CSU Press Release
CSU Helps Firefighters Climb The Career Ladder
Columbia Southern University Offers Special Educational Benefits
Earning a degree has never been more essential for firefighters looking to climb the “career ladder.” 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 or a related field, to be promoted higher than battalion chief.
Columbia Southern University (CSU), one of the nation’s first completely online universities, has established partnerships with more than 500 organizations around the world. Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services, Mountain Brook Fire Department, Pike Township Fire Department and ASG Kuwait Fire and Emergency Services were recently added to the growing list.
This partnership provides these firefighters, their spouses, and children with special benefits including tuition discounts and an application fee waiver. The fire departments will also be featured on the CSU website, in marketing materials, and at conferences and speaking engagements.
“Over the past few years it has become increasingly important for firefighters to have a degree,” said Robert L. Duffus, Battalion Chief of the Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Services. “By partnering with CSU, we feel that we are doing our part to ensure that our firefighters have every available opportunity to pursue an education.”
This year the Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the sixth oldest paid fire department in the U.S., is celebrating 150 years of serving the citizens of Richmond, Virginia. The department participates in many community programs and services including blood pressure screenings, mentoring programs, ride-a-longs, smoke alarm installations, and serves as a Safe Place Site. The department currently operates out of 20 stations and has 428 members, all of whom are eligible for the CSU partnership benefits.
“Our partnerships extend to more than 260 fire organizations across the nation,” said Chantell Cooley, CSU Vice President of Partnership Development. “We continue building these partnerships so that anyone who dreams of earning a degree has the resources to do so.”
Fire Department of New York, Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association, Chicago Fire Department, Bermuda Fire Department, and Tulsa Fire Department are a few of the other fire organizations around the world that have 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.