by Brianna Crandall — September 29, 2017 — Kaplan University and the International Foundation of Protection Officers (IFPO) have just announced a partnership that is designed to expand access to professional training and higher education for professional private security officers. The announcement was made at the ASIS International Seminar and Exhibits security event in Dallas, Texas.
“While there are more than 2.2 million people employed in the security field, there are still not enough professionals to fill the increased demand for services,” said Sandi J. Davies, IFPO Executive Director. IFPO has trained more than 80,000 individuals who have graduated with IFPO certifications.
Through the partnership agreement, the Certified Protection Officer program (CPO) and Certified in Security Supervision and Management (CSSM) certifications offered through IFPO will translate into direct course credit that can be applied toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Kaplan University. IFPO members will also be eligible for reduced tuition rates on courses at Kaplan University. Furthermore, Kaplan University students will be able to take the certification courses at a discounted rate.
Tom M. Conley, president and CEO of The Conley Group, Inc., a Des Moines, Iowa, professional security services provider, and immediate past international board chair of IFPO, added:
A partnership between IFPO and Kaplan University is an industry game-changer for the entire security industry. Education is now a critical element to the success of security officers at every level. IFPO certifications, combined with a higher education degree, work well together and provide an exponential return on investment for both the client and the community.
Kaplan University courses are all available online, providing the convenience and flexibility that security officers, who typically work non-traditional hours, need in order to continue working while earning their degree.
Bryon Mills, director of Public Sector Solutions at Kaplan, who was present for the announcement, remarked:
A win-win partnership like this one with IFPO is what Kaplan University is best at. Providing a high-quality, affordable education for busy working professionals who need or want to earn their college credential and advance in their careers is core to our mission.
The International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO) is dedicated to providing meaningful and cost-effective security training for security guards and protection officers. It believes that education is a necessary and essential part of professional security training and the security officer’s background. IFPO serves individuals, security companies, and organizations that have their own private security staff.
Kaplan University is a for-profit college that serves approximately 29,200 online and campus-based students in a variety of degree programs. It is part of Kaplan, Inc., which offers test preparation and other services in over 30 countries, and was recently bought by Indiana’s Purdue University with the aim of making it a nonprofit institution. Kaplan University, which has its main campus in Davenport, Iowa, and its headquarters in Chicago, is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. The University has 13 campuses in Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Maryland, Maine, and Wisconsin, and Kaplan University Learning Centers in Missouri and Maryland.
