(From left) St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Academy Director Clarence Hines, Commissioner Robert Tracy, University of Missouri–St. Louis Chancellor Kristin Sobolik and Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment and Career Advancement Reggie Hill met at the police department’s downtown headquarters on Thursday to finalize a new educational partnership agreement. It will support commissioned officers as they pursue degrees or certificates industry relevant areas through the university. (Photos by Derik Holtmann)
The University of Missouri–St. Louis continues to work to meet the workforce needs of the St. Louis region, including partnering with some of the area’s leading organizations to provide their employees high-quality and affordable opportunities to add new skills and expand their knowledge.
On Thursday, UMSL finalized a new agreement with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department under which the department will cover 100% of the cost of tuition for part-time learners after reimbursement and an UMSL Education Partnership discount. As part of the three-year agreement, the St. Louis Police Foundation will also provide each student a $500 stipend each year to use toward the cost of learning materials.
That support will allow commissioned officers to pursue industry relevant degree and certificate programs that will help them grow in their careers.
UMSL Chancellor Kristin Sobolik joined St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Commissioner Robert Tracy at a signing ceremony Thursday afternoon at the department’s downtown headquarters.
During brief remarks, Sobolik credited UMSL alum Joe Stieven with introducing the idea for the collaboration. Stieven, chairman, president and CEO of Stieven Capital Advisors, is a member of UMSL’s Chancellor’s Council and also serves on the board of the St. Louis Police Foundation.
Reggie Hill, UMSL’s vice chancellor for strategic enrollment and career advancement, and Jamie Liston, the director of strategic partnerships, worked closely with Michelle Craig, president and executive director of the St. Louis Police Foundation, and Clarence Hines, the director of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Academy, to bring the partnership to fruition.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Commissioner Robert Tracy shakes hands with UMSL Chancellor Kristin Sobolik after signing a new educational partnership agreement.
“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,” Hill said. “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.”
Under the agreement, officers will be able to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in everything from criminology and criminal justice to business, communication, computer science, cybersecurity, political science and public policy, psychology, social work and more. The university also has certificate programs in areas such as data science, computer programming, digital and social media marketing, children’s advocacy studies, trauma studies and many others.
UMSL will provide enrollment and advising support tailored to working professionals to all participating officers. The university also offers flexible course offerings, including day, evening and online courses that allow students to choose the options that best fit their schedules.
Participants will also receive 20% off UMSL Advanced Workforce Center Skills Lab non-credit professional development courses and certificates.
“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,” 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.”
The university is committed to working with business partners to identify and address their needs to attract, retain and nurture talented workers through its Advanced Workforce Center. It provides a customized corporate partnership model where employers invest in their employees through degree obtainment as well as through certifications and noncredit coursework.
UMSL has previously established partnerships with BJC HealthCare and Compass Health to help each address their increased needs for quality, trained social workers by supporting employees pursuing their MSW degrees.
The university is a strategic education partner with the Amazon Career Choice program, which provides employees benefits that include full college tuition, industry certifications designed to lead to in-demand jobs.
It has also worked with online learning service providers AllCampus and Bisk, which partner with higher education institutions to make educational opportunities more accessible to working adults. Employees at thousands of organizations across the country can access UMSL bachelor’s and master’s degree programs through the AllCampus workplace and Bisk Amplified™ platforms.
For more information on educational partnerships at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, please contact Jamie Liston, Director of Strategic Partnerships, at jamie.liston@umsl.edu.
