Mercyhurst Intel students earn credits, professional certification with one course

Twenty-five seniors and 14 graduate students in the Department of Intelligence Studies at Mercyhurst University have earned professional certification from the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA), a built-in bonus for having completed Mercyhurst’s Advanced Law Enforcement Intelligence course.

As a result, the students are exempted from the certification training requirement set by the IALEIA, which is the largest professional organization in the world representing law enforcement and crime analysts.

In October 2022, IALEIA approved Mercyhurst’s course as inclusive of IALEIA’s own certification requirements, an endorsement that makes Mercyhurst the only nongovernmental education or training program in Pennsylvania and one of only four universities worldwide to qualify for IALEIA’s professional certification and accreditation.

According to course instructor Dr. Dalene Duvenage, “Our course exceeds the criteria that are based on the training guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Justice.”

Certification connotes professionalism and leadership through participation, education, and contributions to the law enforcement analytical community.  It also provides employers with an enhanced means by which to measure the analytical competencies and experience of their analysts.

Duvenage noted that Mercyhurst graduates are sought-after in the law enforcement and private sectors. “By the time these students finish their course, they understand all types of information gathering, can apply at least 12 analytical techniques in a threat assessment, and know how to communicate their findings to investigators and senior decision-makers,” she said.

IALEIA represents 3,000 intelligence analysts from more than 50 countries who work in local, county, state, federal, provincial, and international law enforcement entities around the world. IALEIA members also include intelligence analysts who work in a variety of private sector industries such as finance, insurance, retail, private investigations, technology, and security consultation.

PHOTO: Dr. Dalene Duvenage