Program Planning Report
Fire Technology
Spring 2010
Prepared by Kris Hurst 4//09/10
I. BACKGROUND:
A. Program Description:
The Fire Technology Program (FT) is designed for students who have a desire to pursue
employment opportunities within the highly competitive and technically complex career of
the fire service (pre-service course work). It also provides curriculum for currently
employed fire service personnel to meet continuing education needs, specialized
certification and promotional requirements (in-service course work). Fire Technology’s
main mission is to prepare graduates for all aspects of fire service employment, provide
local agencies with needed course work for their staff and facilitate the transfer of students
to four year degree programs.
Fire Technology is a part of the Public Safety Department alongside Criminal Justice
(CJ) and has one full-time faculty member and nine active adjuncts. The Fire
Technology Program provides a total of 18 courses currently offered on a regular basis.
The program also has 20 courses which have been offered in the past, but due to decreases
of budget and instructor pool these have not been offered for several years. Of the courses
being offered currently, five are core and the rest are approved electives. All of our core
courses and three elective courses are transferable. There are three associate degree options
available. We offer an AA and AS degree as well as an AS Fire Service Management
option. The courses in the AS Fire Service Management option are not currently being
offered. We have two certificates offered: a Certificate of Achievement in Fire Service
Management and an Emergency Medical Technician Skills Certificate.
A huge part of our program’s success involves the on going efforts of the In-Service
Program which provides for specialized job skills that are required for those currently
employed in public safety. Cabrillo College coordinates all in-service training for the fire
agencies in Santa Cruz County. The Cabrillo FT Program works closely with the local
agencies and their certifying agencies to provide required ongoing training needs. Those
state certifying agencies include the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), California
State Training Institute (CSTI), California Division of Forestry (Cal Fire), Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA).
Program Goals:
Program goals include re-implementing all classes in the Fire Service Management option
and review of courses not currently offered. Our plan is to either offer them or remove them
from the curriculum so student’s can anticipate course offerings. Further we will expand the
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current course work of the Fire Technology AS and AA degree to increase basic abilities in
student reading and wring skills, internal leadership, verbal skills and math computation.
Additionally, the program plans to develop a wildland academy that is a new requisite for
state wildland fire candidates and a paramedic program to keep pace with the changes in job
specifications. The program goals include expanding and improving classroom space
through space allocation, if space becomes available and purchasing needed equipment for a
Fire Academy and Paramedic Program.
Relation to College Mission and Goals:
Cabrillo College’s statement of mission and values is consummate and reflects many of
the principles and ethical standards embraced by the fire service. Fire Technology’s
objectives align as follows with the college’s goals and mission:
1. The FT program is committed to meeting the needs of students. It is important to have
a concise, user friendly program that is easy to navigate for students, faculty and
counselors alike. Clarity of what courses are required for the degree, when these classes
are offered and knowing what the pre-requisites are is foundational to student success and
college effectiveness. This requires staying current with curriculum and communicating
clearly to students and college counselors.
2. Transferability in today’s academic climate is essential. Cabrillo is dedicated to
articulation agreements as outlined in the school’s transfer mission. FT core courses and
AA approved electives carry transfer status. Many of the AS approved electives meet the
requirements for articulation and will go through the equivalency procedures outlined in
ASSIST.
3. More is caught then is taught is a wise axiom. FT faculty are field experts, student
oriented and serve as roll models in a field that demands ethical living and moral
character. This program’s strength has long been its instructors. In accordance with
Cabrillo’s goals, all instructors not only have connection with the community, they are
civic leaders and public servants. Our faculty was hired for passion within their field and
their proficiency to clearly communicate core essentials. Every faculty member has
experienced student life at Cabrillo having attended courses previously in FT prior to
their fire service career or within their promotional processes. Instructors are fire chiefs
or officers with tremendous leadership and field experience. The culture of the FT
Department fosters opportunities to be transparent and rub off character to students.
4. The FT program enhances community connection by being active in the Public Safety
Careers Partnership which collaborates with local fire agencies to build a model for
improving the quality of applicants interested in pursuing a fire service career. Countywide surveys have been completed to assist in understanding local public safety hiring
needs and developing a profile of what an ideal candidate would look like. This allows us
to equip and inform our students, leveraging their opportunity to fill future local job
vacancies.
