Forsyth Tech Campus Police Earn National IACLEA Accreditation

In a significant milestone for campus safety in North Carolina, Forsyth Technical Community College’s Campus Police Department has earned national accreditation from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA). This achievement makes Forsyth Tech the only community college in the state with a nationally accredited campus police force, underscoring the department’s excellence and commitment to continuous improvement. IACLEA accreditation signifies that the department meets the highest professional standards for campus law enforcement, providing students, faculty, and families with added confidence in the safety of the campus community.

What is IACLEA Accreditation?

IACLEA – the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators – is the world’s largest professional association devoted to excellence in campus public safety and law enforcement. Its members include campus police chiefs, public safety directors, officers, and security personnel who protect millions of students worldwide. Gaining IACLEA’s accreditation is considered a “designation of excellence” in campus public safety. It is a voluntary, highly prized recognition that campus police agencies pursue to demonstrate their professionalism.

To earn this honor, an agency must comply with state-of-the-art standards across every aspect of its operations. Accreditation provides greater accountability and competency in daily operations: officers know and follow clear policies and procedures, and the department is held accountable to them. In short, IACLEA accreditation validates a campus police department’s excellence and commitment to continual improvement. Only a select group of campus law enforcement agencies nationwide achieve this status, and Forsyth Tech is proud to join their ranks – leading the way among North Carolina’s community colleges.

Forsyth Tech’s Journey to Accreditation

Forsyth Tech’s Campus Police did not earn this accreditation overnight. The department engaged in a thorough, multi-step process over the past year to meet IACLEA’s stringent criteria. Key steps in the journey included:

1. Self-Assessment & Preparation: The campus police force began by reviewing and updating all of its policies, procedures, and operations to align with IACLEA’s best-practice standards. This intensive self-audit meant ensuring compliance with 227 individual standards covering everything from administration and training to emergency response and community engagement.
2. Engaging the Campus Community: As part of the process, transparency and community input were encouraged. In August 2025, Forsyth Tech invited college members, employees, and the public to offer comments on the Campus Police Department’s performance. This open forum allowed students, faculty, and community members to voice feedback – reflecting the department’s commitment to accountability and trust-building throughout accreditation.
3. On-Site Assessment: Next, IACLEA dispatched a team of experienced campus law enforcement assessors to conduct a meticulous on-site evaluation. The assessors – professionals from other North Carolina campus police agencies – examined all aspects of Forsyth Tech’s department, including its policies, management, operations, and support services. They reviewed written materials, interviewed campus police officers and staff, and inspected facilities to verify that Forsyth Tech met each standard in practice.
4. Meeting Rigorous Standards: Through hard work and dedication, the department demonstrated compliance with IACLEA’s state-of-the-art safety standards. Chief Carolyn McMackin emphasized that pursuing accreditation was “a critical step in ensuring we’re providing the highest standard of safety and service to our campus community. It shows our commitment to accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.” By aligning with these best practices, Forsyth Tech’s officers enhanced their training, refined procedures, and strengthened emergency preparedness – all in the name of campus safety.
5. Earning the Accreditation: After the exhaustive review, Forsyth Tech’s Campus Police Department was officially awarded IACLEA accreditation – a status it will hold for a four-year term. To maintain this accreditation, the department must submit annual reports demonstrating continued compliance and improvement. This achievement crowns Forsyth Tech as a state leader in campus safety, becoming North Carolina’s first (and currently only) community college police department to meet IACLEA’s national standards. It’s a proud moment for the officers and the entire Forsyth Tech community.

A Safer Campus Through Accountability and Trust

What does this accreditation mean for the day-to-day safety of Forsyth Tech’s campuses? In practical terms, it translates to an even more effective and accountable campus police force. Accreditation required Forsyth Tech to implement clear, well-defined policies for every scenario – from routine patrols to emergency response. According to one campus safety expert, when “officers now have sound policies to rely on… clear and concise policies [eliminate] ambiguity at critical times”. In other words, Forsyth Tech’s officers can make decisions in critical moments with confidence, guided by thoroughly vetted procedures and training.

The accreditation process also reinforced a culture of transparency and continuous improvement within the department. Checks and balances are in place to ensure the police force remains responsive to the community’s needs and aligned with the latest best practices in campus security. “Accreditation… helps build trust with the students, faculty, staff, and visitors we protect every day,” Chief McMackin noted. Students and employees on campus can take comfort knowing their campus police are proactively audited and held to the highest standards of conduct. This trust is vital – it means students are more likely to approach officers with concerns, and campus police and the community can work hand-in-hand to maintain a safe environment.

Notably, Forsyth Tech’s accomplishment also reflects forward-looking leadership. Under Chief McMackin’s guidance, the Campus Police Department has transformed its approach to campus safety, embracing technology, data-driven strategies, and professional development for officers. This transformation – described as moving “from vulnerability to resilience” and “setting a new standard in campus security” for community colleges – laid the groundwork for meeting IACLEA’s benchmarks. The result is a campus police department more equipped than ever to keep the college community safe.

Benefits for Students, Families, and the Community

For Forsyth Tech’s students and their families, the IACLEA accreditation offers tangible peace of mind. It serves as an assurance that campus safety is being upheld at the highest level. Parents sending their children to Forsyth Tech can trust that the campus police operate with the professionalism and excellence one would expect of a top-tier law enforcement agency. Students, in turn, benefit from a safer, more secure learning environment where they can focus on their education. They know that their campus officers are trained to national best-practice standards and are committed to protecting them and supporting them if issues arise.

The positive impacts extend beyond the campus boundaries as well. A nationally accredited campus police department enhances the broader community’s trust in Forsyth Tech. It signals to Winston-Salem and surrounding areas that the college is deeply invested in safety and security. Local law enforcement and emergency services can coordinate confidently with Forsyth Tech’s police, knowing they uphold professional, mission-focused standards. Moreover, the college’s commitment to excellence in public safety can foster stronger partnerships in community initiatives, from crime prevention programs to emergency preparedness drills.

Finally, Forsyth Tech’s achievement can inspire other colleges across the state. By being the trailblazer – the only community college in North Carolina with IACLEA-accredited police – Forsyth Tech is setting an example. The department’s success demonstrates that even mid-sized campus agencies can meet elite standards in policing. This could encourage peer institutions to pursue similar accreditation, ultimately raising the bar for campus safety statewide.

In conclusion, earning IACLEA accreditation is a proud moment for Forsyth Tech, but it’s also a promise for the future. The accreditation validates what the campus community has long believed – that Forsyth Tech’s police are among the best in the business – and it commits the department to ongoing excellence. As Chief McMackin and her team look ahead, they will continue to uphold these high standards, submitting yearly compliance reports and striving to improve even further. For the students, faculty, staff, and neighbors of Forsyth Tech, that commitment means one thing above all: a safer, more secure campus community for everyone.