SNHU Offers Program for Firefighters, EMS Providers

Oct. 09--CONCORD -- A new program offered by Southern New Hampshire University aims to help firefighters and EMS workers advance.

Many firefighters begin their training right out of high school, said Jeffrey Phillips, bureau chief of Fire Training and Administration in the Department of Safety.

"At the fire academy, we teach them the essential skills," he said. But if they want the skills essential for advancement, he said, they need more formal education.

Phillips said a firefighter's schedule doesn't lend itself to a rigid class schedule at a bricks and mortar institution.

Enter College for America, at SNHU. Phillips said the online program enables firefighters and EMS personnel to progress at their own speed and fit studying into their schedules as they make progress toward an associate's or bachelor's degree.

Phillips said the New Hampshire Fire Academy and EMS is now partnering with SNHU to assist fire and EMS personnel to obtain an associate's or even a bachelor's degree at a reasonable cost. By reasonable, he means $2,500 a year.

That means $5,000 for an associate's degree in two years and $10,000 for a bachelor's degree in four, although students can move as quickly or as slowly as they want, or need, in their quest for a degree.

"A degree is becoming more and more important," said Phillips. "It's a big step in the progression."

He said times have changed, with terrorism and security issues requiring planning and report preparation skills, not just firefighting and life safety skills.

College for America partners with employers to offer employees access to competency-based college degrees designed to be more applicable in the workforce. Phillips said that means the degree programs "kind of fill in the gaps."

The program is spreading quickly, with the city of Manchester and the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits signing on locally, and national partners like Goodwill and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue shield.

"It's really a phenomenal concept," Phillips said. "Especially for firefighters and EMS. Whenever you meet the objectives, you get credit."

While the assumption is that it will take a student two years to complete an associate's degree, it is up to the student how fast the degree is earned.

Some of Phillips' enthusiasm about the degree program is that it is self-paced.

"I don't have to go to a class every Tuesday night," he said. People can start and stop, if job or family issues arise.

Students in the associate's programs are eligible for federal financial, aid and the programs qualify for tuition reimbursement, if that's offered by an employer.

Phillips said the fire academy's goal in signing onto the program is to encourage firefighters and EMS personnel to start planning their careers.

New Hampshire fire and emergency services personnel or family members interested in learning more about the program, or interested in applying, can visit www.collegeforamerica.org/nhfire for details.

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