AJ
College of the Redwoods
Program Review Committee
Executive Summary
Adopted November 6, 2009
Mission Statement The College of the Redwoods’ Program Review Committee leads and facilitates authentic
assessment as it relates to student success and planning at the institution for all subject and service areas.
The committee reviews Annual and Comprehensive Program Reviews that provide the strong foundation
upon which College of the Redwoods develops, identifies, states and documents quality improvement plans
and goals including providing the direction of prioritization of funding, and support needs as organized under
the strategic planning objectives.
Objective: To provide an evaluative Executive Summary of this program’s review for authors, the Integrated
Planning Committees, and the District.
Program Review Subject/Service Area: __Administration of Justice______________
Program Review Authors: ___Ron Waters, ________________________________
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Summary and Recommendations:
1. Program strengths:
Increasing enrollments – 19%
New Fire Technology program well thought out
Excellent success/retention rates
Important that the training and placement of law
enforcement officers is with local agencies
Additional Comments:
2. Program challenges/obstacles:
Need of updated facility and technology needs
Classroom space, when both programs are running
Recommendations:
Identify classroom space for Fire Academy;
Repair and update facility and technology needs;
AJ needs to work directly with IT/TSS to upgrade
technology needs;
Obtain secure storage for Fire Program equipment
3. Commendations:
Dedicated quality staff; AJ program is renown
throughout state;
Integration of AJ program into community is both
amazing and addresses the needs of community;
Respectful students
6.
4. Program Budget/Funding Sources:
Facility – need to be ADA compliant, new technology
Investigating grant funding for building regional
training facility with police, fire, paramedic and
nursing
5. Program Goals/Plans:
Revitalize the Advanced Officer Training courses
Establish the Fire Tech Program
See attachment for Fire Tech program. This program
will need significant investment (roughly $190,000)
to start a Fire Academy. While some materials can
be borrowed for a short time from local agencies,
much of the material will need to be purchased by
the college before any training begins.
AJ
6. Program Outcomes Assessment (PLOs/SLOs):
AJ assessment in line
Fire technology program PLO/SLOs in course
proposals
Include job success in program review
7. Student Success/Achievement Basic Skills
obstacles/challenges:
Excellent success, retention rates.
Issues Across all Disciplines:
Facilities and technology are deficient;
Maintenance is deficient;
Regular funding for software for all programs
Staffing and faculty budget are deficient;
Deferred maintenance is a problem campus-wide
Lack of replacement of faculty who have left CR; finding qualified faculty to teach
Challenge that IT doesn’t support Mac Computers; most science, math and arts use Mac computers
Need for transcript evaluator and document imaging system that will support all disciplines.
Need for a college-wide process to gather and assess information from students directly, both those who
graduate and those who leave for other reasons, or from transfer institutions and employers. Entry and
Exit surveys to increase student success, retention and persistence;
General: Is there a budget set aside for bulb replacement for projectors, both campus and district wide?
Process:
PRC will forward completed Executive Summaries to program review authors.
Authors will have two weeks to provide feedback and corrections on errors of fact and/interpretation
PRC will forward Executive Summaries and authors response (if available) to the appropriate integrated
planning committee and the CPC.
AJ
Future Fire Technology Programs and Fire Academy Operating Costs
Interesting facts about California Community Colleges that offer Fire Technology Programs. Information taken from a
study done by the California Community College Fire Technology Directors Association




