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.

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.

“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.

Online University Partners with Second Largest U.S Fire Department

ORANGE BEACH, AL – The second largest fire department in the U.S. as ranked by Firehouse Magazine, the Chicago Fire Department, recently signed a partnership with one of the nation’s first completely online universities, Columbia Southern University (CSU). Chicago firefighters, along with their spouses and children will receive a 10 percent tuition discount and application fee waiver as a result of this partnership.

“We have over 5,500 members in the Chicago Fire Department who will be reaping the rewards of this partnership,” said Captain Bob Martin of the Chicago Fire Department. “We hope that through this partnership our members will take the opportunity to pursue a quality education.”

The Chicago Fire Department was established in 1832 and is one of the oldest organized fire departments in the nation. It serves the almost three million citizens of Chicago, Illinois with fire suppression and prevention, alleviation of hazardous materials, rescue agencies, and Emergency Medical Service. The department currently employees over 5,500 firefighters and paramedics and has 98 engine companies, 59 truck companies, and 59 ambulance companies.

“At CSU, we are committed to providing firefighters and emergency medical service personnel with the education they need to succeed in their careers,” said Chantell Cooley, Vice President of Partnership Development. “Open enrollment, flexible courses, and affordable tuition make earning a quality education possible for those with demanding and unpredictable schedules.”

CSU also holds learning partnerships with more than 200 organizations including Delta Air Lines, National Sheriffs’ Association, Commtest, and Quantum Drilling. Over half of CSU partners are fire departments and include the New York City Fire Department, Tulsa Fire Department, Hemet Fire Department, and Tampa Fire and Rescue.

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.