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5. The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification and Recertification courses
are designed to meet local fire agency needs for legislative standards. This enhances
Cabrillo’s role in workforce development.
6. Our FT program provides local and state job markets with excellent candidates for
employment. This requires us to provide a high quality program that honestly assesses
assets and deficiencies. It also requires a vision for program growth to meet the job
market demands and changes. This current program plan is a key tangible in this process.
B. Relationships:
In a recent research project paid for by the local fire chiefs entitled Fire Training Study, it
was recommended that a partnership between local departments and Cabrillo College be
strengthened. The study states, “…the delivery of training programs such as state
certified curriculum, should be done via the community college system.” Additionally,
Santa Cruz County area public safety agencies have stated they will be facing personnel
shortages that they hope to fill with local qualified applicants. Recruiting and retaining
excellent applicants with the right mix of skills, education, character and background has
become increasingly difficult. There are many marginal candidates, but few excellent
ones. To assist with these efforts to expand a desirable candidate pool, a financial grant
was obtained by Cabrillo Colleges’ Career Education & Economic Development
Department from the State Chancellor’s Office for strengthening Career Technical
Education Programs (CTE). As a result of these pressing issues and with funds available
from the CTE grant, the Public Safety Careers Partnership was formally developed.
The objective of this grant was to convene a Public Safety Careers Partnership, modeled
after our successful Health Careers Partnership, to align high school/ROP and community
college public safety programs to the skills and to produce the number of candidates that
local agencies seek. It was agreed that there is a need to develop a local pipeline that can
provide a steady stream of qualified applicants for the public safety agencies. This
pipeline must reach down to the high school and middle school levels and must produce
candidates who reflect the community, have strong basic skills in Math and English,
especially report writing and can pass a thorough background investigation. It is the
intention of the Public Safety Careers Partnership to address these and other concerns.
The partnership was formed in 2008 and consists of all Santa Cruz area fire service and
law enforcement agencies, Santa Cruz County Office of Education/ROP as well as
private businesses like First Alarm, Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Emergency Training Services
(ETS), and Santa Cruz County departments such as the Superior Court, Probation
Department, District Attorney’s Office, Emergency Communications Center, Animal
Services, and County Jail. The partnership quickly identified several pressing issues such
as the need for training facilities (regional training tower and burn room) classroom
space, aligning curriculum with their needs and resource allocation (use of specialized
instructors from local agencies for technical courses) are on the agenda for future dialog
in accordance to grant funded deadlines.
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The Public Safety Careers Partnership efforts have identified what critical skills and
knowledge areas needed by our students to become successful applicants with the various
fire service agencies. These efforts have given us the direction needed for new curriculum
development and revisions to our current courses with a focus on Student Learning
Outcomes. We are also examining how to repackage our Emergency Medical Technician
Skills Certificate and the Fire Service Management Certificate so they are seen as a value
by potential employers.
Early on in the partnership discussions, it was clear local fire service agencies want to see
our EMT training expanded to paramedic level. The agencies do not require an AA
degree as a minimum qualification for employment, but many local agencies do require
paramedic training and licensure for entry level employment. Advanced Life Support
(ALS) is paramedic level service, which is the most advanced level of pre-hospital care
training. Most commonly this training is conducted in community college and technical
schools over one (1) to two (2) years, usually resulting in an associate’s degree.
Individuals with paramedic level training have the most favorable job prospects since
higher level pre-hospital care is this county’s model
Emergency Training Services (ETS) is a local vocational school that offers private course
work in EMT and paramedic programs. The cost for their EMT course is $950. Cabrillo
offers this course (FT 183 and FT 183L) as an 8.5 unit college credit course at $29 per
unit totaling $246.50 in costs. ETS offers a current paramedic program at $14,675. We
have been asked repeatedly by students to offer this program since the majority of
California fire departments hire entry level candidates with paramedic licensing and it is
required by all the local paid agencies as a minimum hiring standard. A paramedic
program would be a 30 unit course with materials and extra certifications costing the
student approximately $2,800. This would be a formidable community relationship
building course. Not only do paramedics do pre-hospital work, but it is a career pathway
for physician assistants, nursing and medical students. Paramedics exceed medical
assistants in clinical skills and have job opportunities in medical facilities as well as
transport prospects.
