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.
Showing posts with label fire science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fire science. Show all posts
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Competition Heats Up for Fire Service Jobs
The competition for jobs in fire departments across the U.S. is heating up. Although a degree has not traditionally been essential for firefighters, the demand for more educated applicants is increasing. Firefighters are now competing for positions with candidates who hold associate and bachelor’s degrees.
Columbia Southern University (CSU), one of the nation’s first online universities based in Orange Beach, Alabama recently partnered with the Pensacola Fire Department to help local firefighters gain an edge over the competition. This partnership provides these firefighters, their spouses, and children with special benefits including tuition discounts and an application fee waiver. The fire department will also be featured on the CSU website, in marketing materials, and at conferences and speaking engagements.
Pensacola Fire Department employees can choose from 20 completely online degree programs offered by CSU. Associate, bachelor, and certificate programs in fire science are available. Other degree programs include business administration, information technology, public administration, and more.
“This partnership with CSU will allow us to be more involved in helping our firefighters achieve an education,” said Brock Jester, Fire Captain and Training Officer for the Pensacola Fire Department. “With competition heating up, it is becoming more important for firefighters to have degrees backing their experience.”
The Pensacola Fire Department provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, fire code enforcement, and public education programs to the 60,000 citizens of Pensacola, Florida. Over 130 Pensacola Fire Department employees operate in six fire stations through six engine companies, two ladder companies, three rescue companies and two aircraft rescue firefighting units. The department is also one of the regionally certified training centers in Northwest Florida.
“The number of fire science students enrolled in CSU has nearly doubled since 2007,” said Robert Mayes, President of CSU. “With education comes greater career opportunities – this is also true within the fire service industry.”
CSU holds more than 20 Florida fire department partnerships and roughly 215 around the world. Tampa Fire and Rescue, Destin Fire Control District, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, and Tallahassee Fire Department are just a few of the Florida fire departments on the growing list of CSU partners.
Columbia Southern University (CSU), one of the nation’s first online universities based in Orange Beach, Alabama recently partnered with the Pensacola Fire Department to help local firefighters gain an edge over the competition. This partnership provides these firefighters, their spouses, and children with special benefits including tuition discounts and an application fee waiver. The fire department will also be featured on the CSU website, in marketing materials, and at conferences and speaking engagements.
Pensacola Fire Department employees can choose from 20 completely online degree programs offered by CSU. Associate, bachelor, and certificate programs in fire science are available. Other degree programs include business administration, information technology, public administration, and more.
“This partnership with CSU will allow us to be more involved in helping our firefighters achieve an education,” said Brock Jester, Fire Captain and Training Officer for the Pensacola Fire Department. “With competition heating up, it is becoming more important for firefighters to have degrees backing their experience.”
The Pensacola Fire Department provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, fire code enforcement, and public education programs to the 60,000 citizens of Pensacola, Florida. Over 130 Pensacola Fire Department employees operate in six fire stations through six engine companies, two ladder companies, three rescue companies and two aircraft rescue firefighting units. The department is also one of the regionally certified training centers in Northwest Florida.
“The number of fire science students enrolled in CSU has nearly doubled since 2007,” said Robert Mayes, President of CSU. “With education comes greater career opportunities – this is also true within the fire service industry.”
CSU holds more than 20 Florida fire department partnerships and roughly 215 around the world. Tampa Fire and Rescue, Destin Fire Control District, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, and Tallahassee Fire Department are just a few of the Florida fire departments on the growing list of CSU partners.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
World Wide Web Becomes Growing Educational Resource for Firefighters
ORANGE BEACH, AL – The popularity of online education is reaching more than just business professionals – firefighters, police officers, and construction workers are all earning their degree through the World Wide Web. Columbia Southern University (CSU), one of the nation’s first completely online universities, currently holds more than 120 fire organization partnerships across the U.S. The Nevada Fire Chiefs Association (NFCA) is the most recent addition to this list giving members a tuition discount and application fee waiver.
“Our partnership with CSU will offer our members a very special benefit – easier access to an education,” said Al Gillespie, NFCA President. “Their spouses and children will even be able to earn their degree at a cost much more competitive than what is offered at a majority of other universities.”
