By Pink Rivera
The El Paso Times
EL PASO, N.M. — A bill that went into effect in September waives state and volunteer firefighters tuition fees for fire technology courses.
The fire technology program at the Valle Verde Campus of El Paso Community College offers state firefighters associate degrees in fire management and fire science as well as their paramedic certification. Volunteer firefighters also have the option to become certified basic firefighters.
“They come in and declare fire technology as their major and show us their certification,” said Oscar Velasquez, EPCC counselor. “For volunteer firefighters they have to bring a letter from their chief showing their satisfactory status with the department for at least one year. All they have to pay is the general fees.”
The associate degree requires between 63 and 68 total credit hours, which can be completed in about two years. A 15-hour semester costs $1,042.50 and a firefighter enrolled in the program would be exempt from $892.50 of that amount and only responsible for $150. General fees cost $10 per credit hour.
“The bill only covers tuition and lab fees and it’s up to them how many hours they want to take,” said Velasquez. “There’s not a set schedule and, of course, we work around their work schedule for the paid firefighters. We also have online courses and video conferencing. It’s not a high tuition and we’re seeing a lot of El Paso and Fort Bliss firefighters coming to further their education.”
A fire science degree specializes in the science and technical side of a firefighter’s career, which can help them in fire and arson investigations as well as the hazardous materials field. The fire management degree helps firefighters understand the administration aspects with tactics and strategy courses.
“There’s definitely the mobility and promotion incentive for them to come and take advantage of what we’re offering,” Velasquez said. “I think we’re real fortunate to have this academy here for El Paso as well as Sunland Park and Las Cruces and everyone else that wants to be enrolled. I’ve even had people from the military wanting to jump straight in.”
Volunteer firefighters enroll in the basic firefighter course and have the option to keep advancing in fire technology courses.
Lead instructor Frank Lujan said the students he is working with have demonstrated a strong desire to become firefighters.
“These kids have this fire, this passion to be firefighters,” Lujan said. “My job is to train them and make them the best firefighter they can be. They’re not here just because they want a job. They come in wanting to move up the ranks and work in specific fields and all that comes with education.”
Lujan said his classes average about 25 students each and the majority are men. Currently, four women are registered at the firefighter academy. For the upcoming spring 2010 semester, only two women are enrolled, he said.
“I’ll admit I do push my female students harder,” Lujan said. “But also, I see that some of these girls want it more than the guys. If you train and you’re serious and this is what you want to do, then you’re going to make it. Being a firefighter is not for everybody and not every student that goes through this program becomes a firefighter.”
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