(Burbank, CA ­ September 19, 2002) Woodbury University today announced an educational partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that allows both sworn officers and professional staff to earn a bachelor's degree specially designed to help them better meet the needs of the diverse population that they serve.

In addition to the 16,000 employees of the sheriff's department, the organizational leadership degree program is open to the more than 90,000 people working for the County of Los Angeles.

The new Woodbury degree program emphasizes conflict resolution, communication, leadership, socioeconomics and management. Sheriff Lee Baca believes that a highly educated workforce is more efficient and better equipped to meet the needs of the community.

"Our collaboration with Woodbury University will provide the critical thinking skills needed by all employees to improve quality of life issues within the communities we serve," says Baca.

The first classes leading to degrees in organizational leadership are now underway at the Sheriff's North Academy in Santa Clarita and Sheriff's headquarters in Monterey Park. The strategic alliance with the sheriff's department is part of Woodbury's long tradition of meeting the ever-changing educational needs of the community.

"Woodbury is committed to making Southern California a better place to live and this partnership with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department is one very tangible way that we can make this happen. Education is absolutely essential to improving society," says Kenneth R. Nielsen, Ed.D., president, Woodbury University.

Founded in 1884, Woodbury University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Southern California. An accredited, nonprofit university, Woodbury is located on a 22-acre residential campus in Burbank and offers bachelor's degrees from the School of Architecture and Design, Business and Management, and Arts and Sciences. Woodbury also offers a master of business administration as well as weekend and evening study for working adults. A San Diego campus was established in 1998 to offer bachelor of architecture degrees.