July 17 – July 22
The National Academy of Forensic Science is an outstanding program designed to immerse students from Law and Public Safety programs into criminal investigations and forensic science. The planning, design and implementation of our National Academies took over a year of development. Industry experts are a part of the process to ensure the final academy model is the best opportunity for students learning about forensics.
The Forensics Academy will include instruction from leading experts in the field. Instruction will be mostly hands on with students using the tools of the trade. Students will participate in a CSI team competition to serve as a summative event for the week.
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Selection of Participants
We want to ensure the best students are chosen to join our participant team for the National Academy of Forensic Science. We are looking for those who will become industry leaders and do great things in law, law enforcement, public safety, security or corrections. Tomorrow’s heroes – is that you? If so, then you are exactly the kind of student we are looking for!
We look at the whole applicant. Grades matter, but so do many other things. In the application process the selection committee will review matters such as personal growth, leadership, unique experiences and accomplishments. We also value diversity – in thought, ancestry, experience and backgrounds.
We want to make sure the best students make our team for the National Academy. To learn more about how to apply click on the “Students” tab in the menu or Click Here.
Multiple students from the same school may apply.
Academy Facilities: Truett McConnell University
The National Academy will be held at Truitt McConnell University in Cleveland, Georgia. The huge campus in North Georgia will allow us to bury skeletons, dump dead pigs for decomposition observations and give us plenty of room to “do” CSI!
Students will be housed in one of two freshmen dorms. Housing is two to a room – just like a college dorm. WiFi is available campus-wide.
We will use the campus facilities for our check in, orientation, daily seminars and debriefs as well as our graduation on Friday.
Students will check in on the Sunday of the Academy week and check out on Friday.
Visiting Agencies & Seminars
This list is does not list all the agencies. Additionally, our itinerary can change at any point due to unforeseen circumstances.
Sessions
Each breakout session will be led by an Honor Teacher. While each Honor Teacher will be trained how to lead each seminar, they will choose the one they will lead for the week. That way the participants get to have training sessions led by all the Honor Teachers.
Each session will teach a specific area in forensics. At the end of the week, participants will participate in a CSI Team Competition which will test their knowledge of each skill set. If we have the Basic Crime Scene Certification in place, we will also be sure to prepare students to test for that as well.
Each session is 120 minutes in length with break, hands on application and instruction.
In each session the participants will “earn” a piece of equipment to add to their forensics toolkit. They will receive the box on Sunday night, fill it at each session and then use it in their CSI Team Competition.
Session 1 – Fingerprints- Session 2 – Crime Scene Processing
- Session 3 – Trace Evidence
- Session 4 – Impressions
- Session 5 – Body as Evidence
- Session 6 – Forensic Anthropology
- Session 7 – Serology, DNA & Blood
- Session 8 – Ballistics
In addition to the breakout sessions the participants will receive instruction:
- Overview Session on Sunday – Introduction to Forensics and CSI
- Night Sessions with Agent Branyon
- Visiting Expert Sessions
- Nightly Team Sessions
Food
Most meals will be at the Truett McConnell dining facility. The food is standard college cafeteria fare. There will be some special dinners from local pizza places and sub shops.
Working Itinerary
This is our working itinerary. It is subject to change.
Sunday
- Teachers wrap up training.
- Students begin arriving at ATL and TMU.
- Charter bus departures at 3:30 from ATL.
- Registration begins at 2pm at TMU.
- 6:00 Dinner
- 8:00 Orientation
- 9:00 Introduction Session
- 11:00 Lights Out
Monday – Thursday
- 8:00 Breakfast
- 9:00 Forensic Topic Breakout Session
- Rotate through 8 topics – details below.
- 11:30 Lunch
- 1:00 Visiting Expert Session
- Daily sessions will change from FBI, GBI, ATF, DEA
- 3:00 Forensic Topic Breakout Session
- 5:30 Dinner
- 7:00 Team sessions/activities
- 8:00 Case Scenarios – Jeff Branyon
- 9:30 Evening activity
- 11:00 Lights Out
Friday
- 8:00 Breakfast
- CSI Team Competitions
- 11:30 Lunch
- Continue Team Competitions
- Afternoon activities
- 4:00 Graduation – open to families
- 5:00 begin check out of students departing Friday night.
- 6:00 Dinner
- Evening activities – TBA
- 11:00 Lights Out
Saturday
- 6:00 departure for ATL by charters
- Set up at ATL hotel as HQ of Academy operations.
