TEEX, Texas A&M-Texarkana team up to offer safety and health training for veterans

TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas A&M University-Texarkana is now approved to offer Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service training leading to a Certified Safety and Health Official? (CSHO) certificate for students wishing to use their VA education benefits. These students will also be eligible for up to 24 hours of college credit toward a bachelor of applied arts and sciences degree at A&M-Texarkana.

“This is the first time TEEX will offer VA education benefit-approved classes on a university campus,” said Steven Robinson, TEEX Veterans Liaison.

The University Center on the A&M-Texarkana campus was approved for TEEX programs following a site visit by the Texas Veterans Commission. This is the seventh classroom location approved for TEEX to offer training under VA education benefits, Robinson added.

“We are pleased to collaborate with another member of The Texas A&M University System to better serve our veterans by providing training that will help prepare them for a civilian career, while providing them with a pathway to meet their higher education goals,” said TEEX Director Gary Sera.

TEEX worked with Shelley Caraway, Executive Director of Extended Education and Community Development at A&M-Texarkana, to provide a training program for veterans that will prepare them for a career in the field of safety and health. Veterans in the four-state region will be able to register through TEEX and attend the safety and health training on the campus in Texarkana.

“We are thrilled to partner with TEEX to bring world-class safety training to the Texarkana region,” said Caraway. “Previously, individuals from the Ark-La-Tex had to travel outside the region and incur significant expense to obtain this training. Outstanding support from our businesses and industries was instrumental in making this happen.”

“I believe our partnership with A&M-Texarkana will flourish as we move forward,” said TEEX Program Director Bill Long. “The team at A&M-Texarkana is dedicated to providing the best opportunities for training to the residents they serve. Shelley has been instrumental in what I believe will be a great training location, and TEEX Training Manager JB Gregory is working with her to provide on-campus training in the fall.”

Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two members of the A&M System, participants who complete the Certified Safety and Health Official? (CSHO) certificate program will be eligible for 21 to 24 hours of credit toward a BAAS degree at A&M-Texarkana.

About Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service

TEEX is an internationally recognized leader in the delivery of emergency response, homeland security and workforce training, technical assistance and economic development. Last year, TEEX served more than 168,000 people from every U.S. state and territory and 82 countries worldwide. TEEX makes a difference by providing training, developing practical solutions and saving lives. More information: www.teex.org.

About Texas A&M University-Texarkana

As a member of The Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M University-Texarkana is a comprehensive regional university that provides students with academically challenging, engaging and rewarding educational experiences through quality teaching, scholarship, student support services, co-curricular programming, research and service. More information: www.tamut.edu/.