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.

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.

One of Nation's Leading Healthcare Systems Partners with Online University

ORANGE BEACH, AL – NCH Healthcare System, ranked in the nation’s top five percent of hospitals according to HealthGrades, a leading U.S. healthcare ratings company, is now offering discounted educational programs through a new partnership with Columbia Southern University (CSU). This is the fourth consecutive year this organization has received recognition as the HealthGrades’ 2008 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence for reducing mortality and complication rates. CSU, one of the nation’s first completely online universities, offers an accredited bachelor’s degree in health care administration and a MBA concentration in health care management NCH Healthcare System employees can take advantage of.

As a part of the partnership with CSU, NCH Healthcare System staff, their spouses and children will be provided with special educational benefits including a tuition discount and application fee waiver. NCH Healthcare System will also be featured on the CSU website, in marketing materials, and at conferences and speaking engagements.

“Giving employees benefits such as online education discounts attracts some of the best professionals in the field, helping us maintain our place as one of the nation’s leading healthcare providers,” said Dora Krauss, Director of Education for NCH Healthcare System. “Partnering with CSU offers our employees an affordable, reputable education.”

The NCH Healthcare System is a not-for-profit organization with more than a dozen locations throughout southwest Florida that offer advanced heart, cancer, obstetric, newborn, and pediatric care. NCH Downtown Naples Hospital and NCH North Naples Hospital provide care for over 30,000 patients a year in a 681 bed system. Both hospitals have been awarded accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

In 2007, NCH Healthcare System was ranked number one in Florida for both cardiac and cardiology services by HealthGrades ratings. Specialty Excellence Awards have also been granted to the system for cardiac, pulmonary care, stroke care, and women’s health services.

“At Columbia Southern University we feel that everyone has the right to earn a quality education,” said Chantell Cooley, Vice President of Partnership Development for CSU. “Our partnerships with organizations such as NCH Healthcare System, ensures that their employees have easier access to an education and the tools necessary to be successful in the workforce.”

CSU also holds partnerships with other organizations including Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Delta Airlines, and Commtest, Inc. Over 150 fire, police, and corporate organizations take advantage of the benefits offered by partnering with CSU.

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

Social Networking Edges its Way Into Online Education

The absence of social networking has always been one of the major arguments for online education opponents – until now. Columbia Southern University (CSU), one of the nation’s first completely online universities, recently launched the CSU Click, an exclusive new social networking community for CSU alumni.

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Online University Partners with International Healthcare Association

ORANGE BEACH, AL – Healthcare administrators around the world now have access to discounted degree programs. The International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS), the only organization dedicated to serving healthcare facility managers and directors of security and safety programs across the globe, is now offering its members online education resources through a new partnership with Columbia Southern University (CSU).

As a part of the partnership, IAHSS members, their spouses and children will be provided with special educational benefits including a tuition discount and application fee waiver. IAHSS will also be featured on the CSU website, in marketing materials, and at conferences and speaking engagements.

“Today’s business climate demands that healthcare administrators hold a degree to advance in this industry,” said Evelyn Meserve, IAHSS Executive Director. “This partnership gives us a way to let our members know that we care about their professional future.”

CSU offers an accredited bachelor’s degree in health care administration and a MBA with a concentration in health care management the 1,600 members of IAHSS can take advantage of. Degree programs are also available in business administration, international management, marketing, human resource management and more.

The IAHSS mission is to make advancements in healthcare security and safety worldwide. Members of the association span the globe and include healthcare security directors, safety managers, and individuals pursuing a degree in a related field. IAHSS provides a series of training manuals and exams that have helped more than 20,000 individuals earn basic training certification. IAHSS also provides training in emergency management and preparedness in case of security threats to healthcare institutions.

“IAHSS is the third healthcare partnership for CSU, joining Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Naples Community Hospital Healthcare” said Chantell Cooley, Vice President of Partnership Development. “We look forward to expanding our partnerships within this industry in order to serve the people who offer our community healthcare services when they are in need.”

CSU also holds partnerships with more than 200 fire, police and corporate organizations including the New York Fire Department, Delta Airlines, and HR for Techs.

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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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.