Fire Safety/EMT program to prepare high school students for jobs, college
High school juniors and seniors in Barberton, Norton, Copley and Wadsworth will be able to earn college credits and job training in fire protection and emergency medical services through a new partnership with The University of Akron.
The Fire Safety/EMT College Tech Prep Program begins this fall with a class of 10 juniors – three each from Barberton High School and Wadsworth High School, and two each from Copley High School and Norton High School.
The students can earn up to 13 college credits toward an associate degree in Fire Protection Technology at UA. In addition, eligible students may take additional classes online to earn more college credits through Ohio’s College Credit Plus program.
Opportunities for students/employers
Students will have the potential to earn certifications in Professional Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, 911 Emergency Dispatch and CPR/First Aid. These qualifications can help students land jobs with fire departments, private ambulance companies, or hospital patient transport services.
The Four Cities Educational Compact, which offers career technical education in the four school districts, joined with UA’s College of Applied Science and Technology (CAST) and its Training Center for Fire and Hazardous Materials to create the curriculum.
“We are excited to announce this new partnership and expand on our long history of collaboration with the Four Cities Educational Compact,” said Todd Rickel, UA vice provost and CAST executive dean. “This program provides tremendous opportunities for our area students as well as their potential employers.”
Jumpstart on in-demand careers
Elizabeth Kennedy, CAST associate dean, believes that “the real benefit of this program is that it connects careers to college degrees, beginning in high school. Students prepare for in-demand careers with solid earning potential while accelerating time spent completing their college degree.”
During their junior year, all the students will meet for morning classes at Barberton High School, with high school and UA faculty members providing instruction. In their senior year, the students will have classes on the UA campus.
An informational meeting about the program is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at Barberton High School, 555 Barber Road, Barberton. The meeting is open to the public, though preregistration is required at 330-972-7112 or nmullet@uakron.edu.
Media contact: Roger Mezger, 330-972-6482 or 330-730-4215, or rmezger@uakron.edu.