CONTACT: Marsha Rossiter, (920) 424-1211
MILWAUKEE – A bachelor’s degree program in fire and emergency response management, the only one of its kind in Wisconsin, will begin this fall at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh after it was approved Friday by the UW System Board of Regents.
Fire chiefs from across Wisconsin appeared in support of the program when it came before the Regents education committee Thursday in Milwaukee.
“This program is an example of how UW-Oshkosh and its partners can respond to the needs of our state and its citizens,” said UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Richard H. Wells. “Wisconsin fire departments want this program, and it’s going to provide the leadership needed to be ready for natural and man-made emergencies.”
The plan has the strong support of Fox Valley fire departments and the Wisconsin State Firefighters’ Association (WSFA).
“The delivery of fire and emergency service requires strong, effective leadership,” said Oshkosh Fire Chief Tim Franz. “This program will have a significant, positive impact on fire service in Wisconsin.”
“I’m excited that fire service employees and supervisors can now grow their skills and prepare for the changing events of our time,” said Appleton Fire Chief Neil Cameron, who appeared in support of the program in Milwaukee Thursday.
Three years ago, Franz, Cameron and other fire chiefs approached UW-Oshkosh with the idea for a program to provide people who already have basic fire science technical training with the skills they need to become supervisory, administrative and management leaders.
“Homeland security and the need for firefighters to be able to deal with everything from terrorism and natural disasters to biohazardous materials has increased the demand for more education,” said Marsha Rossiter, assistant vice chancellor for lifelong learning and community engagement, who will oversee the program.
Those with two-year technical college degrees can transfer to UW-Oshkosh to complete the four-year program. Most students are expected to be working firemen.
The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics says firefighters, emergency management specialists, emergency medical technicians and paramedics will be among the highest-demand jobs through 2014. There will be a more than 25-percent increase in the need for firefighters.
UW-Oshkosh officials said it’s now common to require career firefighters have a bachelor’s degree if they want advance beyond entry-level positions.
In three surveys since 2003, 90 percent of Wisconsin fire chiefs from 77 fire departments reported that about 90 percent, or 3,000, of their career firefighters have only a two-year degree.
Nearly half the firefighters from those departments were highly interested in enrolling in the four-year program.
Currently, the nearest four-year fire/emergency management degree programs are in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan.
Fire chiefs from several major Wisconsin cities and representatives of the Wisconsin Technical College System fire protection program attended the Regents education committee meeting Thursday to show their support for the proposed program.
Initial planning was to accept 25 students into the program this fall, but at least 45 Wisconsin firefighters already have said they want to enroll.
The program will be delivered using classrooms, the Web and distance-education technology. The goal, UW-Oshkosh officials said, is to make the program available statewide through online and off-campus classes.
Lead planner for the new program is JoAnn Konkel of UW-Oshkosh, who worked with UW-Extension, UW-Green Bay, Fox Valley Technical College, Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Fire Training Centers, along with professional firefighter organizations and firefighters in Wisconsin.
