NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

3/28/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Law enforcement personnel seeking to earn an associate or bachelor's degree in criminal justice may be able to earn that degree less expensively at Northwestern State University.

NSU has received approval from the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors to offer fee reductions to those employed full-time by a law enforcement agency in the university's service area.

"Gaining a college education can be very helpful to those in law enforcement by helping individuals do their job better and advance in their career," said Joe Morris, coordinator of Northwestern's criminal justice program. "This will make it easier for those officers who want to obtain a degree in criminal justice to do so. This fee exemption applies to classes taken traditionally in the classroom and via the Internet."

Plans are to begin the fee exemption this summer. Those who qualify can take up to six hours each semester and receive a reduction of up to $406 per semester, according to Morris. To maintain the fee reduction, the individual must maintain a 2.0 grade point average.

"I have high hopes that this program will reach police officers who otherwise would not have the opportunity to go to college," said Morris.

According to Morris, he began working on the fee reduction program after receiving an inquiry from Natchitoches police chief Ralph Peters about what assistance could be given to police officers attending college.

Northwestern State University has approved a program that will provide great opportunities for our peace officers," said Peters. "Quite simply put, a better educated officer is a more professional officer. The reduction in tuition fees for peace officers will allow officers to pursue degrees, many of whom could not have done so for financial reasons."

Peters said each officer who is exposed to higher education will improve their performance, attitude, decision making, and overall ability in their chosen field.

"Many of the classes at NSU provide advanced training in areas of law enforcement that local agencies could not afford to provide to their officers," he said. "Now, this some of this training is here locally at an affordable price to our already underpaid officers. This is a great service to the citizens of Natchitoches and the surrounding parishes."

Morris said NSU president Dr. Randall J. Webb, provost and vice president for academic affairs Dr. Thomas A. Burns and head of the Department of Social Sciences Dr. Kathleen Byrd approved his fee reduction proposal and quickly began working to implement it.

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