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From Service to Scholarship
Officer Tyler Hughes completes his educational journey through VWU-VBPD Partnership
University News | December 18, 2024
As a Virginia Beach police officer, Tyler Hughes’ chances for advancement were limited without a bachelor’s degree. Two years ago, he seized on an opportunity to change his career trajectory. That’s when Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) announced a partnership with the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) to create an innovative program designed to help officers complete their degrees while balancing the demands of their careers. For Hughes, this partnership was life-changing—a chance to achieve a long-held goal and take the next step in his career. 
Growing up in Seatack, Virginia Beach’s oldest historically African American community, Hughes saw firsthand the importance of having leaders who represent and understand their communities. “Not seeing a lot of police officers of color made me want to become a police officer,” Hughes said. “I wanted to be that person my family and community could come to and rely upon.”
Before joining the police department, Hughes worked for the Virginia Department of Transportation as a Safety Service Patroller, assisting motorists across the busy interstates of the Hampton Roads area. His transition to law enforcement came with a sense of purpose, but as his career progressed, he realized the next step required a degree. That’s when Hughes learned about VWU’s academic partnership with the VBPD.
“The department sent an email about the program, and I attended the informational meeting with coordinators from VWU and VBPD,” Hughes explained. “They showed us how manageable it could be to earn our degree while working full time.”
The partnership between VWU and the VBPD, first announced in August 2022, is an innovative program that acknowledges and values the rigorous training officers receive in their roles. VWU evaluates the VBPD Basic Recruit Curriculum and transfers up to 32 college-level credits, allowing officers to accelerate their degree completion. Combined with additional transfer credits, officers can enter the program well on their way to earning a degree in criminal justice, sociology, or psychology.
For Hughes, who had previously started his college career at Tidewater Community College, this program was a game changer. “I always wanted to go back to school and finish what I started,” Hughes said. “The demands of police work made it hard to figure out how to do that. After hearing about the perks of this program, I knew it was the right choice.”
As a VWU student, Hughes found an environment that empowered him to succeed despite the challenges of balancing his job and studies. “My experience as a VWU student was welcoming and accomplishing,” Hughes shared. “Everyone went above and beyond to help me achieve my goals—from my advisors to the professors. They were all so supportive.”
When Officer Hughes crosses the stage at this week’s Winter Commencement and receives his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, he does so with a bright future in mind. His ultimate goal is to step into federal law enforcement, but he’s also considering leadership opportunities within the VBPD, and says that completing this degree will open many doors, and he hopes that many of his fellow officers follow in his footsteps.
Winter Commencement will take place on Friday, December 20, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. and can be viewed on the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network.