Oklahoma's Largest Fire Department Partners with Online University

Oklahoma’s largest fire and rescue department, Oklahoma City Fire Department, protects the more than half a million residents of the state’s capital. Through a recent partnership with Columbia Southern University (CSU), Oklahoma City Fire Department employees are now eligible for special educational benefits. An application fee waiver and 10 percent tuition discount are now available to over 1,000 Oklahoma City Fire Department personnel, along with their spouses and children.

“Because we have such a large number of employees, it’s great to reach out to everyone in the department by offering these benefits,” said Major Bryce Brent of the Oklahoma City Fire Department. “We hope that our staff will begin or further their education with CSU.”

The Oklahoma City Fire Department covers 621 square miles with 44 worksites, including 35 fire stations. More than 100 employees are trained in technical rescue and operate as members of a statewide Urban Search and Rescue Team. Each year the department responds to more than 73,000 incidents including structure fires, medical emergencies, grass fires, automobile accidents, and other emergencies.

“Some of the largest fire departments in the U.S. are on the growing list of CSU partner organizations,” said CSU President Robert Mayes. “Our university is committed to helping firefighters fit an education into their unpredictable schedules.”

More than 640 organizations across the U.S. are CSU partners – half of which are fire service organizations. Some of the largest partners include the Fire Department of New York, Chicago Fire Department, National Volunteer Fire Council, and the Hawaii Firefighters Association.

For a complete list of CSU partners, please visit www.columbiasouthern.edu/online/partners or call 1-800-344-5021.