Special wildlife training gets international praise for MSU

A university training program in wildlife forensics is being honored by an international continuing education organization.

The Learning Resources Network recently selected the MSU Wildlife Forensics Certificate Program as one of four to receive a 1997 exemplary program development award. The competition drew more than 100 nominations.

The program received LERN accolades for being "unique in the world" and "an example of the types of programs that other colleges and universities should seek to develop."

Alan F. Brown said the College of Forest Resources created the training program for crime-scene investigations four years ago as the result of "a specific need" cited regularly by wildlife professionals, investigators, and conservation officers.

In its brief existence, the Mississippi State program annually has served about 40 state and federal conservation law officers in each of three training levels offered. Each level-basic, intermediate, and advanced-involves an intensive curriculum spread over a three- or four-day period.