Fire science degree goes up in flames
Fire science degree goes up in flames
05 June 2013
published by www.theclackamasprint.net
USA — Students will no longer be able to get an associates degree in fire science at Clackamas.
CCCs Wildland Fire Science program helps students get seasonal jobs in wildland firefighting and can lead to work in forestry or park service. The program will still offer the one year certificate and other career pathway certificates, but not the complete two-year associates degree.
The two-year fire science associates degree includes environmental regulations, physical and mental preparedness, supervisory and leadership training. CCC is a certified training site recognized by Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group, the Oregon Department of Forestry and National Forest Service. The highly experienced program instructors are certified by National Wildfire Coordinating Group.
Fire Science and Wilderness Instructor Tom Laugle had a lot to say on the departure of the associates degree program.
By getting rid of the second year, it causes us to violate our memorandum of understanding that certifies us as a national training center. The memorandum of understanding is with the federal state representation that allows our students to be recognized in all 50 states, said Laugle. In the second year, there are classes that help them advance their career. By doing away with the second year they will have to find the classes elsewhere.
He also said that he was never directly told or consulted about cutting the two-year degree and believes the decision was made by Truesdell, Lundy, or Wilton. College President Joanne Truesdell commented on the colleges decision to cut the associates degree, which at the moment is only a suspension good for up to three years.
We’re assessing the courses based on the course-taking patterns of the degree. When you have only six people graduating it may not be the two year degree that is needed, but the classes individually, said Truesdell.
The College Advancement Departments Marketing Manager, Janet Paulson, did not seem to believe cutting the two-year degree will have a negative impact on students.
We are seeing that companies are hiring students with the one year degree, said Paulson.
However, Laugle believes that it will have a negative impact based on real student stories. The affordability of the program also helps students pay their way through the whole two years without financial aid because the first term or two gives them the ability to work in the field before finishing the degree and make money. He uses two recent students as an example.
One made $15,000 as a seasonal fire fighter, the other made $12,000 because of the second year and the class offerings that allowed them to advance their career. Its pretty common with the students, being able to pay their way without financial aid. One objective was to make the highest level of courses available, said Laugle.
According to Truesdell, the cut is due to budget shortfalls, recommendations from the budget committee and a need to confront sharper decisions.
We determined that wild fire two-year needed to be requested to be suspended. The college has a normal program assessment process. In our situation with the budget there are sharper decisions to confront, said Truesdell. If we hadn’t suspended it this year, it could have been next year. Those are the kinds of things that, over time, change.
Paulson added:
We’re constantly adjusting to economy and the community.
According to Laugle, the decision to cut part of the program due to budget concerns doesnt make sense, and that the cuts could negatively impact the budget further.
This decision was made without ever consulting us and has nothing to do with money. No explanation at our level. Were financially sound. We are making enough money to cover other programs, said Laugle.
Laugle also says there is an extremely negative reaction from the students, and went on to quote one of them who said, I came to Clackamas because of the Fire Science program and Im not going to be able to complete my degree in just one year. Laugle went on to say what students will have to do now.
They will have to get the second year from other community colleges, or hope to get on with the state. Private contractors are going to have to pay huge sums of money to bring in instructors to certify their employees. The students lose their seasonal advancement and their ability to stay off financial aid, find training elsewhere or they wont be able to easily advance their career, he said. They came because of the reputation of the instructors and the quality of the program. Vets under the GI Bill are finding themselves in a similar situation. Theyre not being able to complete their degree in the teachout year.
Another concern is that cutting the two-year degree will affect the program’s ability to train the National Guard during fire season.
I dont think the administration even knew that we were called out to train the Guard. Those classes in the second year will no longer be available, but we will be able to train them for specific fire line training drills when called upon, he said. We do plan, regardless, to teach those classes that come under FEMA and HLS because that is plain and simple community service.
Laugle stated that many others are dissatisfied with the decision as well. He has had to field phone calls from upset students, including a former student moving from Silverton district to the state fire marshals office. Laugle was unable to answer why the second year was closing and referred him to the advisors. He also believes that the state fire marshals office will have a lot of questions.
Beth Millican, the administrative assistant, put in her retirement. Shes so disgusted and theyre not replacing her. Now the department has to figure out how theyre even going to function without such a valuable asset, said Laugle.
Laugle is very surprised that the decision was made to remove the department chair in January, along with the the second year degree being done away with.
I was working in the most sound, best run program and it was, until January, in my opinion the best place to work and certainly the best place that I have worked in my 20 years at Clackamas, he said.
The one year certificate and classes that will continue to be offered will provide the community with excellent training opportunities. The program will continue to be taught by highly qualified individuals and the absence of the associate degree shouldnt discourage future students from enrolling in the classes. It is a proven excellent starting point for a variety of careers in the field.
