UWP's Online Courses Help Law Enforcement Personnel Advance in Profession

Registration is now open for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s online non-credit courses: First-Line Supervisory Training and Leadership in Police Organization. The courses were developed in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Justice to meet the needs of law enforcement professionals who wish to advance in their careers by continuing their education. Registration will close on August 22, 2006.

(PRWEB) July 19, 2006 -- In the past, the training of police officers focused primarily on the physical aspects of the job. As the profession has evolved, however, more emphasis has been placed on crisis resolution, community policing and crime prevention. Officers wishing to advance in their field are now required to have leadership and communication skills before they may be considered for promotion.

In response to these changes in the criminal justice profession, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Justice in 2004 to provide an online First-Line Supervisory Training certificate course geared towards criminal justice professionals. This innovative non-credit program was developed with funding provided by the Department of Justice and focuses on the role and function of the first-line supervisor in criminal justice agencies.

The new course has been a success, in part because the online format has appealed to many working police officers who serve in isolated communities or who have unpredictable schedules. With asynchronous online courses, the officers are able to log into their virtual classroom and complete their assignments at their convenience.

In addition to the flexible schedule, officers enrolled in the online courses benefit from networking with other professionals in the virtual classroom. This aspect of the program was particularly useful for Lt. Jeffrey Zachow of the Summit, WI, Police Department who notes: “Answers to discussion questions from other classmates have a real world applicability to our careers. I found the in-depth commentary by the other professionals enrolled to be very insightful.”

Following the success of its initial program, UWP is launching a new non-credit course, Leadership in Police Organizations, in Fall 2006. The course was developed for mid-level supervisors in the criminal justice field and explores theories of leadership, human motivation, employee satisfaction, and peak performance as they relate to the achievement of organizational goals. Representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Justice worked with UWP faculty to ensure that the program is relevant to the law enforcement profession.

Registration is now open for both courses at www.uwplatt.edu/disted/certificates.htm. The online registration deadline is August 22, 2006. Wisconsin law enforcement officers may be eligible for scholarships from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. For further details, visit www.uwplatt.edu/disted, call 800-362-5460.

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