The big story: A partnership between the University of Tampa and the Tampa Police Department is aiming to help students become local officers after they graduate.

Seniors majoring in criminology or criminal justice will be able to spend their last semester attending Tampa’s police academy, according to a news release.

The students will receive course credit and the police department will pay their tuition. They will start new jobs as full-time officers for the city once they graduate. Six students have applied to begin the police academy in January and before they start, they will have to complete oral interviews, as well as polygraph, fitness and psychological tests.

Carly Hilinski-Rosick, the criminology and criminal justice department chair at the University of Tampa, said the police department approached the university after seeing the partnership in other locations. Graduating seniors will get a four-month head start if they want to work for the Tampa Police department, she said.

The program is an investment in the future of policing in Tampa, said police chief Lee Bercaw.

“By working alongside the University of Tampa, we’re creating a direct path for students begin their law enforcement journey with the Tampa Police Department,” he said.

Hot topics

A familiar face: the Florida board of education confirmed Henry Mack as the state’s next education commissioner.

Teacher pay: If Pinellas teachers don’t make more money this year, the union may consider an impasse with the district.

On the field: Many high school student-athletes will soon have to get a one-time electrocardiogram before they can play, FOX 13 News reports.

A gift to UF: A $1 million donation for University of Florida’s Levin College of Law established an endowed constitutional law chair.

Quick quiz

The University of Florida’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center developed an artificial intelligence tool to help predict:

Flood risk for small farmers

Best practices for irrigation

Pest levels in a given year

Find the answer here from Spectrum Bay News 9.

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