The mission of the NFCA is to promote and support the fire service of Nevada. The association provides training in fire prevention, fire extinguishing, leadership, and emergency medical services.
“Out of the 200 organizations CSU is partnered with, 120 of them are fire related,” said Chantell Cooley, CSU Vice President of Partnership Development. “CSU currently has more than 1,600 active fire science students and with the popularity of the fire partnerships that number is expected to continue its growth pattern.”
The New York Fire Department, Chicago Fire Department, Bermuda Fire Service, and Sierra Fire Protection District have also joined CSU as partners.
For more information or to learn how your fire organization can become a CSU partner, please visit www.columbiasouthern.edu/online/partners/ or call 1-800-344-5021.
“Our partnership with CSU will offer our members a very special benefit – easier access to an education,” said Al Gillespie, NFCA President. “Their spouses and children will even be able to earn their degree at a cost much more competitive than what is offered at a majority of other universities.”
The mission of the NFCA is to promote and support the fire service of Nevada. The association provides training in fire prevention, fire extinguishing, leadership, and emergency medical services.
“Out of the 200 organizations CSU is partnered with, 120 of them are fire related,” said Chantell Cooley, CSU Vice President of Partnership Development. “CSU currently has more than 1,600 active fire science students and with the popularity of the fire partnerships that number is expected to continue its growth pattern.”
The New York Fire Department, Chicago Fire Department, Bermuda Fire Service, and Sierra Fire Protection District have also joined CSU as partners.
For more information or to learn how your fire organization can become a CSU partner, please visit www.columbiasouthern.edu/online/partners/ or call 1-800-344-5021.
Online University Helps Firefighters Extinguish the Competition
ORANGE BEACH, AL – Earning a degree has never been more essential for firefighters looking to climb the “career ladder” – until now. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, many fire departments are now requiring at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in fire science, to be promoted any higher than battalion chief. Columbia Southern University (CSU), one of the nation’s first online universities, is teaming up with the Saraland Fire Rescue Department to help firefighters advance through the ranks.
This partnership provides Saraland firefighters, their spouses, and children with special benefits including tuition discounts and application fee waiver. The fire department will also be featured on the CSU website, in marketing materials, and at conferences and speaking engagements.
“Educating our firefighters is a core part of our mission at the Saraland Fire Rescue Department,” said Assistant Fire Chief Dewey Stringfellow. “A degree in fire science is essential for firefighters seeking advancement opportunities within their department.”
Saraland Fire Rescue Department started as a volunteer department in 1959 and has since grown into a paid professional department that protects more than 12,300 Saraland, Alabama residents. The department consists of 32 personnel including 22 firefighter/emergency medical technicians and 10 fire medics.
This partnership provides Saraland firefighters, their spouses, and children with special benefits including tuition discounts and application fee waiver. The fire department will also be featured on the CSU website, in marketing materials, and at conferences and speaking engagements.
“Educating our firefighters is a core part of our mission at the Saraland Fire Rescue Department,” said Assistant Fire Chief Dewey Stringfellow. “A degree in fire science is essential for firefighters seeking advancement opportunities within their department.”
Saraland Fire Rescue Department started as a volunteer department in 1959 and has since grown into a paid professional department that protects more than 12,300 Saraland, Alabama residents. The department consists of 32 personnel including 22 firefighter/emergency medical technicians and 10 fire medics.
“As a partner of fire organizations such as the Saraland Fire Rescue Department, our job is to help the department support its staff,” said Chantell Cooley, CSU Vice President of Partnership Development. “At CSU, we feel that providing a flexible, quality education is the least we can do for the firefighters protecting our communities.”
New York Fire Department, Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association, Frankfurt Fire and EMS, and Tulsa Fire Department are a few of more than 85 fire organizations partnered with CSU. The university offers accredited online associate, bachelor, and certificate programs in fire science.
For more information or to learn how your organization can become a CSU partner, please visit www.columbiasouthern.edu/online/partners/ or call 1-800-344-5021.
