(Radio Iowa) – Des Moines Area Community College — known as DMACC — is working with Iowa’s congressional delegation to try to revive an online course that had nationwide reach. DMACC President Rob Denson says in 2011 the federal government contracted with the college to provide a “Homeland Security” certification program for the Transportation Safety Administration screeners at the Des Moines Airport. In 2014, DMACC began offering the training online.

DMACC President Rob Denson

In 2019, the federal government gave DMACC the contract for training in all 50 states. Denson says it made 44-thousand T-S-A agents at 440 U-S airports eligible for the training.

Students who voluntarily enrolled in the certification course review national security issues, safety concerns and how the T-S-A interacts with other federal agencies, like the U-S Border Patrol. Earlier this year, federal officials notified DMACC it was temporarily pausing its support of the program.

Denson made his comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program that airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.