2008
Approximately 85% of community colleges offer a California Fire Marshal, Firefighter I Academy
The average number of students in those academies is 30 and of those 30 on average 5 students will not complete the program
The average operating expenses for a fire technology program is $56,593
On 14% of fire technology programs own their own buildings
Fire Service Job Market Analysis in Humboldt County
A Job Market Analysis was sent out to the fire departments that employ firefighters in Humboldt County. There is only one career local
government fire chief employed in Del Norte County. Only two departments in Humboldt County replied to the study. Cal Fire will not be
able to give a better estimate of retirements due to state employees watching the Governor and Legislature on their plans with the retirement
system related to furlough days and decreases in pay. The Governor has told the Cal Fire employees that furlough days and pay decreases will
not effect their retirement calculations. Five years ago, Cal Fire estimated a 50% retirement. Cal Fire did not reach the 50% mark over the last
five years due to the change in the economy. Since the change with required state furlough days and the decrease in pay, there is a strong
possibility of a mass exodus.
The question was asked to Arcata, Eureka, HFD#1 and Cal Fire to give an estimation of the potential numbers of retirements with replacing
those retirees (2009-2014). Also, will there be any future growth in their departments.
HFD#1
2 – Retirements in the next 5 years.
Elimination of an Asst. Chief position
Addition of a Captain II position
AJ
Arcata
2 retirements in the next 5 years
1 – Chief
1 – Fire Captain
Ethnic Diversity Study in Humboldt County
There are 42 fire departments in Humboldt County. An Ethnic Diversity Questionnaire was sent out to all departments. The following
information was received:
Departmen Members
t
Men
Women White Black American
Indian
Arcata
Blue Lake
Garberville
Loleta
Eureka
Rio Dell
Telegraph
Ridge
Fruitland
Ridge
Redway
Kneeland
HFD#1
53
27
17
25
39
27
11
50
26
16
21
37
22
11
3
1
1
4
2
5
0
51
25
14
24
39
22
11
6
5
1
6
12
12
35
10
10
34
2
2
1
11
12
33
Asian
Native
Hawaiian/Pacific
Islander
1
2
1
2
1
1
4
1
2
Persons Reporting 2 Races
AJ
College of the Redwoods Fire Technology Program Needs

o

FT-1 Core Curriculum – 54 hour course x $40 per hour instructor pay - $2,160
Run two Core Classes per Semester
Accredited Firefighter I Academy Note:* = Start-up costs
(Based on 40 Students per Academy)

Fire Academy Coordinator – 250 hours - $35/hour = $8,750

348 Lecture hours @ $35 = $12,180 (lead instructor)

o














352 Skills hours @ $20 per Skills Instructor x 3 instructors = $21,120
352 skills hours using lead instructor @$35/hour = $12,320
1 ½ units of ¾” CDX Plywood = $1,521 per Academy
2 x 4’s and 2 x 6’s lumber = $200 per Academy
Screws, nails = $65 per Academy
Tools, Hammers, saws, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers = $250
Fuel for Fire Equipment = $400 per Academy
Propane for FireBlast Simulator = $200 per Academy
Maintenance on Chainsaws including chain = $300
Portable Toilets = $85/month x 2 = $170 x 4 months = $680
State Fire Training Fee to become an Accredited Regional Training Facility - $500*
Accreditation Site Review Team Costs not to exceed $2,000*
Annual Ladder certification - $2.25 per foot x 197 feet = $443.25
Annual Hose certification – 26 cents per foot – Approximately 2,000 feet = $520
AJ
Estimated Fire Academy operating cost = $61,450 per Academy
Note: Estimated Fire Academy Cost does not include MOU’s with Eureka and Arcata






o
o
o
o







o

MOU with City of Eureka using their Drill Tower and FireBlast fire simulator – Daily use cost - To be determined
MOU with Arcata Fire Protection District – using various props – Daily use cost - To be determined
Classroom Space for lectures
Hydro testing of SCBA cylinders every 3 years - $25 per cylinder x 40 = $1,000
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus flow testing every two years - $65 per SCBA x 20 = $1,300
Purchase 40 sets of PPE – Approximately $1500* each set
Student purchases structure boots, gloves, hood
C/R provides coat, pant and helmet
C/R opts to let student rent gear from a vendor or provide own gear
C/R provides structure helmets for uniformity
Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) = $72,000*
50 Water Thermos’ – to hydrate firefighters during training = $900*
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus Air Cylinders need 40 cylinders @ $800 each = $32,000*
5 – laptop computers to be used with Fire Simulator = $14,700*
2 – Video Projectors = $3,900*
4 – Easels = $1,300*
Apply for CTEA funding for equipment 2010/2011 budget year
Ladders, fire hose, nozzles, adaptors, rope rescue software and hardware, hydraulic tools, props, portable
generators, air compressor w/certified air
Fire Extinguisher Training – dry chemical and recharge or purchase a simulator