reach students and to meet different student’s individual learning styles and needs. Magnet schools in the area, have been especially recognized with awards such as the United States Magnet School of Excellence of award and the Magnet School of Distinction award.

Recently the district received a portion of a 2.3 million dollar grant to open a health and life science themed high school aimed at developing students for both higher education and jobs in biotechnology and health care. Students at these schools will have the opportunity to participate in internship programs and will have access to community college and university level courses. There’s other grant funding in place which comes from the New Schools Project, an 11 million dollar grant that will create more than 100 new and redesigned high schools across the state.

Post- Secondary: Superior Education at Your Doorstep!

North Carolina State University, as one of the nation’s top research universities, is a great example of one the best post secondary options in Raleigh. Home to BTEC, The Golden LEAF Biomanfacturing Training and Education Center, this University is committed to providing a highly trained, industry-focused workforce. Dedicated to pursue “innovation in action”, NCSU partner’s with business’s, industry and government with a focus to collectively create innovative products and research.

The region’s community colleges also offer solid programs for those wishing to pursue technical, or specialized training in particular sectors of the workforce.

North Carolina community college is focused on biotechnology training to provide a highly trained workforce for the estimated 125,000 residents of NC who will be employed in this sector by 2025.

Wake Technical Community College is a leader in biological and chemical technology programs. They also offer North Carolina’s only community college lab facility for industrial pharmaceutical technology. As a state leader providing over 20% of all industry training offered by community colleges in the state, Wake Tech serves as a catalyst for economic growth and development. This exceptional community college assists thousands of businesses with its superior Small Business Center and New and Expanding Industry Program.

It is easy to see why Raleigh, North Carolina boasts one of America’s most educated workforces. If education is important to you and your family, consider Raleigh, North Carolina as a smart option for a solid future.