Citizen University is a 10-week course that looks behind the scenes at the way Pinellas County operates.

PINELLAS COUNTY – When is an evacuation called? What’s it like to work at 9-1-1 or to be in a jail?

These questions and more will be answered at Pinellas Citizen University’s spring 2016 session when participants learn about county services.

Registration is now open for the 10-week course, scheduled for Thursday evenings from March 24 through May 26. Participants go behind the scenes at different Pinellas County departments each week and talk to the experts as they explore a wide range of county functions. Classes usually meet from 6 to 9 p.m. Through exciting field trips and presentations, class participants will learn first-hand how Pinellas County provides services to nearly one million county residents.

Participants can:

• See what it takes to plan a hurricane evacuation in the face of an approaching storm.
• Listen in on the drama of real 9-1-1 calls
• Tour the South Cross Bayou Water Reclamation Facility and find out how reclaimed water is made out of wastewater
• Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Supervisor of Elections office
• Tour the Pinellas County Jail
• Sit in the grand jury room and talk one-on-one with leaders within Pinellas County’s criminal justice system

Participants will have a chance to attend three additional Saturday morning sessions, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.  Ride alongs with Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and Sunstar Paramedics are available to each student.

Upon completion of the 10 sessions, each graduate receives a diploma signed by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners and a class picture.

Tuition is $35 and includes a class shirt, all course materials, the graduation ceremony and a diploma. Registration for the limited-enrollment class is first-come, first-served. Upon acceptance, a packet will be emailed to all participants with instructions, meeting places, a list of classes and other session information.

For information about Pinellas Citizen University, call (727) 464-4600. Enrollment applications and a complete course schedule are available at pinellascounty.org or by calling (727) 464-4600.

Photo courtesy of Pinellas County.

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