Franklin University Helps Shape the Future of Community Policing Through Innovative Partnership Recognized in the 2025 NewDEAL Ideas Challenge

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

For more than 120 years, Franklin University has stood as a cornerstone of education, innovation, and workforce development in Central Ohio, preparing leaders who strengthen the communities where they live and serve. That tradition continues today through Franklin’s collaboration with the Columbus City Attorney’s Office and the Columbus Division of Police on the Community Immersion Program, a groundbreaking initiative recently selected as a winner in the NewDEAL Ideas Challenge 2025.

Designed to reimagine how officers learn to serve their communities, the program offers a first-of-its-kind, 192-hour training track. With Franklin University as the academic and research partner, recruits engage in classroom learning, fieldwork, and neighborhood immersion to gain deeper insight into the social, historical, and relational context of the areas they protect.

“As an institution committed to serving working adults and public-sector leaders, Franklin University is proud to help bridge trust and strengthen community relationships through data-informed education,” said Dr. Chenelle Jones, chair, Public Safety Programs. “By combining academic rigor with hands-on community engagement, this program demonstrates how education can transform not just careers but entire communities.”

Since its launch, more than 400 officers from 10 recruit classes have participated. Data from Franklin University show measurable progress, including reductions in use-of-force incidents and officer complaints, along with increased understanding of the communities served.

This initiative reflects more than a partnership; it represents Franklin University's enduring mission to empower individuals through education that drives real-world change. As Central Ohio continues to evolve, Franklin remains committed to leading collaborations that build trust, foster understanding, and strengthen the foundations of safety and belonging across every community we touch.

To learn more about how Franklin is educating tomorrow’s public safety and cybersecurity professionals, visit the Center for Public Safety and Cybersecurity Education (CPSCE), your gateway to flexible programs, workforce training, and leadership development in the rapidly evolving fields of public safety and cybersecurity: https://bit.ly/3JJ3gjj.

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).