For Immediate Release
Tulsa, OK - Southern Nazarene University (SNU) Professional Studies is excited to announce a new partnership with the City of Tulsa through the Tulsa Police Department’s (TPD) Academy. This partnership greatly expands the academic opportunities for Tulsa police cadets.
Under the City of Tulsa/Southern Nazarene University Partnership, TPD Academy recruits who successfully complete Academy requirements and meet admission and graduation criteria for their chosen SNU Professional Studies bachelor's degree program will be awarded 45 hours of university credit toward their degree for their extensive Academy work.
Dr. Melissa Lewis, Vice President for Professional and Graduate Studies at SNU, remarked, “It is an honor to partner with individuals who are committed to serving their community, and with the City of Tulsa, whose leadership continues to recognize the value a University degree adds to their officers. The TPD Academy’s high standards for excellence and professionalism are evident, and we are excited to honor their service and engage with them in our learning environments.”
This agreement, formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), provides Tulsa Police cadets with a significant academic advantage compared to similar university partnerships. While other institutions offer between 15 and 27 college credit hours for Academy training, SNU recognizes the rigor of the Tulsa Police Academy and the dedicated work of cadets by offering almost double and even triple the number of transcripted credits.
Additionally, in contrast to other institutions that limit cadets to one specific degree program, SNU allows Tulsa Police recruits to expand their future opportunities and apply their Academy credits to any of SNU’s seven Professional Studies bachelor's degree programs:
- Bachelor of Arts in Education
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
- Bachelor of Science in Family Studies & Gerontology
- Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership
TPD Captain Billy White and SNU-Tulsa Director Dr. Anne Ghost Bear championed this collaboration. The agreement, which takes effect immediately, includes SNU officials participating in TPD Academy commencement ceremonies. SNU graduating cadets will be presented with diplomas and special recognition for completing an SNU degree. In addition, cadets earning an SNU degree are eligible to participate in the university’s commencement ceremonies.
This collaboration celebrates SNU’s College of Professional and Graduate Studies’ mission of providing accessible, accredited, and career-relevant education for adult students while building even stronger relationships with the City of Tulsa and its dedicated law enforcement professionals.
About Southern Nazarene University
Southern Nazarene University, located in Bethany, Oklahoma, is a private Christian liberal arts university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in traditional and adult-focused formats. Through its Professional and Graduate Studies division, SNU delivers flexible, values-based programs designed to help students advance personally and professionally. SNU was instituted in 1899 and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
