TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - If you’re looking for a way to do your part in the war on terrorism, the new U.S. Government’s Department of Homeland Security may have an answer. The department will discuss employment opportunities with University of Alabama students during an April 2 campus visit, from 6-8 p.m., at the Four Points Sheraton.

As of March 1, the Department of Homeland Security became responsible for securing the nation’s borders and managing the immigration process. Before March 1, those two areas of responsibility fell under one agency, the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Under DHS, though, they are divided into separate agencies, and both are undergoing revitalization and revamping to meet the increased challenges brought about by the war on terrorism.

“The mission and the scope of activities formerly carried out by the INS have been greatly expanded since the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash of the airplane in Pennsylvania,” said Kelli Allred, a student at The University of Alabama business school. Allred, a junior from McCalla who is majoring in world business, and two other business school students are working with the DHS to make UA students and the general public more aware of the new scope of the DHS and the new and lucrative career opportunities available since the responsibilities of the former INS came under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security.

To meet the increased demands for manpower, the DHS has scheduled a series of on-campus events to make students aware of the opportunities. Representatives will be available to answer questions and provide employment materials. Employment opportunities will be available in border patrol, customs and inspections and adjudication.

“President Bush has requested a budget which clearly reflects his commitment to supporting the priorities and the mission of the Department of Homeland Security,” Allred said.

The Fiscal Year 2004 budget supports the department's effort to implement the objectives outlined in the President's National Strategy for Homeland Security including:

• Preventing terrorist attacks within the United States;
• Reducing America's vulnerability to terrorism; and
• Minimizing the damage and recovering from attacks that do occur.

In addition to Allred, students Susan Hughes of Tuscaloosa and Sarah Gauntlet of Prattville are working on the project, under the guidance of Dr. Robert Robicheaux, Bruno Professor of Retail Marketing in the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration.

“This is a good opportunity for people who have been looking for a way to become involved in the war on terrorism,” Robicheaux said. “The Department of Homeland Security is particularly interested in college graduates with a good grasp of cutting-edge technology and information systems,” he said. “This also has provided our students an internship that has given them a good view of the way the government works.”

The Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, founded in 1919, has been consistently ranked among the top business schools in the nation. The undergraduate program is currently 45th in the U.S. News and World Report rankings and the Culverhouse School of Accountancy is ranked 19th nationally by the CPA Personnel Report.

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