Volunteer Fire Organization Offers Online Education as Retention/Recruitment Tool
ORANGE BEACH, AL – More than 70 percent of fire departments are staffed entirely by volunteer firefighters. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the two biggest challenges for keeping these volunteer fire departments adequately staffed are retention and recruitment. Columbia Southern University (CSU), one of the nation’s first completely online universities, is partnering with organizations like the National Volunteer Fire Council (NFVC) to encourage those interested in serving as a volunteer firefighter by offering special educational discounts.
The partnership with CSU provides NVFC members, their spouses and children with special benefits including a tuition discount and application fee waiver. This nonprofit fire and emergency service organization will also be featured on the CSU website, in marketing materials, and at conferences and speaking engagements.
“We are very concerned about the challenges volunteer fire departments face with recruiting firefighters and keeping them on staff,” said Heather Schafer, Executive Director of the NVFC. “By offering resources to our members, such as the opportunity to earn a degree, we are increasing the number of volunteers that will join fire departments and potentially stay on board to serve their community.”
This nonprofit, national organization is the only one whose sole purpose is to represent volunteer fire, rescue and emergency medical services personnel (EMS). Membership includes almost 2,000 volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel in 49 states.
Since 1976, the Council has supported volunteer fire and EMS departments nationwide through education, advocacy, training, and resources. Many programs are offered to benefit volunteer firefighters, EMS personnel and the communities they protect.
The NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program is the only national program dedicated to saving firefighters and EMS personnel from their leading cause of on-duty death - heart disease. This program works to increase awareness on the importance of heart health by providing resources, tools, and tips that firefighters and their families can use to reduce the number of deaths from heart disease and heart attacks.
“As a partner of non-profit fire organizations such as the NVFC, our job is to help the associations support its members,” said Chantell Cooley, CSU Vice President of Partnership Development. “At CSU, we feel that providing a flexible, quality education is the least we can do to help the firefighters protecting our communities.”
New York Fire Department, Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association, Frankfurt Fire and EMS, and Tulsa Fire Department are a few of more than 85 fire organizations partnered with CSU. CSU offers accredited online associate, bachelor and certificate programs in fire science. Other degree and certificate programs are also available.
For more information and a complete list of CSU partnerships, please visit www.columbiasouthern.edu/online/partners/ or call 1-800-344-5021.
The partnership with CSU provides NVFC members, their spouses and children with special benefits including a tuition discount and application fee waiver. This nonprofit fire and emergency service organization will also be featured on the CSU website, in marketing materials, and at conferences and speaking engagements.
“We are very concerned about the challenges volunteer fire departments face with recruiting firefighters and keeping them on staff,” said Heather Schafer, Executive Director of the NVFC. “By offering resources to our members, such as the opportunity to earn a degree, we are increasing the number of volunteers that will join fire departments and potentially stay on board to serve their community.”
This nonprofit, national organization is the only one whose sole purpose is to represent volunteer fire, rescue and emergency medical services personnel (EMS). Membership includes almost 2,000 volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel in 49 states.
Since 1976, the Council has supported volunteer fire and EMS departments nationwide through education, advocacy, training, and resources. Many programs are offered to benefit volunteer firefighters, EMS personnel and the communities they protect.
The NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program is the only national program dedicated to saving firefighters and EMS personnel from their leading cause of on-duty death - heart disease. This program works to increase awareness on the importance of heart health by providing resources, tools, and tips that firefighters and their families can use to reduce the number of deaths from heart disease and heart attacks.
“As a partner of non-profit fire organizations such as the NVFC, our job is to help the associations support its members,” said Chantell Cooley, CSU Vice President of Partnership Development. “At CSU, we feel that providing a flexible, quality education is the least we can do to help the firefighters protecting our communities.”
New York Fire Department, Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association, Frankfurt Fire and EMS, and Tulsa Fire Department are a few of more than 85 fire organizations partnered with CSU. CSU offers accredited online associate, bachelor and certificate programs in fire science. Other degree and certificate programs are also available.
For more information and a complete list of CSU partnerships, please visit www.columbiasouthern.edu/online/partners/ or call 1-800-344-5021.
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