Cabrillo consistently places graduates in field positions. A recent survey of AMR-West,
Monterey County showed that over one third of their EMTs on 911 ambulances are
graduates of Cabrillo’s EMT Training Program. Another sampling of Santa Cruz County
fire chiefs indicated that all but one have received some portion of their fire service
training at Cabrillo. Many local firefighters have attended the Fire Officer Certification
series conducted occasionally at Cabrillo College to comply with promotional
requirements. Conversations indicate that there is a need for Fire Officer Certification
training to be more ongoing and predictable to meet the local agency needs.
Finally, all local fire service agencies participate in the In-Service Program and as such,
we have constant interactions with the training sections of the departments. We have a
Training Managers meeting each month. These meetings attended by a member from
each fire department in Santa Cruz County and are conducted to assess training needs,
coordinate multiple agency training and develop countywide response to various events.
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Outreach:
Cabrillo’s FT program has collaborated with Santa Cruz County Office of Education/
ROP to provide an entry level course, FT1, Fire Protection Organization, at two (2) local
high schools. This course is one of the core courses required for an FT AA or AS degree.
If students meet the academic requirements within their high school class they can
receive college credit. Fall 2008 was the first semester this course was offered in this
county. Further program outreach to local high school students occurs in an annual two
week Summer Public Safety Careers Academy introducing young people to the various
career aspects of fire, police and Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
FT’s EMT course places every student in a 10 hour internship on a fire engine or truck at
one of the 5 local paid fire agencies. Students respond to emergency calls as a member of
the engine crew and assist in patient care. This gives students an opportunity to use their
newly acquired skills. They also network and build relationships with firefighters
currently in the field, and see first hand how pre-hospital care works from dispatch of
call, patient contact, loading in the ambulance and riding to the local Emergency
Department. Course evaluations consistently state that this element of the class is most
exciting and motivating for the students.
Staying current on job outlook, education and training requirements, licensure and
certification conditions, advancement opportunities and legislative directives are essential
for FT faculty. To maintain currency, faculty attend professional meetings, conferences,
training seminars, read fire service publications, maintain membership in professional
societies and are committed to active participation in their respective fields.
Community outreach is further evidenced by the delivery of training to the San Lorenzo
Valley Fire Departments through Fire Academies. Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM)
course work delivered through our Fire Service Management AS option are all part of the
Fire Officers certification process.
Campus Programs:
The FT program has been working closely with Cabrillo College’s Career Education and
Workforce Development Department, the Ladders and Tech Prep programs, Cooperative
Work Experience Education (CWEE), and Cabrillo Advancement Program (CAP) as part
of the State Chancellor’s Office CTE grant. We are represented at Careers Technical
Education (CTE) Council, Instructional Planning Committee and assisted with the
College Master planning.
In the FT curriculum various other programs are represented in the approved elective list.
Areas of collaboration include courses in Accounting, Computer Science, Business,
Communications, Criminal Justice, Health Science and Sociology. Allied Health
requires students to take a Health Care Provider CPR course which is offered as FT 178.
This course is well attended by Nursing, Medical Assistant, Radiology Tech and Dental
Hygiene students. FT also is involved in the Puente Project and participates in Cabrillo
College’s annual “College and Career Night”.
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Four-Year Universities:
There are currently two four-year fire service programs in California. They are both
offered through CSU (Sacramento and Los Angeles). Job candidates in the fire service
far out number job prospects. The career field is very competitive. Applicants with the
best chances are those who have excellent academic credentials. A local job survey of
fire chiefs stated the candidate profile they were looking for ideally had a Bachelor’s
Degree or higher with some work experience and a paramedic license. Bachelor’s
programs do not have to be fire related. Valued subject areas are Sociology, Biology,
Chemistry, Environmental and Health occupations, Spanish, Communication,
Engineering and Science related fields. These programs have been identified as lending
themselves well to the type of responsibilities consistently required of a firefighter.
Costs:
WSCH/FTEF (LOAD)
Total College
Academic Year
Fall
Spring
Fall
Spring
2008/2009
2007/2008
2006/2007
2005/2006
2004/2005
610.3
532.3
518.2
552.1
551.0
609.3
515.8
491.8
512.0
533.1
531.0
498.0
523.6
620.1
573.6
565.5
539.5
476.0
543.2
565.3
Fire Technology____
College average load per semester from 2004/05-2008/09 was 542.
