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Lathrup Village is the newest municipality to join the program. The city’s chief of police, William Armstrong, visited campus last month to participate in the signing ceremony for the partnership.

"This partnership solidifies the relationship between the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Lathrup Village Police Department,” said Kevin Early, associate professor of sociology and director of the criminal justice studies program at ������-Dearborn. “Our relationship is crucial to innovation in law enforcement and community success in tackling major issues in an ever-changing world."

Since fall 2009, the university has formed partnerships with 12 police departments: Allen Park, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Detroit, Lathrup Village, Novi, Southfield, Taylor, Trenton, Wyandotte, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

These partnerships allow officers pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees at ������-Dearborn the opportunity to receive a scholarship that provides a credit for 20 percent of their tuition costs and fees each semester. Collectively, students have received more than $81,000 from ������-Dearborn for their undergraduate and graduate studies on campus.

Prospective students may be admitted to any undergraduate or graduate program the university offers as long as the program’s admission and eligibility criteria are met. ������-Dearborn’s 20 percent tuition credit works in conjunction with any tuition reimbursement program offered by the police departments.

Partnerships with additional city police departments are in the works, according to Susan Cushnier, who helps manage the program at ������-Dearborn.