"A college degree does not put out a fire." "He has a lot of book knowledge, but no common sense." These are some of the refrains heard in fire houses nationwide when college degrees or college credit is required for entry into a fire department or for promotion to a technical or officer position. Firefighters ask why college credit is needed to be a good firefighter. We have excellent training programs. We go to class all the time and we have numerous certifications to attain and maintain. These are legitimate questions and concerns. With any change in a profession's paradigm there is a transition period wrought with resistance, questioning of motives and needs, and discomfort and fear. What follows is a discussion of why higher education is needed, how it can be attained, what is available, and the results of higher education for the fire service.
Higher education is needed for the fire service. The fire service is no longer an isolated profession that can nurture its unique culture without outside influences. This process began thirty years ago with the advancements in emergency medical services. No longer could the fire service be separate from adopting state-of-the-art emergency medicine in day-to-day operations. Today this has continued with the disciplines of emergency management and hazardous materials response and mitigation. Also with the advent of responding to terrorism in the last ten years the fire service is no longer isolated. It is in the mix of multiple agencies and disciplines. The fire service should not only be a part of the mix, but the fire service should be the leader in emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, response to terrorist acts; while using the most advanced technology, training and techniques to meet these new demands and improving the response to the traditional services we provide.
Firefighters must have the tools to meet these new and continuing demands. These include communication skills for interaction with the public and other agencies and the ability to manage complex budgets and programs. There is also the need for the ability to analyze resource allocation and response data. The fire service professional must be able to make thoughtful, experienced, decisive and educated decisions on the fireground and for the organization. And there is the need for quality management and leadership which demands new skills that higher education can help meet. How the leadership of the fire service is perceived is very important. Within the fire service we value experience, training and time on the streets. But this is not enough for the interaction that takes place outside. Firefighters must be articulate, educated, skilled and credentialed for the credibility we need within the public safety and public service communities. And this is not only for the administrators, but is also required for the company officers and shift commanders. They are the most visible people in the fire service. They are the people who develop the relationships with other agency's personnel and the public. More often they are program managers and developers of innovative change. They will be the administrative leadership for the fire service of the future.
How a firefighter attains a college education is important. The most important requirement is for the firefighter to take personal responsibility for their education. They need to do the research, find the appropriate program of study, and put the same effort into their education as they put into getting hired, completing a recruit academy, or making a promotion. Higher education should be another aspect of a firefighter's career. It is also very important for the organization to nurture and support their firefighters in attaining the education the organization deems important. First, the organization must formalize a college education in its structure. This can be as an entry level requirement and as a requirement for promotion. These requirements must be reasonable. There must be a transition process to bring incumbents up to the level required and there must be minimum standards for entry level employment. The experience of the incumbent should be highly valued and taken into account. This can be done by substituting experience for education and it can be done by finding a college program that gives credit for prior learning: education, experience and training. It is very important for the organization to clearly define the requirements, especially when promotions and other conditions of employment are involved. Secondly, the organization must provide resources for the firefighter. This includes educational cost reimbursement, organizational coordination with educational institutions, time for classes, technology in the workplace, and pay incentives. If the organization truly values higher education, assistance to the firefighter should be a priority. Finally, the organization must realize the positive and negative consequences of an educational requirement. Some of these aspects are the reallocation of scarce resources to education, the effect on the pool of qualified applicants for entry and promotion, and the effect on quality of service.
The next subject is what kind of higher education is of value. At any level of an accredited college education, in any discipline, there are certain aspects that are valuable to the fire service. A college education foremost develops communications skills. This is the ability to verbally and in writing clearly organize and communicate your thoughts. Another aspect is technical knowledge gained from studying an certain discipline. Also of value is the discipline and drive involved in beginning and completing a degree program. For the entry level, technical level and company officer level any college degree from an accredited college or university is of great value. It is important for the firefighter to choose a degree that meets their educational and career goals. Valuable subjects of study for the firefighter are fire science, public administration, business, human resources, leadership and management. Also of value are more technical degree programs: engineering, information systems, networking, and computer technology.
The college of choice for your degree program is very important. Options include your local community college, four year college or university. With the advent of new computer technologies it is possible to start and complete a degree without ever stepping foot on the campus. From personal experience I can attest to the quality of education that is available through many distant learning degree programs. There are many colleges throughout the United States that offer excellent degree programs at a distance through independent study and over the internet. Advantages of these programs include attending a quality school without having to live in a different community, being able to schedule school time around your work and family, and interacting with students and faculty from different communities and careers. It may also be advantageous for you to find a program that has credit for prior learning. Find a program that values your previous experience, education and training and awards credit for that experience. The National Fire Academy has a bachelor degree program at cooperating schools throughout the country that accept many two-year degrees towards their degree. The National Fire Academy values higher education for the fire service professional. The degree options are many. They can meet your needs: the right program, at a fair price, and within your schedule. There is a degree program for you. It is important for the firefighter and the organization to take into account all of these aspects.
The results of higher education becoming an integrated part of the fire service culture and institution are positive. Higher education gives a greater degree of professionalism, credibility, and competence within and without the fire service. It creates new opportunities for fire service professionals to be community leaders, fire service innovators, and to influence our society. We need to be the leaders of the public safety community and valued leaders in the public service community. The fire service is at an historical crossroads. With experience, quality training and certification, and higher education firefighters have the opportunity to improve their service to their communities and our society, making a recognized impact on American history.