FT average load per semester from 2004/05- 2008/09 was 543.
Data indicates that FT’s five year average is almost identical to the college’s teaching
load.
Base Expenditures
Year
FT Program
2008/09
$213,701
2007/08
$193,325
2006/07
$142,902
2005/06
$98,728
2004/05
$94,132
College
$28,658,802
$29,023,043
$26,934,725
$25,688,668
24,272,819
% of expense
0.746%
0.666%
0.531%
0.384%
0.386
% FTES
1.095%
0.963%
1.149%
0.779%
0.727%
FT uses only 0.746% of the overall instructional budget while it brings in 1.095% of
college FTES. The FT Program revenues exceed its expenses by 0.35%.
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Student Success and Student Learning Outcomes
Student Success:
The data indicates that FT’s success and retention rates are good. They are close to the
college average rates from 2004 to 2009. A five year average retention for the college is
81.9% and for the Fire Tech Program is 81.5%.
STUDENT RETENTION
Total College
Fire Technology___
Academic Year
Fall
Spring
Fall
Spring
2008/2009
2007/2008
2006/2007
2005/2006
2004/2005
85.5
80.6
80.6
81.0
82.9
84.6
82.0
80.3
80.9
81.0
85.6
79.3
75.7
82.1
89.9
83.7
79.4
78.5
79.4
81.1
2009 data indicates the FT program (84.7%) is almost equal to the college average
(85.0%) for the same time frame. These are significant markers that indicate competent
program achievement. Student success, as seen below, over the past five years shows the
FT Program (71.8%) above the college average (67.8%) by 4%. This is a very positive
program indictor.
STUDENT SUCCESS
Total College
Fire Technology___
Academic Year
Fall
Spring
Fall
Spring
2008/2009
2007/2008
2006/2007
2005/2006
2004/2005
68.4
67.3
66.7
67.2
69.6
68.9
67.8
66.6
67.8
67.8
71.6
72.0
66.8
71.7
81.1
73.3
71.6
69.2
69.7
71.8
Student Learning Outcomes:
The Fire Technology Program is occupational in nature and therefore requires that we
develop our own student learning outcomes for the program, certificates and all courses.
This has been accomplished, but constant revision is needed because of the dynamic
nature of the material. Work place standards and laws are constantly changing as are the
needs of our local employers. As a result we need to constantly assess and update our
program. Besides developing SLOs during department meetings, we take part in the
California Fire Tech Instructor’s Network which develops standardized student learning
outcomes for all of the core courses offered by most California community colleges.
These efforts are reflected in the student learning outcome Assessment Analysis and
Assessment Plan forms that are attached to this plan.
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E. Student Surveys:
Of the 36 students surveyed, 28 fire tech students had very positive comments, 4 positive
and 2 negative comments about the level of instruction in their FT courses. Remarks
indicated that faculty was current in their field, accessible to students, helpful and able to
provide clarification on hiring and vocational questions. Negative comments were
complaints of too much technical information given in the course work or “boring”
presentations by their instructors. Students also reported that the major strength of the
program was the experience and dedication displayed by the faculty. EMT students
consistently had high comments on the quality and content of their course and were also
pleased with their ability to find job placement. EMT was further praised for its quality
lab which included extensive hands on time for skill development and scenario practice.
Students mentioned they would benefit from a Fire Academy, a paramedic program and
field internships with local fire agencies. Students are hungry and willing to do the leg
work required for job placement. Students indicated that internships and community
service opportunities should be made available to allow students some working
experience in the fire service field. Some students indicate frustration with navigating the
difficult hiring process. The Fire Service is a very competitive field and many Cabrillo
candidates must test for 3-5 years before jobs open up. Students complained also that
many of the jobs that are open require paramedic level training as an entry level requisite.
Since Cabrillo does not have a paramedic program, students have indicated the difficulty
in attending an outside private paramedic program due to its tremendous cost. Job
placement counseling is very important to the program. Several students mentioned that
they are not clear on the basics for an AA versus an AS FT degree. They also comment
that many courses in the Cabrillo catalog are not being offered on an ongoing basis.
There is a need for updating the minimum unit requirement for the degree and clarifying
elective course work selections. This will include excellent communication with college
counselors regarding changes in the FT program so they can be clearly pass this
information on to the students within our program.
