6/25/2008 By Joy Campbell Messenger-Inquirer Public safety officers who want to work on a graduate degree will have a more flexible option this fall -- if enough of them are interested in pursuing a master's degree in public administration. Western Kentucky University officials have responded to Owensboro Police Chief Glenn Skeens' request to create a flexible advanced degree option for that department. A 39-credit-hour program will be rolled out for interested employees at an open house and orientation session from 3 to 5 p.m. today in the community room at the police department. "This is a great partnership with Western," Skeens said. "The flexible scheduling and location will be especially good for officers who are challenged with shift work." Western is combining the master's of public administration degree and the graduate certificate in organizational communication for this new class. The new degree offering also has been extended to all city employees as well as the Daviess County Sheriff's Office, Kentucky State Police and federal law enforcement officers working in the region, Skeens said. "I think it will be a great learning environment, working on a graduate degree with your peers," he said. "You could have group discussions applicable to your work." Western professors are customizing the course content to emphasize public safety and local area situations, James Chappel, director of the MPA program, said in a news release. The city has a tuition reimbursement program that pays 100 percent if the employee earns either an A or B in the course. Skeens said with enough participation, the classes could be offered in the community room at the Owensboro Police Department. The instruction delivery likely will be a hybrid format combining traditional face-to-face teaching with online and Interactive Video Service at the WKU-Owensboro campus. Skeens said other incentives also are built into the program. "The memorandum of agreement with Western will include that they will accept payment at the end of the semester," he said. "Once grades have been received, students would have two weeks to pay their tuition, so that officers and employees are not out that initial expense." The city also hopes that once a degree-seeking class is formed, those students can lock in their tuition rates for the program. "It's a big incentive," Skeens said. The police chief said continuing education and training are keys to success in law enforcement. Officers must keep pace as the world continues to change, he said. As employees continue to learn, that adds value to the community, Skeens said. "Our promotion process is competitive, and this would certainly add value for the employee," he said. "For an officer to participate, it really will be preparing them to be chief of police some day." Western's educators said the customized program is designed to give students who may be new to the public safety field "the insight and background to begin successful careers." It also will prepare "seasoned professionals to assume managerial and administrative positions." The organizational communication certificate program will provide students the opportunity to learn how communication takes place within organizations. Students also may learn how to communicate more effectively in different settings. Up to 20 students will be accepted in the program, which is set to start in the fall. If it's successful, Western's Division of Extended Learning & Outreach expects to offer it to other communities within its regional campuses. Western has been offering an MPA since 1973.