The University of Missouri–St. Louis and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department have announced a new partnership to provide commissioned officers the opportunity to advance their education.
The three-year agreement, signed August 8, will consist of the department covering 100% of tuition costs after reimbursement and an UMSL Education Partnership discount for officers pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree part-time. The support will allow officers to pursue industry relevant degree and certificate programs that will help them grow their careers such as criminology and criminal justice, cybersecurity, social work, political science, and more.
“We are committed to partnering with commissioned officers to provide them with the knowledge they need to achieve their educational and professional goals, thereby strengthening the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department in the process,” said Reggie Hill, UMSL’s vice chancellor for strategic enrollment and career advancement, who led efforts to build the partnership that was signed at a ceremony at St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters. “We recognize that officers need to continually add new skills to advance in their careers. We offer a range of options, including undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, to help them grow within the department.”
The St. Louis Police Foundation will also provide each officer a $500 stipend each year to use toward the cost of learning materials.
“This partnership is another tool to help us draw potential recruits to SLMPD but allows current officers to continue their education which will broaden their perspective in day-to-day work,” St. Louis Metropolitan Police Commissioner Robert Tracy said. “Pursuing higher education will also improve qualifications during the promotional process as we build officers to become law enforcement leaders for our next generation.”
Read more about the initiative on UMSL’s website.