The take home message from the student surveys is that students would like the FT
program to be easier to navigate and understand within the catalog and keep the catalog
updated with the classes that are being currently offered. They want internships and a
paramedic course made available. They also appreciate the quality of instructors.
In order to respond to student needs our next step in the classroom to improve Student
Learning Outcomes and success is to expand units in core courses to accommodate new
standards in fire service work (fire safety and survival class), as well as include basic
algebra and English or report writing to better prepare students for the actual job
functions in this career field. We also will be looking at opportunities to develop a
paramedic program here at Cabrillo College.
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F. Results of External Data Research:
Cabrillo College graduates occupy positions in both public and private sectors. Current
hiring trends show most of the public openings are in municipal fire departments (median
hourly wage in California $27.17/hour). 9 out of 10 fire fighting workers are employed
by local government. Many private positions for Emergency Medical Technicians
(EMTs) are available in ambulance transport companies, event staffing, and medical
facilities (median hourly wage in California $12.08). The most recent Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) expects employment for EMTs and paramedics to grow by 19 percent
between 2006-2016 (above national average) and firefighter employment to grow by 12
percent in this same decade (same as national average for all occupations). Program
graduates seeking employment in Northern California municipal fire agencies can expect
to receive $72,440 average annually ($41,370 average nationally). Private ambulance
wages in our region are less averaging $56,280 annually. The nation average for EMTs
and paramedics is $27,070 annually.
II. Program Goals and Recommendations:
1. Curriculum Review and Revision:
The Fire Technology Program needs to restructures some parts of its AA and AS degree.
As it currently stands, only twenty-one (21) core and elective units are needed for an FT
degree compared to the thirty (30) units required by most other programs on campus.
This issue needs to be addressed immediately in curriculum modifications. Counselors
need to be able to articulate to students exactly what classes are required for a degree.
Further, the program needs to serve transfer students more comprehensively. All courses
that meet criteria need to be articulated for transfer to four year degree programs. Also,
the Certificate Programs need to be reevaluated in terms of their current need and
possibly updated so requisites are clearly delineated.
Ideally, all core courses should be offered within a two year cycle in a distant learning
format. Some FT courses are currently using Blackboard, a course management system,
in their existing courses. This provides students with a confidential, secure location to
have discussions with the instructor, view assignments and scores, submit assignments,
and take quizzes. This is a great tool for students and instructors alike and FT is trying to
further integrate this technology into other FT courses.
The FT Program must continue to evaluate and expand the curriculum for the In-Service
Program. It has been made clear by the local fire agencies that they want and need
Cabrillo to partner in providing training and support of the firefighters in their agencies.
Crucial courses include the sixty-seven (67) hour Wildland Fire Academy that is required
for minimum entry level into Cal Fire seasonal employment. Also needed are the Fire
Officer series courses that are included in the AS Fire Service Management degree, but
are not currently being offered on a consistent basis by Cabrillo College. Students are
required to do course work at other community college programs throughout the state in
order to obtain these units. With the cooperation of local agencies, personnel from their
staff that are instructors could be identified as course certified instructors to teach these
specific classes. This would facilitate Fire Officer Certification course work for the AS
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Fire Service Management degree option. If this degree is going to remain part of the
active catalog listing options, the college needs to open up the units to offer the courses.
The fire community has repeatedly vocalized a need for a joint Fire Academy. Cabrillo is
a centralized location and has classroom space available to local jurisdictions to work
collaboratively to offer this certification. Everyone in fire service ultimately needs to
complete a Fire Academy for entry level work. Offering a Fire Academy would
encourage mutual cooperation between local agencies and Cabrillo College. It would
require local agencies to participate by providing the hands on apparatus and equipment
needed for practicum work. It would also require a county-wide pool of instructors to be
established. This course could be coordinated through the Public Safety In-Service
Program.
To meet the needs of students and the fire service industry, a public education offering of
a paramedic program should be offered. With its current price tag a private program is
cost prohibitive for most students in Santa Cruz County. Community colleges are the
obvious forum for this program. A paramedic program would serve both the community
at large and would benefit local jurisdictions as agencies are looking for that well trained
candidate. Finding a proper training facility location has been a challenge for offering
such a program in the past, but with space being re-allocated on campus, and portions of
the 1500 building becoming available, this problem may have been solved. It makes
sense that Cabrillo’s FT program utilize existing infrastructure that is place for the
Nursing Program to provide the learning space that is needed.
