Supervisory Leadership Institute

The Certificate of Achievement in Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) is designed for current and aspiring law enforcement supervisors seeking to strengthen their leadership effectiveness through advanced education aligned with the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute. This program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and insight to lead with integrity, self-awareness, and adaptability in complex public safety environments.

Students complete eight advanced one-unit leadership courses (CJA 091A–091H) modeled on the POST SLI curriculum, in addition to CJA 099A Basic Police Academy (30 units) and CJA 059 Law Enforcement Supervisory Course (4 units) for a total of 42 units. Instruction emphasizes values-based leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, ethical decision-making, team dynamics, organizational culture, change management, and personal wellness.

Program Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Lead ethically and adaptively within law enforcement organizations.

2. Demonstrate effective communication, collaboration, and conflict management strategies.

3. Integrate emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and wellness principles into daily leadership practice.

4. Develop and implement leadership strategies that promote procedural justice, accountability, and community trust.

Enrollment Limitations:
Enrollment is limited to students who have successfully completed the California POST Basic Police Academy (CJA 099A) and the Law Enforcement Supervisory Course (CJA 059), or who possess current employment as a sworn law enforcement officer meeting POST eligibility for SLI participation.

This certificate formalizes college credit for completion of the POST Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, supporting professional advancement, organizational leadership capacity, and regional workforce development in public safety management.

The projected annual completers for this program is 500.

The Supervisory Leadership Institute Certificate of Achievement has an occupational goal focused on developing advanced leadership capacity among current and aspiring law enforcement supervisors. The program prepares students to apply ethical, adaptive, and emotionally intelligent leadership practices within complex public safety environments and supports professional advancement in supervisory and management roles.

Objectives

• Provide law enforcement supervisors with advanced leadership competencies aligned with POST standards to strengthen individual and organizational performance.

• Cultivate ethical reasoning, procedural justice, and transparency in supervisory practice to enhance community trust.

• Promote reflective and adaptive leadership skills that prepare students for continued advancement in management and executive roles.

• Equip supervisors to lead with emotional intelligence, resilience, and integrity in support of officer wellness and agency mission success.

This program directly supports workforce development needs within regional and statewide law enforcement agencies by formalizing college credit for the California POST Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI). It aligns with Santa Ana College’s mission to promote student success, lifelong learning, and civic engagement through innovative career education programs.

The Certificate of Achievement in Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) requires the completion of 42 units of coursework designed to develop advanced leadership competencies for current and aspiring law enforcement supervisors.

Students must complete the following sequence:

• CJA 099A – Basic Police Academy (30 units)

• CJA 059 – Law Enforcement Supervisory Course (4 units)

• CJA 091A – Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) Block 1 (1 unit)

• CJA 091B – Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) Block 2 (1 unit)

• CJA 091C – Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) Block 3 (1 unit)

• CJA 091D – Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) Block 4 (1 unit)

• CJA 091E – Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) Block 5 (1 unit)

• CJA 091F – Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) Block 6 (1 unit)

• CJA 091G – Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) Block 7 (1 unit)

• CJA 091H – Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) Block 8 (1 unit)

Total Units: 42.0

Enrollment Limitations:
Students must have successfully completed the California POST Basic Police Academy (CJA 099A) and the Law Enforcement Supervisory Course (CJA 059), or be currently employed as a sworn law enforcement officer meeting POST eligibility requirements for SLI participation.

The eight one-unit SLI blocks are designed to mirror the curriculum of the California POST Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, emphasizing ethical leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, adaptive management, organizational culture, and personal wellness. Courses are taken in sequence as part of a cohort model, ensuring continuity and applied integration of learning outcomes across the program.

Upon completion of the required courses, students will earn a Certificate of Achievement in Supervisory Leadership Institute, which formalizes college credit for completion of the POST SLI program. This certificate supports professional advancement, promotes ethical and effective supervision, and contributes to workforce development in law enforcement leadership throughout the region.

The Supervisory Leadership Institute Certificate of Achievement is a new program at Santa Ana College that formalizes college credit for completion of the California POST Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI).

Currently, no community colleges in the Orange County region offer a POST-aligned Supervisory Leadership Institute program or a Certificate of Achievement specifically modeled after the Sherman Block SLI framework.

While other colleges in the region may provide Administration of Justice or Criminal Justice degrees and certificates that address general law enforcement principles, none offer an advanced, multi-course leadership sequence focused on ethical decision-making, communication, emotional intelligence, and adaptive supervisory practices.

By introducing this new program, Santa Ana College becomes the first community college in the region to offer a POST-aligned, transcripted leadership certificate that supports the professional growth and academic advancement of law enforcement supervisors. This program addresses a clearly identified regional workforce need for advanced supervisory and leadership development within the public safety sector.

The Supervisory Leadership Institute Certificate of Achievement is a new program at Santa Ana College that formalizes college credit for completion of the California POST Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI).

Currently, no community colleges in the Orange County region offer a POST-aligned Supervisory Leadership Institute program or a Certificate of Achievement specifically modeled after the Sherman Block SLI framework.

While other colleges in the region may provide Administration of Justice or Criminal Justice degrees and certificates that address general law enforcement principles, none offer an advanced, multi-course leadership sequence focused on ethical decision-making, communication, emotional intelligence, and adaptive supervisory practices.

By introducing this new program, Santa Ana College becomes the first community college in the region to offer a POST-aligned, transcripted leadership certificate that supports the professional growth and academic advancement of law enforcement supervisors. This program addresses a clearly identified regional workforce need for advanced supervisory and leadership development within the public safety sector.

Based on current enrollment patterns within the Santa Ana College Criminal Justice Academies (CJA) and projected participation in POST-approved supervisory leadership training, it is anticipated that approximately 500 unduplicated students will complete the Certificate of Achievement in Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) annually.

This estimate reflects existing participation in the Law Enforcement Supervisory Course (CJA 059) and interest from current law enforcement supervisors seeking to complete the advanced Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) sequence (CJA 091A–CJA 091H). Because the program is structured as a cohort-based, sequential pathway—Basic Academy → Supervision → Leadership Institute—each student is counted once upon completion of the full certificate sequence.