Securitas and Purdue University Global offer employee security certificate programs
Securitas Security Services USA, the knowledge leader in the protective services industry, announced an exclusive partnership with Purdue University Global to offer four security certificate programs to enhance the knowledge and skills of its security officers, and significant financial benefits to assist officers in earning associate and bachelor degrees.
Purdue Global, a public, accredited nonprofit online institution of higher education, developed the 20-credit certificate programs in partnership with Securitas for the following areas of expertise: management and leadership, customer service, security awareness and prevention, and security preparedness and response.
Using a customized selection of courses in its School of Business and Information Technology and the Department of Public Safety in its School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Purdue Global academic leaders worked with Securitas senior management to customize the 20-credit certificates for security-specific application.
This initiative is called the Securitas Learning, Education and Development (LEAD) Program. Securitas is providing its security officers scholarships that will pay a minimum of 90 percent of tuition for these certificate courses, which can then be applied toward select Purdue Global degrees.
The partnership, facilitated by Kaplan Higher Education as part of its operational support role to Purdue Global, also establishes an educational benefit to help officers earn associate’s or bachelor’s degrees from Purdue Global.
Securitas will provide up to 1,000 scholarships each year for eligible high-performing officers in the U.S. selected through a competitive process.
“Securitas continues to be ‘The Leader in Protective Services,’ and this benefit is yet another example of our commitment to our officers, clients and the industry,” said Rod Musser, executive vice president of human resources for Securitas Services North America.
“This program is specifically designed to enhance our officers’ security knowledge, professionalism and leadership. Because our clients recognize the mutual benefit of Securitas having highly trained security professionals, we will create a greater competitive advantage while improving our ability to recruit and retain the best security professionals in the industry.”
Musser added, “We are committed to investing in our employees, and our due diligence indicated that Purdue Global was the preferred partner to provide the tailored, rigorous curriculum we desire. With the flexibility of an online education, the university has proven its ability to deliver a superior student experience with measurable results for working adults.”
“We worked closely with Securitas leaders to develop the course selections that specifically address the capabilities they envision for their workforce,” said Jeffrey Buck, PhD, dean of Purdue Global’s School of Business and Information Technology.
“Securitas understands the value of continuous learning for its employees and the subsequent benefits for its clients. Making this substantial investment will help Securitas to maintain its position as the thought leader in the security industry. We look forward to delivering a personalized, high-quality education for each Securitas student while being sensitive to the demands of attending school online as a working adult.”