2. Facilities:
A great deal of time and effort went into Space Allocation Planning, but work remains to
be completed. We conducted a detailed inventory of our current facilities and their uses
and the projection of program growth and future needs. This was part of the campus wide
effort to identify existing needs for space, but also to meet the needs of the Public Safety
Careers Partnership which is to offer additional facilities to the local public safety
agencies for them to be able to complete their required training as part of the existing InService Program. As previously stated, there is a need to offer a Fire Academy, Wildland
Fire Academy, Fire Officer Certification classes and a paramedic program. Classroom
space should become available in the near future because the Nursing Program is
scheduled to move to a new building which is currently under construction.
3. Equipment:
A goal for the next five years if the proposed program additions that are outlined above
(fire academy, Paramedic program) are approved and become a reality will be
approximately $25,000 to $40,000, depending on what equipment becomes available
from the local fire service agencies. Funds may be available from a private donor, grant
source or bond funds if any remain.
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April 23, 2010
FT Program Planning
Goals and Recommendations
1
.
2
.
3
.
Description:
Curriculum revision to conform program with the Federal standards
and expand in-service Fire Officer classes and develop Paramedic
program
Facilities: Expand and Improve classroom space through space
allocation, if space becomes available.
Purchase equipment for Fire Academy and Paramedic program
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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Cost
$0.00
$0.00
$40,000.00
Fire Technology Program Assessment Plan
Use the form below to describe your assessment plan and to analyze the results of it.
Include this form in your Instructional Plan and describe the plan in the narrative of your
instructional plan.
Department
Program Outcomes
(List the student learning
outcomes of each degree
and certificate your
program offers. Attach
another sheet if necessary)
Fire Technology-Prepared by Kris Hurst
FT Program student learning outcomes (SLOs):
Upon successful completion of the required courses for
graduation/certification in fire program the student will be able
to:
1. Identify minimum qualifications and the needed entry skills
for all the fire service related jobs.
2. Demonstrate the ability to analyze, appraise, evaluate fire
incidents; Explain size-up, the incident command system, the
10 standard fire orders, the 18 situations that shout watch out
and identify the common factors associated with injuries and
deaths in the line of duty.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the laws, regulations, codes
and standards impacting fire department operations. Explain
the application of fire codes, and other regulatory codes used
by fire departments to control fire and occupant safety in
buildings.
4. Explain the various phases of fire behavior in buildings.
Explain how the behavior of fire in an open environment differs
from a fire in an enclosed environment. Describe fire
extinguishing agents, how they work and the advantages and
disadvantages of each.
5. Describe the tools, equipment and types of fire apparatus
used to extinguish fires.
6. Explain the operation of fire detection, fire suppression
and alarm systems used to extinguish and provide notification
of fire.
FT Program Certificate SLOs
1. Certificate of Proficiency in EMT Skills
_ Demonstrate thorough patient assessments used in
emergency medical situations
_ Treat medical and trauma patients involved in
emergency situations
_ Demonstrate life saving care for patients in cardiac
arrest and extremis
_ Analyze the requirements for advanced EMT training
2. Certificate of Proficiency in Fire Service
Management
_Demonstrate critical thinking skills and decision making
abilities for managing an emergency
_Identify emergency planning tools related to incident
mitigation
_Apply elements of ICS to all major incidents
Assessment Evaluation
(continued)
Assessment of Program
SLOs
Describe the Assessment
Process your program will
use to evaluate the
outcomes. Include the
assessment tool used and
the rubric or criteria used
to evaluate success
_Describe in writing and verbally, major fire hazards
_Analyze the impact of fire prevention
_Differentiate between leaders and managers
_Perform teaching demonstrations for fire vocational training
_Evaluate peer instructors
_Perform tasks associated with incident planning
We will use a course embedded assessment process
Each program SLO relates to one of the core courses in the FT
Program.
Student Learning Outcome # 1
Assessment instrument for SLO # 1
Written examinations, mock-oral interviews, review of student
resumes’ to determine the understanding of the qualifications
and skills needed for the position of fire fighter.
Student Learning Outcome # 2
Assessment instrument for SLO # 2
Written and oral examinations designed to allow students to
demonstrate the ability to analyze, appraise, evaluate fire
incidents; Explain size-up, the incident command system, the
10 standard fire orders, the 18 situations that shout watch out
and identify the common factors associated with injuries and
deaths in the line of duty.
