LIBERAL, Kan. – Seward County Community College graduates can finish a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in as few as 12 months under a new agreement between Newman University and the Kansas Association of Community Colleges, the statewide association representing the 19 community colleges and three technical colleges in Kansas.

SCCC is one of the member colleges participating in the pathway, which was signed this past August. The agreement provides a pathway in criminal justice for SCCC graduates, who want a bachelor’s degree ensuring no credits are lost in transfer while completing their degree with substantial scholarships, and working public-safety professionals who already have an established criminal justice career but do not have a bachelor’s degree and could use financial assistance to complete their degree,

There is also financial assistance from Newman University. Every SCCC graduate admitted to the pathway receives a $20,000 Newman scholarship toward the degree. Newman also matches, dollar for dollar, any federal Pell Grant or State of Kansas financial aid the student applies to the program.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our graduates interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice,” said Seward County Community College President Brad Bennett. “We value our partnership with Newman University and appreciate their commitment to providing accessible, high-quality educational opportunities for our students.”

Newman’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice takes 120 credit hours. A student who transfers with an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from SCCC can transfer up to 60 of those hours with them into their bachelor’s degree. Newman then awards up to 30 hours of credit for prior learning, leaving approximately 30 hours to finish at Newman.

The prior learning credit is what makes the timeline work for people already in the field. Newman will evaluate law enforcement basic training through the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center and Kansas CPOST certifications, military training and occupations on a Joint Services Transcript, employer and industry training, current professional certifications, and standardized exams such as CLEP and DSST.

“A lot of people in Kansas law enforcement are two or three semesters from a bachelor’s degree and don’t know it,” said Alden Stout, vice president for academic affairs at Newman University. “They’ve been trained at the academy, they’ve served in the military, they’ve earned certifications, and none of it has ever been counted. This agreement counts it. Then it gets them to the finish line in about a year without asking them to leave the job or the community they serve.”

SCCC students who hold an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from are assured admission to Newman with junior standing. Upper-division coursework is offered in formats built around working schedules, including online and hybrid options, and each student is assigned to an academic adviser and a program liaison. Graduates who hold an Associate of Applied Science degree are also eligible, following a degree audit to confirm general education requirements have been met.

For more information, contact Seward County Community College at (620) 417-1100.

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