- All day departures
- Late departures to be arranged with SouthEd at ATL hotel.
Transportation
TMU in Cleveland, Georgia is about 80 miles north of Atlanta. The closest airport is the Atlanta (ATL) airport. We will have staff at the Atlanta Airport to assist participants from the airport to the hotel where we will have an assembly room (location TBA) for the charter buses. The charter bus will leave around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 17th. Students arriving on days prior to July 17th can stay at our hotel for a small additional fee. We will have supervision for these early arrivals.
We will have charter buses taking students from the airport to TMU Sunday and returning to the airport Saturday. The cost of the charter is included in the tuition. Students not flying can drive to the airport assembly location and take the charter, too. Participants should arrive at the assembly area by 3:30 p.m. (location TBA) to ride the charter. Participants may also drive directly to TMU – plan to arrive prior to 5pm.
Participants are responsible for arranging transport to meet the charter or get to TMU on their own. Southern Educational Resources can assist in making reservations for air travel. We have extensive experience in arranging student travel. We can also include the cost in payment options.
Flights
Arrivals: Flights should arrive prior to 2:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, July 17th. All flights should be to the Atlanta airport (ATL). Charter buses will take those flying in to the TMU campus.
Return: Flights home should not be scheduled before 9:00 a.m. EST on Saturday, July 23rd. All participants flying will leave at 6:00 a.m. on charters to the Atlanta airport. We will have staff with students until they enter the airport for their departures.
All charter buses are included in the tuition.
Dress Code & Gear
Attending the National Academy for Forensic Science will require some dress standards. We will be visited by federal agents and guests. At a minimum students will wear appropriate shorts and t-shirts. There will also be times we will need to look similar – wearing khaki shorts and academy polos. Guidelines will be sent out a few weeks before the academy.
Participants will be provided a polo, T-shirt, and other academy gear. There will be specific days participants will dress the same – such as during visits from federal agencies. Participants will keep their gear at the end of the week.
Note – We will be in Georgia in July. It tends to be warm and humid with afternoon rain.
$1,675
Tuition
Included in the tuition:
Dorms– check in Sunday and check out Friday or Saturday
Transportation from ATL to TMU – Charters will take students from their flights to the Academy
Meals – All from Sunday dinner through Friday dinner
CSI Kit – all participants will receive a CSI toolbox they will fill with forensic tools at the seminars over the course of the week
Gear – participants get a gear bag with a polo, T-Shirt and other gear.
Seminars – all expenses related to the seminar
Speakers – all honorariums included
Costs
NOT included in the tuition:
Travel – from home to Academy
Meals – Sunday before dinner and anything after dinner on Friday
Spending money– drinks, snacks and such
Travel insurance – in case trip gets cancelled
Medical insurance – students must have their own insurance
Scholarships
Several $500 scholarships are available. Students must be accepted to an Academy and have paid the downpayment before applying. Click Here to learn more.
FAQ
Will someone meet my student at the airport?
Yes – but only if they fly into Atlanta International.
Can I make payments?
Yes – once accepted, you can choose how to pay the tuition.
Can I add airfare to the tuition?
Yes – Southern Educational Resources can book participant flights and include them in the payment schedule.
Can parents chaperone/join/volunteer?
No – due to safety standards, only approved adults who have completed a background investigation can participate in the Academy. But – parents are welcome to attend the graduation on Friday.
What if my participant doesn’t want to share a room?
For an additional charge students can have a room to themselves.
What if my participant needs to arrive early or depart late?
We can make arrangements if flights arrive or depart a day late. Academy staff can supervise participants arriving on arriving on Saturday, July 16th or leaving on Saturday, July 23rd. You will need to arrange for the cost of hotels, meals, and such. Southern Educational Resources can help you with all arrangements.
Can parents attend graduation?
Absolutely – the 4pm Friday graduation is open to parents. We will send out a request for information on how many will be in attendance to ensure there is enough seating.
Can multiple students from the same school apply?
Yes.
Can the teacher from a students program attend?
Yes. If a school has 8 registrants, the teacher can attend for free and participate.
Also, the teacher can apply to be an Honor Teacher. If selected, they will participate in the Academy, too, regardless of number of students from their school.
NOTE: all pictures on this page are from past student experiences. Each academy is unique. These pictures in no way guarantee what opportunities will be offered.
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