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Mercer University and Georgia Public Safety Training Center Partner to Strengthen Training and Educational Opportunities

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Friday, February 20th, 2026

 Mercer University’s College of Professional Advancement and the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) have formalized a partnership to expand collaboration, training, and educational opportunities by providing tuition benefits to eligible public safety personnel and first responders across Georgia. 
According to the agreement, signed Feb. 10, a 25% tuition benefit is available to current, active first responders, including:

  • law enforcement personnel (police officers, sheriffs, deputies, federal and state law enforcement agents)

  • fire protection personnel (career and volunteer firefighters)

  • emergency medical services personnel (paramedics, EMTs, licensed pre-hospital emergency care providers)

  • and public safety dispatchers and 911 operators.

“The signing represents our commitment to partnering with the Georgia Public Safety Training Center to sustain existing and grow new educational opportunities for the state's public safety first responders,” said Dr. Priscilla R. Danheiser, dean of the College of Professional Advancement. “I am excited about increasing accessibility and awareness of Mercer's academic programs among the public safety workforce. We are proud to connect with this leading training facility that is so critical to our state and the welfare of its citizens.

GPSTC is the state’s premier training facility for all state and local public safety-related units of government, including police officers, firefighters, communications officers, coroners, emergency management officers, rescue officers, jail officers and other emergency service personnel. 

“The partnership between the Georgia Public Safety Training Center and Mercer University combines premier competency-based public safety training with academic excellence to expand leadership development, innovation and workforce advancement opportunities for Georgia’s public safety professionals,” said GPSTC Deputy Director Cheryl Greathouse.

Established in 1980, GPSTC has been training the public safety community longer than any other institution in Georgia, and the training center’s reach goes beyond the state to the nation and internationally.