SRU preparing security agents for the work force
SLIPPERY ROCK — In addition to a multitude of new programs in recent years, Slippery Rock University is also now prepping specialized security agents for the work force.
One of SRU's newest programs is in security studies, which has degrees in both homeland and corporate security fields.
Students with these degrees can go on to be police officers and detectives for local departments — or even FBI agents, among many other jobs.
The university has developed 17 programs in the last four years, and there are more still in development, according to Amanda Yale, associate provost for enrollment management.
“I think it's important that we're not just developing programs to develop programs,” Yale said. “We do a lot of market research on the programs that we're thinking about.”
Yale said the new programs also have led the university to new heights.
Of SRU's record fall 2017 enrollment of 8,895, exactly 500 students were enrolled in 13 programs that launched between the spring 2015 and fall 2016 terms.
Some of the new programs are firsts for the university — like the bachelor's program in engineering — while others are expanding into graduate studies or condensing a combination of both.
“Many of our undergraduate programs serve as feeder programs to some of the graduate programs,” Yale said.
Other new programs include courses of study like the Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance and the Master of Science in physician assistant studies, which accounted for one-fifth of the new student total.
Yale said the university offers programs that allow students to earn a three-year bachelor's degree and two-year master's degree. Accelerated programs can vary in degree progression. It could be a three-year bachelor's degree and three-year master's degree or a standard four-year bachelor's degree with an accelerated one-year master's degree.
“We have mapped out their pathways so they can do it in three plus two,” Yale said.
She said the accelerated programs allow students to save time and money, but at the cost of intensity. She said some students may not feel comfortable with an accelerated program.“If a student feels too accelerated, they can drop to that four-year undergrad as well,” she said.Yale said some of SRU's new programs have done so well that they already have begun to evolve.Susan Lubinski, an associate professor and coordinator for the securities programs, said the new homeland and corporate security programs will have their own department as of June 1.“This is going to be its own new department,” Lubinski said. “That's how fast we've grown.”Lubinski said either degree would prepare its students for a competitive and growing market.Lubinski said Economic Modeling Specialists International projected 17 percent growth in the investigation and security services industry between 2015 and 2025. She said the Department of Labor and Industry are also anticipating a 20.9 percent growth in Western Pennsylvania in investigation and security industries between 2010 and 2020.Lubinski said the program's growth has mimicked the growth in the industry.“I have quality students in this program. They're all go-getters,” she said.She said the last few years have been almost like golden years for the university in terms of adding new programs that are finding quick success.“I couldn't be prouder to be a faculty member at SRU during this time period,” Lubinski said. “They positioned us for the 21st century for students. To say that speaks to our leadership.”Yale said the university is heading in the right direction for development.“New programs change our competitive structure,” Yale said. “We have to diversify the programs based on the market demand within the region. As an institution, we can't just rely on the programs, like education, that we are historically known for to drive our future. This diversification of our programs is the key to success.”