Student Learning Outcome # 3
Assessment Instrument for # 3
Written and Verbal examinations designed to allow students to
demonstrate knowledge of the laws, regulations, codes and
standards impacting fire department operations. Written and
Verbal examinations designed to demonstrate an
understanding of the application of fire codes, and other
regulatory codes used by fire departments to control fire and
occupant safety in buildings.
Student Learning Outcome # 4
Assessment instrument for # 4
Written and oral examinations designed for students to explain
the various phases of fire behavior in buildings. Student should
be able to distinguish the difference of the behavior of fire in an
open environment from the behavior in an enclosed
environment. Describe fire extinguishing agents, how they
work and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Success is achieved if 90 % of students successfully
accomplish the student learning outcome with a score of 80 %
or higher on the assessment instrument.
Student Learning Outcome # 5
Assessment instrument for # 5
Written and oral examinations designed for students to
demonstrate their ability to describe the tools, equipment and
types of fire apparatus used to extinguish fires.
Program Outcomes
(continued)
Student Learning Outcome # 6
Assessment instrument for # 6
Written and oral examinations designed for students to
demonstrate their understanding of the operation of fire
detection, fire suppression and alarm systems used to
extinguish and provide notification of fire.
Each certificate SLO will be evaluated in a course embedded
assessment process. The certificate SLO relates to the
SLOs associated with the course.
Assessment Evaluation
Describe the process the
department uses to
evaluate assessment
results. Include:
What meetings will be
held?
Who will be involved?
What will be discussed?
How will you record the
results?
When?
The process for assessing the SLOs for the program will
include several faculty meetings each semester-one during
Flex Week and one or two additional meetings during the
semester.
Contract, part-time faculty and PS Chair typically attend
Flex department meetings. All part-time faculty who
teach courses directly related to core program classes
will be asked and encouraged to participate in one or two
meetings, as well as interested local fire agency personnel
who have in-service needs. These meetings will be held
during the semester according to the schedule below.
The meetings will provide opportunity to assess course
SLO’s, share and improve plans, and make
recommendations for improving outcomes as
appropriate.
The program will aim to evaluate outcomes for the two
certificates over the next 5 years as well as revisit specific
possibilities of restarting the Fire Service Management
option courses, implementing a Paramedic Program and
establishing new courses required for fire service
employment to keep pace with the changes in job
specifications. With this purpose in mind, we
propose the following schedule:
Spring 2010 ––Present Instructional Plan
Fall 2010 –– Write curriculum for new Fire Service Safety and
Survival course
Spring 2011 –– Assess half of course SLOs. Paramedic
Program Possibilities and Fire Service Management level
course review. FLEX week meeting to discuss assessment
results and complete Assessment Analysis Form..
Fall 2011 –– Begin instruction of new
Fire Service Safety and Survival course and review
Specialization Certificate in EMT Skills and
Assessment Evaluation
When?
Specialization Certificate in Fire Service Management
Spring 2012 –– Re-implement Fire Service Management
courses 50%. FLEX week meeting to discuss assessment
results and complete Assessment Analysis Form.
Fall 2012 ––Assess second half of course SLOs.
Spring 2013 ––FLEX week meeting to discuss assessment
results and complete Assessment Analysis Form.
Fall 2013–– Re-implement all Fire Service Management
courses required for Specialized certificate work and AS.
Spring 2014 –– FLEX week meeting to discuss assessment
results and complete Assessment Analysis Form.
Fall 2014––Begin writing Instructional Plan. Analyze
assessment results from previous years.
Spring 2015 –– FLEX week meeting to discuss assessment
results and complete Assessment Analysis Form.
Fall 2015––Finish writing Instructional Plan.
We will keep written records of every meeting detailing
discussion, discoveries and recommendations
May 3, 2010
FT Program Planning
Program Goals
1.
Title:
Curriculum revision to conform program with the Federal standards and
expand in-service Fire Officer classes and develop Paramedic program
2.
Facilities: Expand and Improve classroom space through space allocation, if
space becomes available.
3.
Purchase equipment for Fire Academy and Paramedic program
Cost
0
0
40,000
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Cabrillo College
6/23/2010 11:37 AM