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Compensation for Education
Good Evening.
I am currently working on my BA of Professional Studies with a concentration in Fire Prevention Technology through the University of Memphis. Eventually I plan to hold a PhD in a fire service related field.
I am a career firefighter, and upon speaking with my fire chief about covering some of the cost of my schooling, which is not required by my department, he suggested that I research what other fire departments around the country do as far as paying for tuition of firefighters enrolled in college courses.
This does not apply to Fire Academy courses, as all of those are paid through my department.
I know some fire departments pay 100% of tuition for classes that recieve an A, 75% of tuition for classes that recieve a B and 50% of tuition for classes that recieve a C.
Once I finish my research I am going to compile a report that our fire chief will then present at the next budget meeting. I feel that if I complete this project in an excellent manner, then perhaps it will inspire others at my fire department to want to pursue a degree who could not afford it without assistance.
Therefore, what I require from all of you fine folks is an explanation of how your fire department compensates firefighters enrolled in college classes, if at all.
Thank you, and be careful out there.
I am currently working on my BA of Professional Studies with a concentration in Fire Prevention Technology through the University of Memphis. Eventually I plan to hold a PhD in a fire service related field.
I am a career firefighter, and upon speaking with my fire chief about covering some of the cost of my schooling, which is not required by my department, he suggested that I research what other fire departments around the country do as far as paying for tuition of firefighters enrolled in college courses.
This does not apply to Fire Academy courses, as all of those are paid through my department.
I know some fire departments pay 100% of tuition for classes that recieve an A, 75% of tuition for classes that recieve a B and 50% of tuition for classes that recieve a C.
Once I finish my research I am going to compile a report that our fire chief will then present at the next budget meeting. I feel that if I complete this project in an excellent manner, then perhaps it will inspire others at my fire department to want to pursue a degree who could not afford it without assistance.
Therefore, what I require from all of you fine folks is an explanation of how your fire department compensates firefighters enrolled in college classes, if at all.
Thank you, and be careful out there.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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College Tuition Program for The City of Keene, NH. Fire Department
All course work must be approved from the Fire Chief.
Cover 50% of tuition costs
Cover 50% of book purchases
Must maintain an 80% or better
They will also cover you to go to class while on duty; one firefighter per shift for any approved education class.
Good Luck on your mission Sarah.
FETC
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Permalink Reply by Sarah Turner on
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FETC,
That is a new way I have not heard of. Thanks.
I am hoping that if we compile enough information perhaps it can be of use at other fire departments as well. Quality research and justification go a long way in front of council when asking for more money.
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Permalink Reply by Allen Wahlstrom on
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We are in the proccess of getting our tuition reimbursed by the department. It has not happened yet, however...
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Permalink Reply by Mick Mayers on
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See, I will follow up here on what I posted elsewhere. 100% of tuition with a passing grade (3.0 or better) on in-state tuition, unless you get an exemption due to circumstances (like when they first came out with the Homeland Security degrees and you couldn't get one here - now every college is offering one). Books are on your own, but I sold some of mine to our department library (yes, we have a REAL department library). If you get a degree, you are eligible for a bonus, plus, it is a requirement for all chief officer candidates to have a degree or be enrolled in a degree program (no time limit on it yet to be mandatory, but you're just going to have a hard time beating the candidates with degrees when they pull that sheepskin out for the resume part of your interview). So having a degree is pretty essential for promotion these days. Also, our rank structure has "Firefighters" and "Senior Firefighters". IFSAC FF II is a requirement for employment, as is NREMT or better, but SRFF has a list of classes, including some college classes like ENG 101 and Public Speaking. SRFF is a requirement for promotion to Lt. and up, and although a lot of our officers are either working on a degree to keep up with the new personnel, there are more being promoted with degrees and more retiring without them, so in the near future, I see us pretty much filling those spots with college graduates.
Good luck.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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The University of Memphis (formerly Memphis State University) is the FESHE university for South Carolina, so SC firefighters attending the BPS program there are supposed to get in-state tuition if your in either the Fire Administration or Fire Prevention Technology majors.
At least two current and one retired Hilton Head Island chief officers have the Memphis BPS with the Fire Administration concentration.
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Sarah,
For the departments/cities/towns/county's that have educational assistance programs, it is common to have a years-of-service requirement so that you don't have Fire Department A pay for your degree, then use the degree to immediately go to Department B as an officer.
Typically, the requirement is six months to a year of continued service at Department A in return for each semester of full-time tuition/books/fees.
Good luck with your degree, and let me know if I can do anything to help you.
Ben
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Thanks for the help guys..
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Permalink Reply by T.J. on
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My department pays for all training/education that involves fire/ems, and this goes for our local college to. Funny you bring this up, we had Lake State University come down a couple of weeks ago and went over their coarses and our Chief said that he'd pay for any of our fire science classes.
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Permalink Reply by Flyinghi72 on
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Bridgewater State College waives all fees and tuition for town employees. So to attend Bridgewater State would cost nothing if you were a firefighter and it does not matter what courses you are taking, the college still waives everything. This is not from the town or department nor does the college recieve any reimbursement for doing this. It is out of the good will of the college. As for educational incentives from the department, that comes from our contract. For 15 credits you get 500 added to your base salary, 1000 for 30 credits, 1500 for an associates and 2500 for a bachelors. It is however up to the chief to detemine whether or not you get that money based on the nature of the degree. There are no provisions for and degrees or education higher than a bachelors and the reason that was explained to me was due to the fact that it wouldnt benefit the greater number of the membership on the department as more money would be a bargained item...and well anyway...thats what we get.
Ken Holland
NFPA
www.fireservicetoday.org
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sarah,
I forgot to mention that if you a person working here and trying to become a Paramedic though it is paid in full 100%. That is 100% tuition, books, car to travel and time off from any conflicting work. Schedule adjustment works by if you put in 80 hours this week for school /clinicals, you get your regular 42 hours of pay and the rest is calculated into comp time. (extra time off added to your bank)
We pretty much never see our paramedic students.
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Does Bridgewater have online courses? If not, where is it located?
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Betz on
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In Adrian, we must get the approval for the course first, which means the course has to have something to do with fire service, EMS, management etc. Then, you pay for books and the class up-front. You will get 50% (up to a certain limit) back when you show you have passed the class. It used to take forever to get your money back, but it is better now. It's not a lot, but better than nothing at all. Hopefully, when things improve economically, we will go after some improvements in this arena.
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